When you see a game priced at $70 in the US and €80 in Europe, your first thought might be about currency conversion. You might wonder, “How Much Is 70 Dollars In Euros anyway?” A quick check on any currency converter today will tell you that 70 US dollars is roughly equivalent to around 65 euros. So, why the €80 price tag?
It’s easy to jump to conclusions about taxes like VAT. Some might say that European prices include VAT, while US prices don’t show sales tax until checkout. And yes, that’s partly true; VAT exists and impacts pricing. However, the story isn’t as simple as just adding tax. For many gamers and consumers in Europe, the price difference feels like more than just tax; it feels like a genuine increase in cost compared to what our American counterparts pay.
Think about it – game prices, and many other digital goods for that matter, often appear numerically lower in euros than in dollars. A $60 game might be listed at €60, for example. On the surface, it looks like a straight conversion, or even a slightly better deal for Europeans given the dollar to euro exchange rate. But when you consider the actual purchasing power, things get a bit murkier. Is €60 truly equivalent to $60 in terms of what you can buy in each region? Many Europeans would argue, quite strongly, that it isn’t.
The feeling is that even when the numbers are lower, the ‘euro price’ represents a higher real cost. This isn’t just about minimum wage comparisons, either. It’s about the general cost of living and what disposable income actually looks like after essential expenses. For some, it feels like companies might be assuming Europeans are wealthier than they are, or perhaps simply testing the waters to see how much the European market will bear.
And if you are in a European country where the euro’s value feels less potent compared to stronger economies within the Eurozone, this price discrepancy becomes even more pronounced. What might seem like a slight upcharge to someone in a wealthier European nation can feel significantly more expensive elsewhere. So, while 70 dollars converts to roughly 65 euros, the feeling for many European consumers is that paying €80 for something priced at $70 in the US isn’t just about exchange rates or VAT – it’s about perceived value and fair pricing in a global marketplace.
