How much are things in the USA?

[Wrangler3]

I am being treated to a holiday in Hawaii in September. Can't wait. Can anyone tell me how much a coffee/coke/beer/whisky costs in the States on average? Is eating out still relatively cheap? I haven't been to the USA for about 25 years so am well out of touch. I seem to remember it was necessary to tip about a dollar every time you bought a drink? Does that still count?

[buildersmate]

The first thing that you need to know is that stuff is more expensive in Hawaii than in mainland USA. Can't quote an accurate figure, but perhaps an average of 15%.
It stands to reason; not only does most stuff have to be imported from the mainland, but also it is a major holiday destination for US citizens.
So any comparison with 'my Budweiser was 20cents in Florida' isn't worth a candle.

[factor-fiction]

Wine was horrendously expensive when I last went - over $10 a glass, partly due to high state taxes

[rockyracoon]

Hi wrangler try the following website, I've used it for both my trips to the US, you generally get people who actually live in that particular state answering questions, you might get more up to date info.

http://chowhound.chow.com/boards/71

[Wrangler3]

Thanks all. Help appreciated.

[KARL]

We were in the US until very recently. Eating out used to be cheaper than in Europe but any gap of that type has narrowed sharply if not switched 180 degrees in some cases. What I can state with certainty is that food (raw/plain ingredients) actually costs more out of the supermarket in the USA than in Britain. The clearest and most dramatic example of this was US grown sweet potatoes that are as much as 90% dearer out of Walmart in the US than in ASDA in the UK - and, yes, Walmart own a majority stake in ASDA.