Ivan Camilleri, Brussels
Sipping coffee in Valletta is cheap, survey claims
Just when you thought Valletta's tourist lure and the euro changeover were prompting the city's cafes to up their prices, a study conducted by Polis - a Cypriot Greek language newspaper - has claimed otherwise.
It says Valletta is the cheapest city among 10 capitals in the EU to sip an espresso or cappuccino. The survey, conducted by the newspaper through its correspondents in various European cities, shows the price of a cup of coffee varies considerably between one city and the other. Coffee prices are commonly quoted by EU citizens to stress how prices fluctuated with the introduction of the euro.
Malta emerged as the cheapest destination for a cappuccino, an espresso or just a normal filtered coffee. On the other hand, a mug of hot chocolate is cheaper in Brussels.
The survey reveals that having a cappuccino costs three times as much in Nicosia than in Republic Street and more than twice as much if you order an espresso.
On the other hand, if you order a hot chocolate in the coffee shop next to Dar Malta in Brussels, you will save 20 euro cents on Valletta prices.
The survey does not take into consideration the average salaries of each country - Maltese citizens are among the lowest paid in the EU.
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Steve Williams
Oct 20th 2008, 06:30
According to the survey of the European Commission, an average wages in the European Union amounts to 20.25 euro per hour. Belarusian average wage is 1.38 euro.
The highest hourly wages are in Sweden– 32.16 euro, Denmark – 31.16 euro, Luxemburg – 31.98 euro, “Nasha Niva” runs.
Bulgaria is an outsider among the EU countries. An average hourly pay here is 1.65 euro, in Romania – 2.68, Latvia – 3.41.
To compare: average wages in Belarus amount to 1.38 euro (taking into account 40-hour workday and 23 working days in April, an average wage in Belarus was 836,890 rubles).
Noel Cutajar
Oct 19th 2008, 17:46
Let us imagine that the wages are all uniform throughout the Kingdom of Brussels...we have the cheapest coffee but the most expensive utility bills. So we are even with the rest....once the establishments receive their bills, the coffee will surely rise...by the way, coffee shops near the university cost less which are 1 Euro - this is a trick the then PM EFA had thought us (apart from other things) - Fittex fejn jaqbillek - as my pockets have become quite empty and cannot afford to go to Valletta for a coffee which would cost me as follows:
1. One litre of petrol - 1 Euro 20
2. Parking at Valletta - approximately 3 Euros depending how much I spend wandering about to find a parking - first 30 minutes free (I Think)
3. Long walk (good for the heart)
4. and then for the coffee - 1.40 Euro
Total: 5.60 Euros for an espresso!!
Better to buy a coffee machine.
anna brincat
Oct 19th 2008, 14:01
Probably the only thing which is cheap in Malta - sipping a coffee!
l Galea
Oct 19th 2008, 12:47
Don't forget that we also have the cheapest wages.
charmaine mangion
Oct 19th 2008, 11:25
thanks mr camilleri! now we wil start paying more for a coffee. can you compare our wages with these countries as well, as i have a feeling ours is the chepaest as well.
Noel Cutajar
Oct 19th 2008, 11:20
This quote says it all...
"The survey does not take into consideration the average salaries of each country - Maltese citizens are among the lowest paid in the EU."
If one had to compare the wages, our coffee would cost more than Vienna by far...so why compare when you leave the essential data out. An espresso would cost half an hour wage of the average worker who earns 4 to 5 Euro an hour, just for a sip or two of coffee.