> What kind of world do you live in where you can get lunch for two for 10 dollars.
Many places in the world would allow you to have lunch for two for ~10 USD.
> It's more like 40 dollars, and that's assuming it's a very cheap place.
You have to realize that's not representative of every place in the world or even every place within the US, right? Prices around the world are vastly different.
I think food is really expensive in Seattle (where I live) but $40 USD for lunch seems very steep to me. Unless you're ordering room service or eating at a pretty upscale place lunch shouod be less than $25.
Perhaps in Hong Kong dollars you'd spend $40 for lunch. I know some places use a dollar with much less purchasing power.
In the US, lunch for two for $10 was totally doable from a food truck in the US until recent inflation. And a lot of people get lunch from a food truck because it's affordable, good, varied, and not fast food.
If you're claiming it's $40 for two for a "very cheap" place then you're clearly talking about a sit-down spot with full service and beverages and a 20% tip. But most people are not having lunch on a regular basis somewhere with a server who takes their order and brings their food and drinks. Food trucks and cafeterias exist for good reason.
In Spain if your lunch is composed of sandwitches for a quick one, in some places of south Spain you can get a lunch for two for $12.
Also, on some Chinese Woks I could get a box of rice with chicken and some vegetables+addons such as onion rings for 12-13 euros. The box is pretty big so it can be split nicely without feeling yourself half-empty afterwards.
This probably doesn't qualify for "taking my wife out to lunch".
A few years back in Lisbon I got a simple main dish for 3€ in a restaurant. That was surprisingly cheap, I guess this is not possible in Spain, also not in the cheapest regions.
Possible in Extremadura, Andalusia and the Castilles. Also, Spain has the concept of "menú del día", a complete cheap menu. That's it: a starter, a second dish and a dessert. In the South of Spain you can find cheapish prices from 6 eur to 10.
It's more like 40 dollars, and that's assuming it's a very cheap place.