Latvia surpasses many wealthy European countries in hotel and restaurant prices 0 9

The average index for the EU is set at 100. This means that if restaurants and hotels in the EU cost an average of €100, the index shows how much the same set of services will cost in each country. A value above 100 indicates that the destination is more expensive than the EU average, while a value below 100 indicates lower prices.

According to the latest data from Eurostat, Switzerland is the most expensive country for restaurants and hotels among 37 European states. A standard set of these services in Switzerland costs €171, which is 71% higher than the EU average.

The cheapest country is North Macedonia: prices there are 50% lower than the EU average, at €50.

Among EU countries, Denmark is the most expensive for restaurants and hotels. A standard set there costs €148, which is 48% higher than the EU average. The cheapest EU country is Bulgaria: the set of services costs €53.

In Northern Europe, restaurants and hotels are generally more expensive, while Western European countries also tend to be above the average. Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and France are at or above the €100 mark established in the EU. In contrast, Eastern Europe and the Balkans are significantly below the average level of €100 in the EU.

In Southern Europe, Portugal, Spain, and Greece are noticeably cheaper than the EU average, although Italy stands out as an exception. In other Mediterranean coastal countries, Croatia is close to the €100 mark, while Cyprus and Malta are slightly cheaper but still more expensive than many comparable countries.

As for Latvia, the cost level of its hotels and restaurants has been assessed at €91. As we can see, this is below the EU average, but still higher than in many European countries that are considered much wealthier, such as Cyprus, Malta, Spain, and Portugal.