Anonymous wrote: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?

I haven't found your assertion to be true in Europe... spent one month there during each of the last two summers and even in southern Europe they have raised the prices to what tourists will pay.

Because the USA sucks and corporations overpay themselves for basically nothing.

Anonymous wrote:We need to get rid of grass in yards and grow something we can eat.

I would like to do this in theory but it turns out that it’s super duper hard work and then the birds and animals eat basically everything I grow. The only thing I’ve had any success with is herbs in pots or cherry tomatos covered extensively with netting. I can’t cover my whole yard with netting. And every time I try to grow larger tomatos they crack before they are ripe. I’m clearly bad at this.

Grass looks good but takes space and requires water and mowing.

We need to get rid of grass in yards and grow something we can eat.

How do some people not get the concept of exchange rates and differing costs of living? Right now, a £30 meal in London costs $36. Ten years ago, it would have cost £47. In 2007, it cost $63.

Anonymous wrote:Some things are cheaper in Europe because there is a social safety net which means workers don’t need to be paid enough to cover health insurance premiums and retirement savings. The costs are spread elsewhere.

I did find restaurants in Rome somewhat cheaper than DC. London and Paris seemed about the same. Was looking at Madrid recently and was surprised by how expensive restaurants were.

That is a good point. There is a social safety net, plus healthcare in most countries except the US now.

Don't underestimate the successes as far as campaigning for higher wages for those working in the restaurant industry over the past 30 years. There is a reason the restaurant industry is the biggest proponent of illegal immigration.

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

I just booked a Michelin star restaurant in Switzerland for an upcoming trip and the fixed price is definitely less than it would be here, particularly when you factor in the 30% kicker we pay here for tax and tip. And the wine is less expensive as well.

That said, I agree that the Swiss prices overall aren't a bargain.

Some things are cheaper in Europe because there is a social safety net which means workers don’t need to be paid enough to cover health insurance premiums and retirement savings. The costs are spread elsewhere.

I did find restaurants in Rome somewhat cheaper than DC. London and Paris seemed about the same. Was looking at Madrid recently and was surprised by how expensive restaurants were.

Have you ever visited Norway?

I'm from Paris and the food isn't cheaper than in DC

Anonymous wrote: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.

The vegetables and fruit are significantly cheaper because it is shipped halfway across the world to get to you. They don't have all of the middlemen/distributors/shippers taking a cut. and they don't have as much waste that has already been paid for.

Sound like you are traveling in poorer counties OP. Overall, food is not cheaper in most first world countries.

In Japan seafood is obviously much cheaper but fruit is more expensive. I picked up a bag of mikans (think the cuties at Aldi that cost $4) and they were 2000 yen!
My sister lives there, her husband is VP level and they live in a house that is the size of most of your master suites. No stone countertops or marble bathrooms.