
Networking with Flavor: Business Lunch Price Index
Whether in a relaxed business casual with light chinos and a sweater or smartly dressed in an elegant suit, the Business Lunch provides an ideal opportunity for professional conversations on an equal footing in a relaxed atmosphere. A shared lunch with clients, business partners, or colleagues offers an unbeatable chance to foster professional relationships and strengthen team spirit. Especially in times of flexible work models, planning a shared meal is invaluable for personal exchange.
A successful Business Lunch is definitely worth the investment. However, it's worth keeping an eye on how much of a strain it will put on your wallet. Many restaurants in business districts and city centers offer discounted menus during lunchtime. Inflation and rising food prices have been impacting restaurant visits for some time. The planned increase in the value-added tax in the gastronomy sector from seven to 19 percent will also affect lunch expenses in 2024. The following comparison will show you how much you should budget per person for a Business Lunch in the 20 largest cities in Germany, so networking over good food can continue without compromise. We compared the seven most popular culinary directions – from Mediterranean pasta and spicy curry to delicious burgers, there's something for everyone.

Essen: Enjoyment Without Guilt in North Rhine-Westphalia
Essen is the place to be for an affordable lunch outside the office. A Business Lunch dish here averages only 14.66 euros per person. You can even get pizza or burgers for a fair 12.80 euros.
Munich: High Prices, High Enjoyment
Munich is known as the city of beer gardens, good style, and high prices. This holds true for lunchtime as well. Here, you'll have to shell out an average of about 19.54 euros for a Business Lunch dish. That's almost a quarter more than in Essen.
Hearty Dishes, Hearty Prices: Traditional German Cuisine Costs
German traditional cuisine is delicious but also quite expensive. On average, you'll pay 19.87 euros here for lunch. In Münster, it gets even heartier – a whopping 26.55 euros for the full load of traditional dishes. But let's be honest, sometimes a schnitzel is worth the extra euro, isn't it?
Döner: Tasty and Affordable Everywhere
Good news for Döner fans: The popular meat dish costs an average of only 6.14 euros. Whether you're in Berlin, Hamburg, or Munich, the price for a good Döner is comparably low everywhere. Affordable and delicious – it doesn't get better than this.
Asian Variety: Lots of Flavor for Little Money
Asian cuisine is extremely diverse and at the same time convinces with low prices. On average, you'll get a good dish here for 13.91 euros. So, a culinary journey to the Far East doesn't have to cost the world.
Forecast: How VAT Changes Lunch Prices
Due to the increase in value-added tax at the turn of the year, we'll likely have to budget about two euros more for our lunch: The average price rises from 16.68 euros to 18.50 euros. But quality has its price. Even if lunch becomes a bit more expensive, enjoyment and good conversations remain priceless.

Methodology:
To calculate the average cost of a Business Lunch, we examined the 20 most populous cities in Germany, focusing on lunch offerings in business and financial districts. Prices for three restaurants from seven different culinary directions were researched per city. The most popular culinary categories were examined for evaluation: Asian, German, Mediterranean, American, Turkish, Bistro, and Döner offerings.
Lunch Prices:
The average price of main dishes from three different restaurants was determined per city and category. Where possible, explicit lunch offerings were considered. The values were obtained via Google Maps and, where possible, are from 2023. If no 2023 data was available, the most recent price was used. Since Döner prices were significantly below the average of other categories, they were not included in the calculation of the city's average price. Restaurants in the business district and city center were taken, as these areas typically house most companies and offices. The city center was taken from the respective city portal.
This cluster assessed how fashion-conscious men are within a city and how the local shopping options fare. This helps gauge the quality of fashion offerings for men in a specific city.
Culinary Categories:
Asian: The diversity of an entire continent awaits discovery through curries, pho, and pad Thai.
German: Hearty home-style dishes like schnitzel or spätzle are ideal for satisfying a big hunger.
Mediterranean: For those who love Italian pasta or French ratatouille.
American: Burger and pizza lovers will find their favorites here.
Turkish: Köfte, falafel, delicious dips, and oriental salads delight the palate in Turkish restaurants.
Bistro: For those who value both good food and good coffee, a typical bistro offers the best of both worlds.
Döner: When time is of the essence, this culinary delight is unmatched.