I can provide a data point for Belgium at least. Starbucks specifically is about equally expensive in EUR, it's about 6EUR. But, you don't frequently see people

I can provide a data point for Belgium at least. Starbucks specifically is about equally expensive in EUR, it's about 6EUR. But, you don't frequently see people walking around with Starbucks in Belgium and they aren't on every corner (rarely see them, really). That said, Rent alone is significantly different, where the rent alone in NY can be the entire monthly salary for someone in EU. (Basing myself on data from Toronto, but I gather that NY is more expensive to rent).