The Intercultural Communication Course Blog 
Authors: Abby Haslett (Penn State), Meghan Reinhardt (Penn State), Jami Zolotor (UConn)

 

One thing that we have discovered during our time abroad so far is that the equivalency of one US dollar can buy you different things than in Italy. One of the biggest shocks when coming to Italy was that water in restaurants is not free. Drinking free water with our meal is one of the things we take for granted in the United States. In Italy, you must pay to get a bottle of water for the table. Asking for tap water doesn’t happen here in Italy. In fact, it has been said that it is actually illegal to serve tap water in Italy. There is the saying, “wine is cheaper than water,” and while this is not entirely true, they are more comparable in price here than in the U.S. We were shocked when we entered the grocery store and you could get a jug of cooking wine for two euros, when a small bottle of water at a restaurant is usually around 1.50 Euros.

Another difference is the cost of coffee. There are more local, small businesses in Italy than in America. The coffee, in general, is more expensive in America than in Italy; however, the sizes are always bigger so the customer is receiving more. In the United States, the price of coffee drinks varies depending on the company and how complicated your order is. For example, a simple black coffee is a few dollars less than a latte with flavoring, etc. As a whole, the Starbucks chain is more expensive than Dunkin’ Donuts chain. At both chains like these, I’ve also noticed that promotions are offered to their customers. Because of the cheaper prices and readily available locations, major chains are often more popular than smaller shops in the United States. Here in Florence, coffee does not come in quite the variety compared to the United States, as there are no ‘extra’ additions such as flavored syrup. The menu is, therefore, shorter and usually cheaper as a whole. One similarity I’ve found is that coffee price in Florence varies just as it does in the United States depending which cafe you choose. Generally, at locations near major attractions the coffee is around two euro more than a shop near my apartment or school building. Because the sizes are significantly smaller than in the United States, your coffee order is usually 2-4 euro cheaper. However, if you were to buy multiple drinks to receive the same amount or scale the sizes up America, the prices are actually somewhat similar.

Lastly, we found that it is cheaper to buy more organic, fresh foods here in Florence than it is in the United States. You can buy a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables for around 5 euro, where in the United States organic fruits and vegetables could add up quick and end up costing you $20. There is more of an emphasis on shopping local and organic because it’s cheaper here. There are many ways to stretch your dollar (but in euros!) here in Italy.