The cost of a meal varies with the region-restaurants in Northern Germany and the city-states tend to be pricier than those elsewhere, according to a study by the startup Meoton for the magazine “Spiegel”. In Thuringia, the average food item costs €10.91, compared with €13.09 in the tourist‑heavy state of Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern. Even though Bavaria has a high purchasing power, its average dish price is only €11.65.
When it comes to drinks, Thuringia and Baden‑Württemberg record the lowest average at €4.65, while Hamburg and Schleswig‑Holstein see the highest at €5.13.
Meoton co‑founder Christian Haese explained that “higher rents in large cities ultimately show up on the menu”. The company automated the extraction of menus from roughly 30,000 establishments-from fast‑food kiosks to gourmet restaurants. From these menus, they calculated the median prices for 12 food items and 14 drinks, including classics such as Schnitzel, tiramisu, and beer.
