One of the best parts about travelling through Latin America is the food. From ceviche in Peru and empanadas in Argentina to tacos in Mexico, bandeja paisa in Colombia and encebollado in Ecuador, eating out is a huge part of experiencing the culture.

But how much does it actually cost?

A new global comparison using Numbeo data looked at the average cost of a meal at an inexpensive restaurant across 98 countries and territories — and Latin America has some surprisingly big differences from country to country. The figures are converted into U.S. dollars, making them easier to compare internationally.

Uruguay Is One of Latin America’s Most Expensive

At roughly US$16 for an inexpensive restaurant meal, Uruguay stands out as one of the most expensive places to eat out in Latin America.

Argentina isn’t far behind at approximately US$13.86, while Puerto Rico comes in around US$14.50. Mexico averages about US$11.61, while Costa Rica is around US$10.99.

Then the prices begin dropping considerably.

Panama averages around US$10, Chile about US$8.87, the Dominican Republic US$8.33, Venezuela US$8, Brazil US$6.80 and Colombia approximately US$5.73.

And some of the lowest prices in the region are found along the Andes.

According to the data, an inexpensive restaurant meal averages approximately US$3.53 in Peru, US$3.50 in Ecuador and just US$2.89 in Bolivia.

Compare That With Canada

For Latinos living in Canada, the difference is pretty noticeable.

The same dataset puts an inexpensive restaurant meal in Canada at roughly US$17.86, equivalent to around C$25. That means the average listed price is roughly five times the Ecuador figure and more than six times Bolivia’s.

And that’s before getting into the full experience Canadians know very well: drinks, tax and tip.

But There’s a Catch

These numbers don’t necessarily mean eating out is more affordable for people who actually live in those Latin American countries.

The ranking compares prices after converting them into U.S. dollars at market exchange rates. It doesn’t adjust the figures for local salaries or purchasing power. Numbeo’s figures are also crowdsourced, and what qualifies as an inexpensive restaurant can vary considerably between countries.

So a US$3.50 lunch in Ecuador might look incredibly cheap to someone arriving from Toronto, but the experience can be very different for someone earning an Ecuadorian salary.

Still, the numbers show just how dramatically restaurant prices vary across Latin America.

And for anyone from Toronto heading south this winter, there’s another reminder here: one of the great pleasures of visiting Latin America remains being able to explore an incredible food culture without Toronto restaurant prices following you everywhere.