Why is eating out in Copenhagen more expensive than ever

Copenhagen ranks as Europe's second most expensive city for dining out, according to a 2020 Housing Anywhere study. Nearly five years later, the restaurant prices kept rising.

Jack, a resident of Copenhagen, sees this daily. "Grocery store prices are pretty reasonable, but going out to eat? I've noticed an insane difference". 

Denmark's Consumer price index, which tracks how much households pay for goods and services, confirms their observation. Restaurant prices have climbed significantly since 2022, rising faster than general consumer prices and changing how residents live.

Danish Minister of Industry Morten Bødskov acknowledges the crisis: "Prices have risen sharply, and for many Danes everyday life is tough. Rising prices hit low-income Danes particularly hard." The government is now negotiating food allowances and analyzing the entire food value chain.

According to a Danmarks Nationalbank’s recent analysis, food prices across Denmark have risen by 32 percent since 2021. The causes include post-Covid supply disruptions, the war in Ukraine, and extreme weather due to climate change.

Jack used to eat out regularly. "Going out to eat is like a once a week thing now, I try to limit it so I can budget myself." For many Copenhagen residents, dining out has now become a rare luxury.

This story targets international readers interested in cost-of-living comparisons and could appear in The Economist (https://www.economist.com/topics/europe).