Over my five weeks in Spain, I quickly grew accustomed to multiple outings every day for a cup of coffee, a glass of beer, or a glass of wine. This gave me an opportunity to sit, relax, people-watch, plan my next set of activities, and of course enjoy a nice beverage. I was amazed at the seeming affordability of a coffee drink ($1-1.50 USD), a glass of draft beer ($1-$1.50), or even a nice glass of local red wine ($2-$3). Even multiple outings of this type in a day rarely broke the $10 mark, especially since it's not customary to tip.
In all my people-watching across Spain, it appeared that a broader socioeconomic spectrum of society seemed to be able to partake in these beverage outings than one might see in the U.S. Even after taking into account Spain's lower median annual income ($11,800/person vs. $19,300 in US), it seemed that going out for coffee, beer, or wine was still a highly accessible activity. Spain made my typical outings in Albuquerque seem quite pricey, where it's hard to get a coffee drink with tip for under $5, a pint of local beer will run $6-7 with tip, and don't get me started on a glass of mediocre red wine ($10+). My rough estimate is that the typical beverage outing in Spain costs about one-fourth the price here in the the U.S. (Albuquerque, anyway).
I saw many folks who appeared to be working class or have fewer economic means still able to afford to lounge in a sidewalk cafe with a cold beer and a complimentary salty snack or old friends on 'fixed incomes' meeting up every morning for their café con leche and animated conversations. One particular neighborhood bar stood out to me in Valladolid, where I observed a room full of locals who were thoroughly enjoying their $1.25 half-pints of draft beer, which were each served with what basically amounted to a light meal (photo below). A couple in their 30s with a young child enjoying a light lunch and a couple of adult beverages for a grand total of about $4 USD. I struggle with identifying an equivalent experience here in the states at that price point.
I can't discount the possibility that Spaniards overall might just be more inclined toward social outings and lifestyles and prioritize how they spend their time and money differently than a typical American. Regardless, I found it refreshing to see so many folks from all walks of life partaking in what I often consider 'little luxuries' of life, being out and about relaxing a bit, enjoying a nice beverage, the weather, or the company of a good friend.
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