The first year and a half I lived in Philadelphia, I worked as a staff assistant at a local non-profit. I was at the very bottom of the pecking order and earned a piddling salary to match my lowly position. I became adept at stretching my food budget, especially when it came to my morning meal. Monday through Friday, I would stop at the food cart outside the building and pick up a small coffee with cream and a soft pretzel from the sweet Greek couple who spent all day together in a small, metal box. It cost $.85. On the days when I was feeling flush, I'd get a large coffee for $.15 more. I realize these prices seem like something out of the 1960's, but this was just six years ago.

So you can understand how I'd feel a little aghast upon learning that around the world, the price of a morning cup is up. In some places it's way, way up. The U.S. consulting firm Mercer's recently charged their London office with the task of taking a survey of the price of a cup of coffee worldwide. They discovered that Moscow has the most expensive coffee, with the average price of a cup hovering around $10.19. Things aren't much better in Europe, with the average brew running just under $7 a cup.

I do question the validity of these prices, as the survey finds that a cup of joe will run you about $3.75 in New York City. I've had many a cup of regular coffee in Manhattan and rarely has it cost more than $2.50. These days, my favorite cup comes from local roaster La Colombe and costs a mere $1.50 for an excellent, freshly brewed 12 ounce cup.

How much does a regular cup of coffee run in your neck of the woods?

[via MSNBC]