Michael We've been living abroad for almost four years now! Every time visitors from Germany arrive here in San Francisco, we become aware of this fact. I think that about 20 people visited us this summer -- let's see if I can remember them all: (Günter, Thomas & Helmut & Konrad, Matthias, Fritz & Traudl, Ursel & Peter, Heinz & Ursel & Bernd & Julian & Yves-Ole, Susanne, Christian, Markus).
A popular ongoing topic among German tourists is, of course, complaining about the rather high dollar exchange rate! Oh, how expensive the goods are! We've noticed that we have no idea anymore what these things actually cost in Germany. That's why today we have put together a newsletter shopping basket: typical items and services and what you pay for them in San Francisco (as of June 1, 2000). For some things, your jaw will surely drop:
| Item/Service | USD | DM (Exchange Rate 2.09) |
| 1 Liter of Milk | 1.33 | 2.78 |
| 1 Liter of good (microbrew) beer (supermarket) | 4.00 | 8.36 |
| 500g Emmenthaler Cheese | 8.87 | 18.54 |
| 1 Hamburger at McDonalds as a special | 0.29 | 0.61 |
| 1 Rental Car per day including insurance | 50.00 | 104.50 |
| 1 Burrito at a Mexican takeout | 5.00 | 10.45 |
| 1 Sandwich at the deli counter | 4.00 | 8.36 |
| 1 Pack of cigarettes | 4.50 | 9.40 |
| 1 Bottle of somewhat drinkable wine | 10.00 | 20.90 |
| 1 Porsche Boxter with extras | 48000.00 | 100320.00 |
| 30 pack of Twix | 12.00 | 25.08 |
| 1 Liter of regular gasoline | 0.48 | 1.00 |
| 1 car wash (inside and out) | 12.00 | 25.08 |
| 1 Lunch at an affordable Chinese restaurant per person | 5.00 | 10.45 |
| 1 reasonably priced dinner per person | 20.00 | 41.80 |
| 1 very expensive dinner per person | 100.00 | 209.00 |
| Monthly rent of a 2-bedroom apartment in our neighborhood | 2000.00 | 4180.00 |
| Cheap motel room in San Francisco | 85.00 | 177.65 |