Europe’s cheapest (and most expensive) countries for dining out, ranked

Sampling the local cuisine is as crucial to visiting a new country as seeing all the top landmarks, but Europe’s dining scenes vary enormously when it comes to the budget you’ll need to cover a meal for two. 

Ferry GoGo, a ferry comparison site, has conducted some research and compiled a list of European countries, ranging from bougiest to cheapest, based on the average price of a three-course dinner for two (excluding drinks) at what it describes as a ‘mid-range’ restaurant. 

So, where will your budget go the furthest? Well, that’d be in Kosovo, where a meal of starters, main courses and desserts will only cost you around €20 (a little over £17). It’s followed by North Macedonia (€24.38) and Moldova (€30.32), so clearly the region is the place to be for budget-friendly dining. 

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But, what kind of thing will you find on the menu? Well, Kosovo’s national dish is flija, a pie made of layers of crepes which are sandwiched between a creamy mixture of yoghurt, butter and cheese which is compressed and cooked under a metal lid. Stuffed peppers, pickled vegetables and, of course, baklava are all also menu staples, so there’ll be plenty of hearty plates to tuck into. Oh, and make sure you try one of the country’s famous macchiatos.

At the other end of the spectrum, where dinner out will instead cost you a pretty penny, is (drum roll, please) Switzerland! And no, we’re not shocked either. An average three-course meal for two at a mid-range Swiss restaurant is likely to set you back €107.24 (or roughly £93.04), which is more than four times the cost of one in Kosovo. 

Denmark came in second, and Luxembourg in third, but scroll on for the top five in each category, with prices included. 

The five cheapest countries in Europe for dining out

1. Kosovo: €20.00 (£17.35)
2. North Macedonia: €24.38 (£21.15)
3. Moldova: €30.32 (£26.30)
4. Bosnia & Herzegovina: €30.75 (£26.68)
5. Serbia: €38.34 (£33.26)

The five most expensive countries in Europe for dining out

1. Switzerland: €107.24 (£93.04)
2. Denmark: €93.69 (£81.29)
3. Luxembourg: €90.00 (£78.08)
4. Norway: €89.86 (£77.96)
5. Netherlands, Ireland, Finland, Belgium: €80.00 (£69.41)

🍔 Check out Time Out’s guide to the very best cities in the world for food.

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