A series of viral social media posts, led by the user 'Gladiador Merval', revealed that a hot drink can cost less in Europe than in the capital of the country, where the minimum wage remains among the lowest in the region. 'Cheaper coffee in Brussels than in Buenos Aires,' wrote the financial influencer when posting an image of a board from the bar Château Moderne in Belgium, where an espresso costs 2.5 euros and a cappuccino 3.5.
A survey by the Spanish newspaper El País, published in February, had already positioned Argentina as the country with the most expensive coffee in the region, comparing prices in central bars in Buenos Aires (USD 3.5), Santiago de Chile (USD 2.8), Mexico City (USD 2.5), Bogotá (USD 1.5), and São Paulo (USD 1.5). The comparison with a bill from the classic Buenos Aires bar 'La Ideal,' where an Italian cappuccino cost 14,500 pesos (USD 12.35 at the then MEP exchange rate), sparked criticism.
In another tweet, 'El Barón del Merval' joked: 'Here in the center having a cappuccino for 12.35 USD, a bargain,' alluding to the contrast with European cities. Argentina, the most expensive country for coffee. It's not just a matter of perceptions on social media. The comparison between coffee prices in Brussels and downtown Buenos Aires reignited the debate about the standard of living in Argentina.
