In some places, dinner might feel more like a luxury splurge than the room you sleep in afterward. While hotel prices have stabilized or even dropped in certain regions, fine dining—or even casual meals—in select cities have soared. Whether it’s driven by limited ingredients, high tourism, or just local trends, these destinations are known for meals that can outprice a hotel night. And it’s not always about Michelin stars—sometimes it’s just a regular plate of pasta that empties your wallet.
Here’s a list of 18 cities where you might pay more for your entrée than your bed.
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva regularly ranks among the world’s most expensive cities, and its restaurant prices show why. A standard meal at a mid-range spot can easily cost $50 or more per person—without drinks. Meanwhile, budget hotels or hostels can be found for slightly less if you book early.
The city’s high salaries and international presence drive prices across the board. Still, you’re paying for clean service, punctuality, and often a lakeside view.
Oslo, Norway
Eating out in Oslo isn’t for the faint of wallet. Even casual restaurants charge upwards of $40 for a basic meal, and fast food isn’t much cheaper. Yet if you’re smart with accommodations, you can find simple hotel rooms under $100 a night—less than two meals.
Alcohol inflates costs even more, with a single beer running over $10. It’s easy to see why many locals prefer to cook at home.
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Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavik blends natural wonder with financial sticker shock, especially when it comes to food. Groceries are imported, so dining out hits hard—expect $30 to $60 per person at a casual bistro. Meanwhile, travelers have scored clean, central hotel rooms for less than that during shoulder seasons.
Tipping isn’t customary, but the prices make up for it. It’s a city where the northern lights are free—but your burger isn’t.
Zurich, Switzerland
Zurich is no stranger to high living costs, and dinner is part of that equation. A basic restaurant meal averages around $45 to $60 per person, even for simple fare like pasta or roast chicken. However, budget-conscious travelers can still find hostel beds or modest hotels that cost less than dining out. You’ll eat well—if your wallet can handle it.
In Zurich, luxury and simplicity both come with a price.
Tokyo, Japan (High-End Only)
While Tokyo offers excellent cheap eats, the high-end skews the average hard. A fine sushi meal can run well over $300 per person, especially at exclusive omakase spots with limited seats. Meanwhile, capsule hotels or small business hotels can be had for under $100.
That means dinner could easily cost triple what you pay to sleep. The range is huge—but the high-end climbs fast.
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Paris, France
Parisian dining is romantic—but expensive, especially in tourist-heavy areas. A three-course meal with wine can easily cost over $70 per person, particularly in the city’s core. With careful planning, travelers can still find budget hotels or guesthouses that run less than that for a night. Dining is part of the experience in Paris, but it comes at a premium.
You’re paying for ambiance—and butter.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen is known for its design, style, and sky-high food prices. Even a basic meal at a casual spot might cost $40 or more, with fine dining pushing triple digits. Still, off-season hotel deals and modern hostels keep accommodation costs relatively low. If you want to try the city’s famous cuisine, expect to spend more on your plate than your pillow.
And yes, that includes open-faced sandwiches.
Singapore
Singapore’s hawker stalls offer great value—but venture into sit-down dining, and the costs rise quickly. High-end restaurants regularly charge over $100 per person, especially in luxury hotels or rooftop spots. Meanwhile, clean and modern capsule hotels can be found for under $70 a night. The city is efficient, safe, and stylish—but eating fancy can blow your budget.
It’s the kind of place where dumplings cost $3 or $300, depending on your address.
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Venice, Italy
Tourist pricing hits hard in Venice, especially around St. Mark’s Square. A basic pasta dish with a glass of wine might run you $50—sometimes more if you’re paying for the view. Yet small hotels or B&Bs tucked away from the canals often charge less than that per night. It’s a city where the ambiance adds a lot to the bill.
You’ll pay for charm, whether it’s on your plate or in your room.
New York City, USA
New York offers it all—cheap eats and extravagant meals—but the upscale dining scene tilts the average. With dinner at high-end spots often reaching $100–$200 per person, it’s easy to spend more on dinner than lodging. Especially if you’re staying in hostels or catching off-peak hotel deals.
The city never sleeps, and neither do its food prices. You can find anything here—except cheap cocktails.
London, UK
London’s food scene has exploded, and so have prices. At mid-range restaurants, expect to spend $50 per person easily, with fine dining pushing that higher. Budget hotels, especially outside central zones, can still be found for less.
It’s entirely possible to sleep for £40 and eat for £80. The city has flavor—but it doesn’t come cheap.
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Sydney, Australia
Sydney blends beach charm with steep menu prices. A casual dinner with drinks can easily hit $70 per person, even at non-touristy spots. Yet hotels—especially off-season—can cost significantly less for a basic, clean stay. The exchange rate softens the blow for some, but it’s still a splurge.
You’re paying for the view and the weather—and maybe a kangaroo on the menu.
Hong Kong
Dining out in Hong Kong can be shockingly expensive, especially in hotel restaurants or rooftop lounges. With meals often topping $80 per person, it’s no surprise travelers spend more on food than their stay. Guesthouses and small hotels are often under $60 a night.
Between harbor views and creative dim sum, it’s a city where the flavor’s worth the fee—if you can stomach it.
Doha, Qatar
Luxury is the norm in Doha, and meals reflect that. Many dining experiences cost upwards of $100 per person, especially in hotels or high-end malls. Meanwhile, budget hotels can be surprisingly affordable, especially near the airport or outskirts. The contrast between flashy meals and minimalist lodging is sharp.
Doha feeds you well—but not cheaply.
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Monaco
With its luxury yachts and casinos, Monaco doesn’t aim for budget travelers. Dining at most places costs more than $100 easily, even without caviar or champagne. Budget hotels barely exist, but nearby French towns offer stays under $90.
In Monaco, the menu is a flex—and you’ll feel it on your credit card.
Dubai, UAE
Dubai’s extremes are reflected in its dining prices. While fast food is cheap, fine dining and themed restaurants often charge $100 or more per person. Hotel deals, especially during summer, bring prices below that for a night’s stay. You could sleep in air-conditioned comfort for less than a fancy brunch.
That’s the Dubai paradox: affordable beds, luxury bites.
San Francisco, USA
Food prices in San Francisco climb as steeply as its streets. A modest dinner downtown can cost $60 to $90 per person, depending on where you sit. Hotels have dropped slightly post-pandemic, making it possible to stay for less than your tab at dinner. You’re paying for sourdough and startup culture.
The views are free—but dinner isn’t.
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Stockholm, Sweden
Stockholm combines high standards with high costs, especially in restaurants. Even lunch can cost more than $30, while dinner easily hits $70 or more per head. Hotels aren’t cheap, but smaller ones or deals through local platforms sometimes dip below those food costs.
Travelers often balance the two by eating in. In Stockholm, splurging is subtle—but very real.
A Bite That Costs More Than the Bed
In these cities, your most expensive receipt might not come from the hotel front desk—it’ll be handed to you at dinner. High-end dining, tourist inflation, and global trends have pushed food costs past what many travelers spend on sleep.
But for food lovers, that splurge can be worth every bite. Just remember to check the menu before you book the room—or vice versa.
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