By Riad Beladi
In the developed world, particularly in places like the United Kingdom, a morning trip to the local coffee shop has become a luxury — a small indulgence often reserved for weekends or special occasions. The rising cost of living has turned what was once a simple daily pleasure into a calculated expense. For many, grabbing a cappuccino, a couple of croissants, and fresh orange juice before every day work is unthinkable — financially out of reach for anyone outside the highest income brackets.
A recent reflection on everyday life across different continents reveals a stark contrast in lifestyle expectations and economic realities. Travel through countries like Algeria, Morocco, or Tunisia, and you’ll see a very different morning ritual. A schoolteacher or a construction worker — earning what would be considered a modest salary by local standards — sits comfortably at a café table. They order a cappuccino, two croissants, a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, and later finish with an espresso. This scene is not an exception, but a norm.
There’s no rush, no take-away cup in hand, no hurried glances at train schedules. Just conversation, leisure, and a routine that seems worlds apart from the daily grind in London or Paris. In many North African cities, coffee culture is woven into the fabric of everyday life. A teacher in Algeria might enjoy not just one, but several coffee shop visits in a single day — often social, occasionally reflective, always affordable.
The contrast is glaring. In the UK, even a basic breakfast at a chain café can set someone back £10 or more. For many, that’s a significant portion of disposable income. With rent or mortgage payments, transport costs, and utility bills consuming up to 60% or more of monthly wages, the idea of leisurely café mornings becomes almost utopian. In this setting, grabbing coffee becomes less about enjoyment and more about budgeting.
Meanwhile, in much of North Africa, the cost of living — though not without challenges — allows for daily indulgences that feel unreachable in so-called “wealthier” nations. There, social spaces still exist that don’t come with a premium price tag. Time moves differently, and the economic model hasn’t entirely stripped life of its simpler pleasures.
This isn’t just about coffee. It’s a broader reflection on quality of life. Developed nations often boast better infrastructure, stronger currencies, and higher wages, but when basic lifestyle comforts become exclusive rather than accessible, one must ask: what’s the real cost of development?
The irony is hard to ignore. While the West leads in GDP, tech advancement, and global finance, many of its citizens are priced out of leisure. The café, once a symbol of urban culture, now often stands as a marker of inequality. A place that once welcomed all is now reserved for the few.
Maybe it’s time to rethink what progress should look like. Because when the average person can no longer afford a simple morning at a coffee shop, what are we really developing toward?