Why is food so much cheaper in almost every country

[Anonymous]

From East Asia, to Europe, to Latin America. Every place I’ve visited the food and especially restaurant costs are dramatically lower than the US. Not having to tip makes it even better.

Why are restaurants in the US so much more expensive than even most other developed nations?

[Anonymous]

in asia its probably the labor costs and no minimum wage

In the US its cheaper to buy groceries then get food from doordash and restaurants however in other countries groceries are more expensive than restaurants and food delivery, probably because of labor costs and minimum wage is too high.

[Anonymous]

It's probably a little bit of a lot of things. Subsidies in some places, low labor costs in others.

Also, folks in other parts of the world are willing to eat seasonally in a way that most Americans are not. So, a restaurant in Europe is going to have a winter menu that does not rely on flying in produce from other parts of the world, or on expensive greenhouses. You might have a delicious potato and mushroom dish in February, but you won't get strawberries because they are not in season.

[Anonymous]

Whatever job you are doing OP pays way lower in many countries than what you probably earn and people also don't live in a 4 bedroom/4 bath house like you do. You want to have the cake and eat it too. Doesn't work that way.

[Anonymous]

Because we don’t pay people dollars a day all along the food chain.

[Anonymous]

Because capitalism decrees we want a business to be as profitable as possible. The who thing is to charge as much as possible because dining out is a service. Labor, product, ambiance all play into that service you are paying for. In a lot of other countries, the food has the priority. It's not really about the entire scope of the experience. They just enjoy dining for its own sake but here, it's a damn production

[Anonymous]

Stuff costs more in higher developed countries. Higher wages, more health and safety precautions, more civil infrastructure.

https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/region_prices_by_city?itemId=2®ion=150

Dinner is pretty cheap in US if you buy it out of the trunk of someone's car in a poor neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:in asia its probably the labor costs and no minimum wage

In the US its cheaper to buy groceries then get food from doordash and restaurants however in other countries groceries are more expensive than restaurants and food delivery, probably because of labor costs and minimum wage is too high.

This is not true across the board.

Yes, meat and fish/ seafood are more expensive in many places, but e g in Germany, France and UK, dairy, and breads are cheaper and better quality. The produce is comparable iif not ridiculously out of season. Poultry is also in the same ballpark.

[Anonymous]

Because wages are lower elsewhere

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:in asia its probably the labor costs and no minimum wage

In the US its cheaper to buy groceries then get food from doordash and restaurants however in other countries groceries are more expensive than restaurants and food delivery, probably because of labor costs and minimum wage is too high.

This answer literally makes zero sense.

OP, it's market forces. Businesses will charge what the market is willing to pay. Period. In those countries people have less disposable income so they cannot pay the same prices we pay.

[Anonymous]

Places like restaurants and whole food have high prices because the market drives the prices not the cost to run it

If you go to a mom and pop Chinese restaurant, it’s not expensive because elitists aren’t running the price up.

[Anonymous]

Have you recently eaten a meal in Switzerland? It’s totally not cheaper then the DC metro area.

[Anonymous]

Not every country. Check out the restaurant prices in Norway!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:in asia its probably the labor costs and no minimum wage

In the US its cheaper to buy groceries then get food from doordash and restaurants however in other countries groceries are more expensive than restaurants and food delivery, probably because of labor costs and minimum wage is too high.

This is not true across the board.

Yes, meat and fish/ seafood are more expensive in many places, but e g in Germany, France and UK, dairy, and breads are cheaper and better quality. The produce is comparable iif not ridiculously out of season. Poultry is also in the same ballpark.

This has been my experience both as a long time visitor to multiple European countries as well as living in the UK for a few years. Grocery shopping is cheaper, par for par, but dining out at established restaurants tends to be more expensive, and in places like London, substantially more expensive. There's always the cheap Pret and sandwich shops anywhere, but actual sit down restaurants are not cheaper in the big European countries like UK, Germany or France or Switzerland than in the US. However, what can sometimes tip the balance is the lack of high tipping or any tipping expectations.

[Anonymous]

What's cheaper is the vegetables and fruit in other countries. I'm shocked at how much more affordable they are.

In America the junk food is cheaper.