Which EU country pays the most and the least for food, drinks and tobacco?

Luxembourg was the most expensive EU country for food, while Finland was the most expensive country for alcoholic drinks, according to the latest Eurostat figures.

Food represents, on average, 16% of household expenditure across the bloc, while non-alcoholic drinks, alcoholic beverages and tobacco all represent 2%.

By contrast, the lowest food prices were observed in Romania. Non-alcoholic beverages are cheapest in Italy, while in Bulgaria, the cost of tobacco was the lowest.

EU inflation began at a low of 0.1% in 2015, but over the previous years, it has risen sharply, reaching 2.9% in 2021, and a historical high of 9.2% in 2022.

This rate decreased in 2023, however, it remained above the 2021 level, at 6.4%.

In 2024, the annual rate decreased again to 2.6% The highest annual inflation rates among EU member states were recorded in Romania at 5.8%, Belgium at 4.3%, and Croatia at 4%.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said that, in times of high inflation, the most direct way to help workers is by increasing their wages.

“Minimum wages and other wage-setting measurements can help mitigate losses in purchasing power and ensure a fair distribution of the cost of inflation between firms and workers,” the OECD stated.

Comparing the price of essentials

In 2024, bread and cereals, meat, fish and dairy products represented, on average, 17%, 22%, 5%, and 17% of EU household expenditure on food, respectively.

Denmark was the most expensive country for bread and cereals, as well as for fish, while Luxembourg was the most expensive for meat.

Prices for dairy products, such as milk, cheese and eggs, are the highest in Cyprus.

Meanwhile, the lowest prices for dairy products were observed in Slovakia, which is also the country where meat products cost the least. Fish was cheapest in Romania.

Oils and fats, and fruits, vegetables and potatoes food subgroups represented 4% and 22% of household expenditure, respectively.

Malta is the most expensive country for oils and fats, while Luxembourg is for fruits, vegetables and potatoes.

Finally, Poland was the least expensive country for oils and fats, and Romania for fruits, vegetables and potatoes.