It varies from country to country, but generally, beer is cheaper. Wine is about the same, but with more variety and generally higher consumption rates, I’m finding even the mid-level stuff is usually really nice.

Also, considering distances and frequencies, European trains are often much better value vs. Amtrak. For example, German Rail has a 29€ advance purchase fare right now, good on long routes such as Berlin to Munich. Considering the distance, that’s a steal.

Also, there are much more ultra-cheap flight hops in Europe.

In the newest EU member states, just about everything is cheaper.

Good-quality chocolate can be cheaper.

Cool, thanks
 
What about food?  Not that I plan on eating there but I hear a McDonalds burger is like 4€. 

Food is about the same, depending on the city. For cheap options, look for Doner Kebabs. About 3 euro for a large sandwich. Grocery stores are good choices too – especially for beer. You might pay 4-5 euro for a pint in a bar, compared to 1-2 for a liter at the store. Note the size dif too.

If you go to McDonalds in Europe, you should have your passport revoked.

Well I don’t plan to goto Micky D’s  but I know that it’s cheap, easy food around here so I was just weighing my options over there.  I’ll stick to Burger King…that’s more European, no?

Just like in the US, big cities and certain regions are much more expensive than others.  Eastern vs. Western europe has, of course, a big price gap for many things.  Oh, and in Scandinavia and UK almost everything is more expensive than the US.
 
I find quality staple foods, like fresh baked breads, muslik cereal, fresh market vegetables, etc. are cheaper all around Europe than in the US. 
 
I think big fast food chains are a bit more expensive, (or maybe they just don’t have the value menus?).  Its ok to eat that stuff when you are in a bind, but there are often cheaper and better street foods to be found.  Althought sometimes you may want a taste of home, american foods just aren’t quite as good over there. 
 
Prices of beer and wine vary greatly across the continent.  In most of western europe beer costs about the same as in the US, it gets a bit cheaper in eastern europe.  Specific areas that are well known for wine production usually have cheaper than avg prices, and in some eastern countries it can be ridiculously cheap- I’ve paid as little as $2 for a bottle of wine in the balkans (and it was actually good!). 
 
 
 

Certainly, it does vary from country-to-country in EUR.  A standard “3-star” chain restaurant type place in the U.S. – Like Applebee’s, Chili’s, or Outback Steakhouse might cost a couple of dollars less for the meal itself than a like meal in the U.K., France, or Germany….  Still, you do not generally tip as much in Europe, so it just about evens-out.  Of course, when you are talking a bit nicer restaurant in Berlin, London, Paris, or some other large city centers; you will pay 10 to 20% more still.  On the other hand, a meal and glass of bier or wine in one of the former Eastern Bloc countries (Czech Rep., Poland, Lithuania, Hungary) will be much less expensive, and every bit as good. 

I would also say it varies from city to city.

Wine in Italy is cheaper than wine almost anywhere in the states.
A night out in many areas can be cheaper because tipping is not required.

domers are cheaper (and bigger) in the US.

I remember in the mid and late 1990s I think I remember it being cheaper to call the US from EU, than EU from US.

What else….as far as western Europe…I can’t really think of anything.  The cost of living varies both within the US and within western Europe….but as far as consumer goods (food, clothing, household products, toiletteries, gas…) I can’t really think of anything that’s significantly cheaper in western Europe than US.

Pah, I can’t stand that snobby traveller attitude.
I go to Europe 6-7 times a year and maybe just maybe I don’t want to dine out on Brockwurst or dumplings every night.
It’s my money, I earned it and I’ll spend it in on what the fuck I like.

On a Sunday evening in Montpelier, McDonald’s was the only restaurant we could find that was open. We did go.[]
I agree that costs vary from place to place, and I agree with Rob that staple foods can be cheaper in Europe, while fast food can be more expensive.
Wine is indeed generally cheaper though there can be some markup here and there where they know the tourists will pay it.

Even though I never eat at McD’s at home, I had to visit them in Italy in each city just to see what they were like.
 
They’re full of Italians, so it’s not like Americans are predominating or anything. In Italy, the McD’s have an excellent fruit dessert. I tried to get the Caprese salad, but never succeeded.
 
When I went to hear the travel writer Pico Iyer (he’s excellent), he had a very interesting bit about the cultural differences between McDonald’s in different countries. In Thailand, for example, the McD’s has a glass exterior, because it’s such a status symbol to eat there that everyone wants people to see them doing it. In Bolivia (I think), it’s more expensive and more status-seeking to eat in McD’s than a French restaurant.

In terms of food beer and wine:  In Romania and Ukraine, things were cheaper than in the US.  In Slovenia, Croatia, and Turkey things cost about the same as the US. Anywhere else I’ve been in Europe is much more expensive than the US unless you’re comparing to major cities like NYC, DC, San Francisco or tourist destinations like Orlando, ski resorts, etc.  Any place that tourists go is expensive.
 
Trains and planes are usually a better deal in Europe.,,,

Heh, you think those McDonalds are interesting..  In Kosovo they have a MaKdonalds and a King Burger, both using logos that are a clear copyright violation.  They served things like doner kebobs and hot dogs. 

I’m not ashamed to say that i’ve eaten at McDonald’s in Europe.  I don’t really eat it at home, but sometimes you just need to eat, and atleast you know it’s basically the same everywhere, so no surprises.

If you go to countries like the UK, Switzerland, and anywhere in Scandinavia, you’ll find it pretty hard to find anything cheap.

When I was in Sweden I ate microwave pizza’s everyday that were like the equivalent of about 30 cents [] Tasted like cardboard, but what the hell haha

You’re right, I should have said “If you go to McDonalds anywhere, you should have your health insurance revoked.”