Getting to London is still affordable: You can snag a Eurostar ticket from Paris for around €50. It's when you get there that things get tricky. As soon as you step off the train, the cost of living in the United Kingdom, fueled by inflation, takes its toll. A public transit trip, for instance, costs £2.70 (€3.15) or more, depending on the destination and travel times. From city-center hotels to cabs, to days out (expect to pay the equivalent of €40 for a visit to Madame Tussaud's), every expense is likely to make your wallet break out in a cold sweat.

Restaurants are no exception. Based on our observations, an equivalent quality meal at a restaurant in London costs around twice as much as in Paris. The bill is even higher if you include wine (expect to pay around €15 for an average glass of nectar) rather than beer, which remains affordable. Food items are among the products that have risen the most recently, and this increase has caused restaurant prices to soar.

A French person paying the bill for the first time may be in for a surprise, as service is not included in the menu prices. This often amounts to 12.5% of the check, a little more than in the rest of England, and in some establishments, the customer is even asked to commit to a minimum amount when booking. Does this mean you have to empty your savings to be able to feast in London? No, because the capital has a street food scene that's as appealing as it is accessible, along with a few tasty and budget-friendly options.

Beigel Bake, salted beef and smoked salmon

It may be barely 8 am, but a colorful crowd is usually already gathering outside the gigantic white sign hanging above the Beigel Bake store. In Brick Lane, home to countless thrift stores, the line resembles a slightly eccentric fashion show, where the most unlikely outfits and hairstyles appear one after another. Founded in 1974, this historic London bagel shop is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and has seen a succession of onlookers and celebrities (from Madonna to royal family members).

The house specialty, of course, is bagels, which resemble little balls of brioche bread, in this case with barely a hole in the center. You can see them coming out of the oven before being sliced and stuffed with salted beef brisket (an Irish specialty) combined with sweet mustard and pickles, or smoked salmon with cream. Let's try the beef: The softness of the bread combined with the chewiness of the flavorful meat creates a simple yet effective combo. Moreover, the whole menu is very affordable (£6.20, or €7.25), and sold by saleswomen who still have a knack for humor. "I hope you'll tell us about the beautiful blue-eyed blonde who served you!" said a sprightly woman in her 60s while handing over a bagel.

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