In the 17th century coffee beans entered global trade and coffee became a common morning drink. Coffee houses appeared first in Europe and later in the American colonies. Patrons gathered to drink coffee, exchange news, conduct business or simply enjoy conversation.
As demand grew, coffee was cultivated across many regions. By the end of the 18th century coffee had become one of the world’s most profitable crops, and today it ranks as the most widely traded commodity after oil.
Global coffee consumption continues to rise, including in countries with strong tea traditions such as China, Japan and Taiwan. This growth has driven research into caffeine’s effects, innovations in brewing methods, the creation of new coffee drinks and a shared appreciation for the bitter black brew across cultures.
Coffee has evolved beyond a beverage to become a culture, an industry, an art and a passion.
How much does a cup of coffee cost around the world? UBS surveyed local residents in various cities to determine the typical price of a cup at a standard coffee shop. Prices reflect local cost of living, cultural preferences and other factors.
The following 25-city list presents average prices ordered from lowest to highest. Individual cafés within each city may charge more or less than the average.
Lisbon, Portugal
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Price of a cup of coffee: $0.74
Coffee note: Lower living costs in Portugal help make coffee inexpensive in Lisbon—a perfect pairing with the city’s famous custard tarts.
Local insight: With a mild Mediterranean climate and coastal setting, Lisbon’s social life centers on taverns and cafés. The historic port city, spread over seven hills, is known for whitewashed houses, red-tiled roofs and narrow cobblestone streets.
Milan, Italy
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Price of a cup of coffee: $1.33
Coffee note: Milan’s specialty coffee scene is expanding, with more artisanal shops and roasters appearing across the city.
Local insight: Renowned for fashion and design, Milan also hosts a vibrant commercial and tech start-up environment.
Istanbul, Turkey
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Price of a cup of coffee: $1.41
Coffee note: Ottoman courts were early consumers of roasted coffee beans. Traditional coffee houses in Istanbul were social hubs for reading, games and conversation—a legacy that endures.
Local insight: Straddling Europe and Asia, Istanbul blends Byzantine and Ottoman heritage with vibrant bazaars, mosques and historic sites like Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.
Toronto, Canada
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Price of a cup of coffee: $2.23
Coffee note: Even with numerous coffee shops, many Canadians still prefer brewing coffee at home.
Local insight: Toronto’s cultural diversity, strong financial and tech sectors, parks and eclectic neighborhoods make it one of the world’s most livable cities.
Mexico City, Mexico
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Price of a cup of coffee: $2.58
Coffee note: High-quality Mexican beans were traditionally exported, but rising domestic demand has encouraged more cafés to serve locally grown beans.
Local insight: Mexico City’s rich history—from Aztec roots to colonial architecture—plus its thriving food and museum scenes make it a cultural capital with thousands of restaurants.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Price of a cup of coffee: $2.82
Coffee note: The Dutch concept of “gezellig”—coziness—makes curling up in a small Amsterdam café with a cup of coffee a favored pastime.
Local insight: Amsterdam’s 17th-century gabled houses, canals and world-class museums combine with a lively design and start-up culture.
Los Angeles, USA
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Price of a cup of coffee: $2.87
Coffee note: Los Angeles hosts an annual Coffee Festival featuring tastings, workshops and barista demonstrations, reflecting the city’s dynamic coffee scene.
Local insight: As the U.S. film and television hub, LA also offers beaches, theme parks, diverse cuisine and a bustling cultural life.
New York City, USA
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Price of a cup of coffee: $3.12
Coffee note: With a dense concentration of coffee outlets, New York long ago earned a reputation as a coffee capital in the U.S.
Local insight: New York is a global center for finance, fashion and theater, with renowned museums, parks and a diverse culinary scene.
Auckland, New Zealand
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Price of a cup of coffee: $3.13
Coffee note: Coffee sizes vary by city in New Zealand: in Auckland a single espresso shot is more common, while Wellington often uses two.
Local insight: Built around two harbors and an extinct volcano, Auckland offers beaches, islands and a strong outdoor lifestyle.
Sydney, Australia
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Price of a cup of coffee: $3.17
Coffee note: Australia is credited with popularizing drinks like the flat white and long black. Australians often linger over coffee rather than treating it as a quick ritual.
Local insight: Sydney is famed for its beaches, mild climate and landmarks such as the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
Tokyo, Japan
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Price of a cup of coffee: $3.47
Coffee note: Although Japan has a rich tea tradition, it’s also one of the largest coffee importers and Tokyo hosts many specialty coffee shops.
Local insight: Tokyo blends neon-lit modernity with shrines, palaces, sumo venues and gardens, and offers extensive shopping and nightlife with Mount Fuji visible from afar.
Dublin, Ireland
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Price of a cup of coffee: $3.59
Coffee note: While Dublin historically favored beer, a significant share of the population now drinks coffee daily.
Local insight: Dublin is known for historic sites, literary heritage and a lively Irish music scene, anchored by institutions like Trinity College.
Taipei, Taiwan
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Price of a cup of coffee: $3.72
Coffee note: Taiwan grows coffee, but local beans are often exported because they command high prices; many Taipei cafés use imported beans.
Local insight: Taipei mixes modern skyscrapers with temples and bustling night markets known for diverse street food.
Munich, Germany
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Price of a cup of coffee: $3.75
Coffee note: Influenced by Italian coffee culture, Munich is home to historic roasters such as Dallmayr, which has operated for centuries.
Local insight: Famous for Oktoberfest, Munich also offers Gothic architecture, historic sites and a popular Christmas market tradition.
London, United Kingdom
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Price of a cup of coffee: $3.88
Coffee note: Coffeehouses became popular in 17th-century London, earning the nickname “Penny Universities” for their role as social and intellectual meeting places.
Local insight: London’s history stretches from Roman times to the present and includes landmarks like Big Ben, the Tower of London and world-class museums and theaters.
Oslo, Norway
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Price of a cup of coffee: $3.88
Coffee note: With a high per-capita coffee consumption, Norway—and Oslo in particular—is regarded as an excellent city for coffee lovers.
Local insight: Oslo offers fjords, parks and a thriving arts scene, and has been recognized for its green spaces and modern Scandinavian design.
Miami, USA
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Price of a cup of coffee: $3.93
Coffee note: Visit Little Havana for a traditional Café Cubano—strong espresso sweetened with natural brown sugar.
Local insight: Miami combines beaches, boating, Latin culture and a vibrant arts and food scene centered on Cuban influences.
Athens, Greece
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Price of a cup of coffee: $3.98
Coffee note: Greek coffee, a close relative of Turkish coffee introduced during Ottoman rule, remains a popular traditional brew.
Local insight: Athens uniquely blends modern life with ancient ruins, including the Acropolis and the Agora.
Paris, France
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Price of a cup of coffee: $4.13
Coffee note: Coffee drinking in Paris dates back centuries, and in the 18th century coffeehouses became hubs for writers and thinkers.
Local insight: Paris is famed for landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and its historic gardens and metro network.
Moscow, Russia
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Price of a cup of coffee: $4.31
Coffee note: After a late-20th-century shift from instant to specialty coffee, Moscow’s coffee culture has grown rapidly and espresso-style drinks are widespread.
Local insight: Moscow is home to iconic sites such as Red Square, the Kremlin and the Bolshoi Theatre.
Vienna, Austria
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Price of a cup of coffee: $4.35
Coffee note: Vienna’s coffeehouse tradition began in the 17th century and has long been central to the city’s cultural life.
Local insight: Vienna is noted for Baroque architecture, musical heritage and a long-standing intellectual and artistic tradition.
Shanghai, China
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Price of a cup of coffee: $4.60
Coffee note: Young urban residents in Shanghai are rapidly building a coffee culture in a country long known for tea.
Local insight: Shanghai combines modern skyscrapers and financial districts with historic riverfront areas, gardens and canals.
Zurich, Switzerland
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Price of a cup of coffee: $4.98
Coffee note: Zurich hosts several acclaimed baristas and a strong café culture; the Swiss enjoy multiple cups of coffee per day on average.
Local insight: Switzerland’s largest city offers lakeside terraces, a prominent financial sector and a skyline marked by historic churches.
Copenhagen, Denmark
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Price of a cup of coffee: $6.24
Coffee note: Despite high prices, Danes remain avid coffee drinkers and Copenhagen is home to many notable cafés.
Local insight: Copenhagen is a historic, walkable capital famous for colorful harborfront homes, pedestrian zones and a strong cycling culture.
Doha, Qatar
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Price of a cup of coffee: $6.40
Coffee note: Doha appears near the top of the list in price, reflecting its high per-capita income and luxury service sector.
Local insight: Qatar combines modern malls and urban development with traditional markets and cultural practices such as falconry and camel racing.