This is How Much a Cup of Coffee Would Cost Around the World
In the United States, an average cup of coffee can cost you around $3, but how much would it cost you to get your caffeine fix in different parts of the world?
Coffee and instant coffee are loved all around the world. They comes in a variety of different forms, flavors, and especially prices. Here is how much you would pay for coffee from a coffee shop in different countries around the world.
Lagos, Nigeria - $0.62
Lagos is the cheapest place in the world to get coffee at an average of only $0.62! Lagos coffee, kọfi in Yoruba, is heavily based on French and Italian coffees. Most of the cafes in Lagos are fairly modern in style. However, they do have some unique cafes that completely change your coffee drinking experience. The Jazzhole is a cafe in Lagos that is filled with everything jazz, soul, and literature. It’s primarily a bookstore surrounded by walls of books, records, and posters. In the center of the shop is a seating area and a small stage where you can sit with your coffee and enjoy live music.
Milan, Italy - $1.33
Coffee in Italy has become a culture of its own. Although Italy is world famous for its wide variety of coffee, the average cup of coffee will only cost you about $1.33. In Italy, coffee is enjoyed throughout the entire day: morning, evening, and even after dinner. Ordering coffee in Italy can be quite confusing if you don’t educate yourself prior to entering the cafe. For example, a latte is not espresso with milk in Italy, but rather a plain glass of milk.
What to know about the coffee in Italy:
- Cappuccino: 1:1:1 ratio of espresso, steamed milk, foamed milk
- Caffè latte: espresso with more steamed milk and less foam
- Latte macchiato: steamed milk with a splash of espresso
- Caffè americano: diluted/brewed coffee
How to ask for your coffee order in Italian? “Buongiorno, un caffè per favore.”
Tokyo, Japan - $3.47
Coffee has been a strong staple for Japanese, almost more than tea. Major coffee chains have taken over the cities in Japan, and there are a great number of independent cafes almost anywhere you go in Tokyo. The average price for a cup of coffee in Japan is $3.47. Coffee is such a huge part of modern Japanese culture that it was the world’s 5th largest coffee importer in 2017. Most of the coffee served in Japan is similar to American style coffee, primarily drip and brewed coffee, which is considered to be weaker in taste and caffeine.
How to order coffee in Japan:
- “Coffee” = kouhii
- “Cold” = aisu
- “Hot” = hotto
- “Milk” = miruku
Japan is filled with some of the most unique cafes in the entire world. One of the most popular types of cafes in Japan are internet cafes. Often open 24 hours, these cafes are structured as multiple cubicles with desks, computers, headphones, and sofas. People often use internet cafes to sleep, lounge, or kill a few hours. There’s free wifi, rows of books, and of course, coffee and snacks.
Another popular and trending cafe in Japan are cat cafes. Cat cafes (Neko Cafe) are coffee shops where you can go to play with cats while enjoying a cup of coffee. The cats roam all around the cafe doing their own thing to keep you nice and comfy. Cat cafes have become so popular that they’ve made their way into the U.S., as well as dog cafes.
Paris, France - $4.13
The average price for coffee in Paris is $4.13. This might be the case because the coffee served in France is a little more complex, and heavily milk based. Not to mention, you can’t have coffee in Paris without ordering a pastry, especially a croissant. Although the price is a little above what you might be used to, it might be worth it for the experience of sitting in a French cafe.
How to order coffee in France:
- “espresso with steamed (hot) milk” = un café au lait
- “espresso with foamed milk” = un cappuccino
- “brewed/filtered coffee” = un café américain or un café filtre
- “decaffeinated coffee” = un café déca
When we imagine Paris cafes (at least in the movies), we imagine sipping our café au lait on a cozy booth with dim lighting or on a sunny terrace (café en terrace) filled with flowers and greenery. We’re not wrong to imagine this, because most if not all Paris cafes are this way. Coffee is a heavy part of the culture in France, especially the coffee drinking experience in their cafes. Cafes in Paris are truly like no other, and they really create an ambiance that reminds you you’re in the City of Love.
Doha, Qatar - $6.40
As the capital city of Qatar, Doha is the most expensive place in the world where you can get coffee. The average price for a cup of coffee reaches a record of $6.40! There has been a significant increase in cafes appearing in Doha over the years, ranging from themed cafes, 100% vegan cafes, and cafes inspired by coffee cultures around the world.
One of the most unique cafe’s Doha has is The Chemist Cafe, which has every inch of their cafe laboratory themed. That includes coffee served in beakers, employees wearing gas masks, and formulas written all over the walls. Similarly, Doha also has a cafe based on the popular American TV show Breaking Bad called Walter’s Coffee. The cafe chain has a huge menu in the form of a periodic table and even has their employees wearing the yellow hazmat suits.
Coffee in the U.S.
Buying coffee every day isn’t cheap when it adds up over time. Even in the United States, it’s not uncommon to see coffee prices reaching around $5 sometimes. We’re seeing more and more Americans make coffee at home simply because it’s cheaper. Instant coffee has been the go-to solution lately because of how easy, accessible, and affordable it is to make. Not to mention it’s the main ingredient for the famous dalgona coffee trend.
Even outside of the U.S., countries such as Japan, United Kingdom, China, and the Philippines consume and spend the most money on instant coffee. It makes sense, because it requires absolutely no special equipment (coffee makers, espresso machines) or skills.
So next time you want to travel the world, you might want to bring instant coffee with you to save some bucks.
