Aaah…the latte factor…the amount of  money you would be saving if you forgoed (gasp) your beloved latte at the local coffee shop each day. Okay, I agree that it could be financially beneficial, adding up at an average $1277.00 per year and this would probably put a significant dent into a high finance charge credit card or even pay for car gasoline for the year. But, is it possible for me to abstain from anything else instead? Really? Anything? I could easily live without cable (but, not Tivo!), my subscriptions to trashy mags or even my severe shoe fetish.

Since, in this case, abstinence is not a possibility I am redefining the term “latte factor” as to how much I will need to budget on my caffeine fix each day as I start my travels around the world. Would I need to forgo a mosquito net in Thailand, croissants in France or touring the Ledreborg Palace in Denmark?

On my trip to Tamarindo in Costa Rica I paid a mere buck seventy-five (899 Colones) for a latte…maybe I should have taken residence there? This  locale is just as cheap as having กาแฟ in Thailand at 53 Baht (that mosquito net will be affordable after all). Malaysia, Canada, Madrid and Mexico all fall into the low $2.00 range, totally doable.

In Italy, after being pegged as a tourist for not ordering a straight-up espresso, your beverage will run you $3.00 (1.75 Euros). I beg you, please don’t ask them for sugar-free vanilla, non-fat milk or caramel sauce. They may just have you banned from the country. Head over to France and get your java for an average of $4.50 (3 Euros)…I wonder if they will sell me just a 1/2 of a croissant? Leaving France, slightly hungry, Japan will offer no relief at $4.65 (531 Yen) though it will be slightly better than Switzerland at $4.65 for a fancy cup of Joe. When I am feeling a little heavy in the wallet I will head over to Denmark at a whopping $6.60…my dreams of being a princess at Ledreborg Castle will have to wait.

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