TORONTO — German soccer fans traveling to Canada for the World Cup are discovering that their tradition of careful spending — known in Germany as Sparsamkeit — is getting a serious workout when it comes to buying a round of drinks.
Hundreds of supporters arrived in Toronto on Friday, flying in through Houston to join pre-game celebrations ahead of Saturday’s Group E matchup between Germany and Ivory Coast. Fans were spotted lining up outside downtown pubs, some still hauling luggage fresh off their flights, while others had stopped at Niagara Falls along the way.
Despite the festive atmosphere, the topic of beer prices quickly dampened spirits when fans were asked about the cost of a pint in the city.
“I have to tell you the beer prices in Canada and the U.S. are much more expensive than in Germany,” said Mats Kauer, 47. “In Germany, we pay about $6-$7 for a pint, but there it is about $10 to $14, and in the stadium, it is $17. That is ridiculous. You have to make it cheaper because beer is essential to life.”
Anne-Marie Seessle, who serves as president of Toronto’s Bayern Munich Fan Club, acknowledged that elevated prices come with the territory when traveling abroad for a World Cup. However, she drew the line at ticket costs, calling them “insane.” “Here in the city, the ticket prices have been crazy. I myself paid C$1,000 ($705.99) for my ticket,” she said.
Canada ranks among the highest in food inflation across G7 nations. While the exchange rate against the U.S. dollar and euro offers some relief, that advantage can quickly disappear once taxes and tips are factored in. Toronto restaurants and bars typically tack on a 13% tax, and servers expect gratuities ranging from 12% to 20%.
Heiner, a 61-year-old from Berlin who plans to attend every one of Germany’s World Cup matches, said he has enjoyed Toronto as a destination — but not the drink prices. “But the beer prices here is what we pay in Munich during Oktoberfest,” he said, noting that a litre costs about 50% more than back home.
Bar owners in Toronto pushed back on the criticism, arguing their prices are in line with what you’d find in Europe. The bigger concern for them, they say, is simply keeping up with the demand.
Cesar Mesen, 44, owner of Pint Public House, said he’s taken steps to ensure his taps stay flowing throughout the match. “We have right now 16 kegs getting nice and cold,” Mesen said. “Each keg is 30 litres, so that makes 500 litres of beer and that is about 1,200 pints. So we are expecting a little bit more activity tomorrow, but we are ready for it.”
