Produced since ancient times, the beer it has become a ubiquitous element in society. Wherever there is a settlement there will be a tap that provides such a precious liquid. However, its quality and price varies depending on the region in which we are. The most seasoned beer consumers will know it perfectly. Its historical meccas, Belgium or Germany, enjoy an impeccable reputation.
But are they the cheapest? That is a good question. A frequent consumer of beer can value both its balance, aroma and flavor as well as the price that the bar on duty charges for its service. Beyond the exquisite palates, the tastings and the specific brands, there are countries and cities where drinking beer, in general, is a privilege both for its excellent quality and for its reasonable economic demand.
This is what this graph tries to find out. HowMuch, the group that visualizes through stupendous illustrations the most everyday aspects of the economy, made from information collected by The Wall Street Journal and OMIO. A ranking of cities based on their unbeatable economic offer, and controlled by the consumption of beer by its inhabitants over the course of a year.
Result: if you want to drink a lot of beer at a good price, and in addition to quality, the best thing you can do is travel to Eastern Europe. Poland places two cities at the bottom of the table: a pint (the international standard, served worldwide) costs €2.43 in Krakow and €3.23 in Warsaw, the capital. They are its two most recognized and tourist cities, so it is likely that prices will plummet in smaller cities.
Belgrade (€3), kyiv (€2.12) and Sofia (€3.08) stand out, like Poland, both for their high annual beer consumption and for their reasonable prices. The same can be said of Malaga (a surprising €2.5) and from Budapest (€3.5). The Spanish city is the only one in Western Europe capable of competing in prices with those in the East. The Bratislava group closes, both for its lower volume of annual consumption and for its unbeatable price: €1.99.
Eastern Europe stands out for its value for money: in few corners of the world does beer culture go hand in hand with such appetizing offers. Perhaps for this reason, all the cities mentioned are placed at the top of the table in terms of global intake.
What happens if we go to the sacred mecca of beer? That the quality will be superb, but that the prices will rise accordingly. Germany is a good example. In Frankfurt the pint reaches €4.97; in Berlin, €3.92; and in Munich, the €4.77. In Brussels, another great beer capital, it exceeds €4.64. prague It walks between both worlds: the average price of its great beers is €3.87, a transition point towards Eastern Europe. It is, together with Bucharest (€4.45: it is a surprisingly expensive city), the capital that drinks the most in the world.
But the beer culture extends beyond Europe. In other corners of the world it is possible to find even cheaper pints. In Ho Chi Minh, the most enthusiastic Asian city about it, a pint does not exceed €2.31; in Cape Town, €2.87; in Asunción, €2.63; and in Mexico City, €2.72. We always talk about average prices and in public establishments: in supermarkets, of course, they are much cheaper.
And now the reverse: where are the most expensive pints served? Hardly anyone could be surprised by the answer: Hong Kong (€9.74) and Geneva (€9.66) break the table. Other usual suspects follow behind: in Oslo a standard beer costs €6.43; in Zurich, €6.75; in London, €6.59; in Paris, €6.63; in Helsinki, €7.33. On the other side of the Atlantic, the picture is even more bleak: €8.04 in New York and Miami; although €5.81 in San Francisco. They are cities where drinking requires pocket depth.
Two final details. In Dulín, an expensive city with a long brewing tradition, a pint is somewhat below that of the main European cities: €5.63. And in Reykjavík, the capital of one of the most economically demanding countries in the world, just at €4.44.
Naturally, these are indicative figures. Each establishment in each city offers different quantities and rates. It is always possible to find corners where a pint is much cheaper than what is mentioned in the graph (or much more expensive). But in general, it reflects well various patterns, both consumerist and economic, if beer intake plays an important role in choosing your holiday destination.