The average price of the daily menu rises to €14.7, according to Hostelería de España and Edenred. The increase is below inflation, while the costs of raw materials and energy are rising more sharply.
The average price of the daily menu in Spain reaches €14.7, a 3.5% increase from 2025, as reported by ecosistemastartup.com based on a survey by Hostelería de España and Edenred. This is the highest figure since the employers' association began measuring this formula in 2016, when it cost €11.7, representing a 25.6% increase over the decade.
By region, Basque Country is the most expensive, at €16.3, followed by Balearic Islands (€16), Catalonia (€15.7), Valencian Community (€15.2), Navarre (€15.1), and Madrid (€15). At the opposite end, Canary Islands and Murcia are at €13.5, while Andalusia, Asturias, and Extremadura are at €14. The employers' association indicates that in the Balearic Islands and the Valencian Community, prices remained stable over the past year.
The increase is below the general CPI for September (4.9%) and the restaurant price index (4.3%). Menus are becoming more expensive, but at a slower rate than the cost of living.
The problem lies in costs. According to data from Hostelería de España, eggs have risen by 12.3%, legumes and vegetables by 9.8%, beef by 7.9%, and fresh and frozen fish by 4.5%. Additionally, energy products have increased by 21.7%, with electricity up by 11.4%, and labour costs in the hospitality sector have risen by 1.5% in the first half of the year.
Despite this, restaurant turnover grew by an average of 2.7% until July. Without the effect of prices, activity fell by 1.6%.
“This scenario continues to tighten the margins of establishments,” states Hostelería de España.
The most uncomfortable competitor for midday restaurants is supermarket ready meals. The 'Ready to Eat' line from Mercadona offers stews, pasta, meats, and desserts, with dining areas within the store itself. The source estimates its turnover in Spain in 2025 at €700 million.
According to a survey by TheFork Lab of over 4,000 users, 70% resort to prepared food for convenience and speed, and only 19% for price. 84% of respondents say they still visit restaurants as often as before, while 11% admit to having reduced visits.
The sector's response is to offer more flexible formats rather than lowering prices. According to the survey by Hostelería de España and Edenred, 54.6% of establishments allow regular menu modifications and 89.1% offer some degree of adaptation.
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