The cheapest European cities to be vegan

Fortunately, times are changing. More and more restaurants are taking the needs of their vegan customers seriously. Vegan options are now more sophisticated, diverse and rewarding than ever before. And in terms of price, going vegan won’t hit you in the pocket as much as some doom-mongers may have warned.

But where is the most affordable place in Europe to be vegan? Well, here at BesteOnlineCasinos.com we have found the answer. By analysing 3.5 million vegan restaurants, and judging them based on average meal prices, the services they provide as well as their proximity to other vegan restaurants, we have ranked over 60 European cities. This therefore is the definitive list of places to go to, and the places to avoid, if you are considering going vegan.

The top ten most affordable cities to be vegan

Krakow

	Vegan Restaurants	Vegan Restaurants per 100,000	Average Price	Affordability Score
Krakow	263	34.79	$11.68	91.42

Poland’s second largest city takes the top spot on our list of the cheapest European cities to be vegan in. Krakow is home to a mouth watering 236 vegan restaurants, with 16.57% of all the restaurants across the city being friendly to vegans. This abundance of restaurants not only means vegans in the city are blessed for options, but the competition between different eating establishments means that they are incentivised to keep prices low.

Many of Poland’s most beloved dishes marry seamlessly with vegan alternatives. The ground beef in the city’s signature Pierogis can easily be substituted with a mushroom or potato filling. Other options which will have non-meat eaters salivating are vegan golabkis, cabbage rolls, and a Polish stew called bigo.

As it is a growing tourist destination, Krakow has also been influenced by many other nations’ cuisines. Within the city you will also find street food vendors selling “vegabs” (vegan kebabs), vegan burgers and even samosas.

This means that the average price of a vegan meal in a restaurant is just $11.68, giving the city an affordability score of 91.42. Remarkably, over 50% of the vegan restaurants in the city can offer a meal for under $21.

Tallinn

	Vegan Restaurants	Vegan Restaurants per 100,000	Average Price	Affordability Score
Tallinn	145	36.8	$17.23	82.54

A city on the rise, in the last two decades Tallinn has birthed Skype, become the headquarters of the European Union’s IT agency and even hosted the UEFA Super Cup. Whilst all these developments have been occurring, the Estonian capital has also produced a diverse array of vegan restaurants.

Tallinn is home to 145 vegan restaurants, meaning that there are 36.8 restaurants per 100,000.

If you want to sample these culinary delights the best place to go is the Baltic Station Market’s food street. There you will find vegan burgers which offer a fusion between east and west, along with restaurants selling more wholesome salad bowls and pastas.

With all these vegan restaurants so closely clumped together they are all competing with each other. The price of a vegan meal in a restaurant is just $17.28, earning Tallinn an affordability score of 82.54.

Budapest

	Vegan Restaurants	Vegan Restaurants per 100,000	Average Price	Affordability Score
Budapest	497	29.6	$16.51	81.26

The Hungarian capital, Budapest has produced Nobel prize winners in economics, physics and chemistry, as well as one of the greatest football teams to never lift the World Cup. Divided by the river Buda, Budapest has not only become one of the top destinations for city breakers, but a hub of vegan food.

The largest city on our list so far, Budapest is home to 497 vegan restaurants, with almost 20% of its restaurants being vegan ones.

No matter what vegan meal you fancy, Budapest probably has it on offer. For more sophisticated fare try Dorumba, a middle-eastern inspired restaurant which is just a short walk from the inner city. Alternatively, for something a little bit more down to earth, Vegazzi is the place for you. A stall which appears to be in an abandoned building, Vegazzi serves the best vegan pizzas in the city until 4am.

This variety means that Budapest has an affordability score of 81.26, with the price of an average meal setting you back $16.51.

Ljubljana

	Vegan Restaurants	Vegan Restaurants per 100,000	Average Price	Affordability Score
Ljubljana	123	39.07	$17.30	80.16

Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia, a country that only came into being in 1992, upon the disintegration of Yugoslavia. Much has changed since then in this picturesque city that has been described as being like a living museum. One of the notable developments has been the proliferation of vegan restaurants.

Despite having a population smaller than Münster, Ljubljana houses 123 vegan restaurants. A staggering 22% of Ljubljana’s restaurants are vegan.

Like many of the city’s on this list, Ljubljana offers vegan options influenced by Europe, Asia as well as their own distinct dishes. Vegan highlights include Radha Govinda, an Indian inspired self-service restaurant offering various types of personalisable wraps. Zaziz vegan bistro meanwhile is famed for its outlandish polenta pizza.

With an affordability score of 80.16, Ljubljana is certainly an option for an alternative vegan city break.

Bratislava

	Vegan Restaurants	Vegan Restaurants per 100,000	Average Price	Affordability Score
Bratislava	94	22.18	$13.57	78.58

Slovakia’s largest city, Bratislava is the only capital city in the world which borders two other countries. With it being so near to both Austria and Hungary, it is no surprise that Bratislava welcomes around one million tourists each and every year. And it would be no surprise if many of them were vegan.

Bratislava doesn’t have as many vegan restaurants as other European cities on our list, with just 94 restaurants being vegan friendly. But, what it lacks in options it makes up for in price. The average vegan meal in Bratislava costs just $13.57.

Along with the usual vegan burgers and burritos that you would find in many other European cities, Bratislava also offers its own unique vegan dishes. The Slovakian national dish of Halusky, which is made of potato dumplings surrounded by noodles and cabbages is a must have for any adventurous culinary tourists.

Let down by its limited number of restaurants, Bratislava has received an affordability score of 78.58.

Warsaw

	Vegan Restaurants	Vegan Restaurants per 100,000	Average Price	Affordability Score
Warsaw	236	13.83	$12.79	77.48

The sixth most populous city in the European Union, it is hard to believe that Poland’s capital started off as a humble fishing town in Masovia. Since then it has seen wars, uprisings, before emerging as a key financial hub on the continent, with one of the most prestigious stock exchanges in all of Europe.

When it comes to vegan restaurants Warsaw does not disappoint. There are 236 vegan friendly restaurants which stretch across the city.

The city offers many vegan restaurants which offer a diverse selection of mains and desserts. Japanese, Israeli, Tex-Mex can all be found in Warsaw. The most authentic Polish dishes to look out for are Schabowy along with the classical polish dumplings. Schabowy is typically made of lamb cutlets, but plant based alternatives have come available. Whilst the dumplings can be filled with whatever you fancy.

With the average price of a meal being $12.79, Warsaw is left with an affordability score of 77.48.

Vilnius

	Vegan Restaurants	Vegan Restaurants per 100,000	Average Price	Affordability Score
Vilnius	106	19.54	$16.53	76.04

Another capital city, this time in Lithuania. Once part of the Soviet Union, Lithuania gained its independence in 1990. A former European capital of culture, Vilnius is famed for its beautiful old town which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Dotted in and around the old town are many vegan options. And despite the majesty of the surroundings prices remain affordable. The average price of a meal in Vilnius is $16.53, leaving the city with an affordability score of 76.04.

Its 106 restaurants specialise in various cuisines. For the authentic taste of Lithuania, look out for the national dish, cepelinai. A potato dumpling dish accompanied by a rich mushroom sauce can certainly be made without the use of animal products.

If you are in the old town of Vilnius then the place to visit is the SOMA cafe. Open from 11am, SOMA offers all kinds of cuisines from Indian, Asian to Eastern European meals.

Antalya

	Vegan Restaurants	Vegan Restaurants per 100,000	Average Price	Affordability Score
Antalya	32	4.09	$15.08	75.4

A Turkish resort city sat on the Mediterranean might not seem like the obvious tourist destination if you are in search of high quality, affordable vegan food.

Despite there being just 32 vegan restaurants, Antalya makes our list for a variety of reasons. 78% of the vegan restaurants offer free wifi on their premises, more than any other city on our list. It is also one of the best cities to visit if you want to watch the TV, or be within walking distance of a bar, whilst you tuck into your falafel or salad. This has bumped Antalya affordability score up to 75.4.

The best vegan restaurants in Antalya can all be found round the coast, with there being various restaurants serving both sweet and savoury meals.

Riga

	Vegan Restaurants	Vegan Restaurants per 100,000	Average Price	Affordability Score
Riga	149	20.07	$19.51	75.39

Where better to go for a culinary adventure than a city which was declared the European Region of Gastronomy in 2017. The capital of Latvia – Riga is an eclectic city noted for its quaint brick buildings and numerous town squares.

Riga features 149 vegan friendly restaurants, meaning that there are 20 vegan eateries per 100,000 people. The average price of a meal in Riga costs $19.51, with 36.9% of meals costing less than $21. This leaves Riga with an affordability score 75.39.

The best place to find vegan restaurants is in the Centrs neighbourhood. There you will find multiple dining options serving burgers, bowls and wraps.

Tirana

	Vegan Restaurants	Vegan Restaurants per 100,000	Average Price	Affordability Score
Tirana	84	9.38	$15.85	73.97

Rounding out our top ten is Tirana. Due to its history and geography, Tirana has been influenced by many different cultures. Its proximity to Greece means that you won’t struggle to find stalls selling humus, dolmades and vegan kebabs. Whilst the Italian influence on the city ensures that a place to get pizza or pasta is never too far away.

The average meal out at a vegan restaurant costs $15.85 in Tirana, whilst the percentage of restaurants where a meal costs less than $21 is 38.1%. Tirana therefore has an affordability score of 73.97.

The cities that missed the top ten

Just outside the top ten were Lodz, Zagreb and Belgrade. Each of these cities missed out on these coveted spots for varying reasons. Lodz was very strong on cost, with the average price of a vegan meal being just $12.85. Unfortunately, it was let down by its lack of options with there being only 42 vegan friendly restaurants across the Polish city. Meanwhile Belgrade delivered on choice with 154 restaurants, but was less competitive on price.

The cheapest city for a vegan in western Europe was Liverpool. The city on the banks of the river Mersey offers a very impressive 283 vegan restaurants. This means that there are 34.9 vegan restaurants per 100,000.

Other notable cities in the west of the continent which can deliver cheap catering options for vegans include Glasgow, Amsterdam and Berlin.

The cities to avoid as a vegan

Of the cities that we investigated, the most expensive city to be a vegan in was Geneva. Even though the Swiss city offers a very respectable 173 vegan restaurants, price was the issue. The average restaurant cost $37.21. Just 6.74% of restaurants could even offer a meal for less than $21. This left Geneva with an affordability score of just 10.5. Fellow Swiss city Zurich fared little better with an affordability score of 20.

London was the city home to the most vegan restaurants, but unsurprising charged some of the highest prices. The story was similar for both Paris and Rome.