{
  "id": 16283286,
  "title": "Grocery prices across Europe: Where is food most expensive and why?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/grocery-prices-across-europe-where-is-food-most-expensive-and-why",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-24T05:00:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Euronews",
    "slug": "euronews",
    "url": "https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/24/grocery-prices-across-europe-where-is-food-most-expensive-and-why"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Food and non-alcoholic beverages make up 13.6% of household spending in the European Union, far less than the 23.6% spent on housing and utilities, according to Eurostat data. The grocery index, which compares the cost of a basket of goods to the EU average, varies significantly across the continent, ranging from 57.2 in Moldova to 189.2 in Switzerland. Switzerland's groceries are 89.2% more expensive than the EU average, while Romanian prices are 42.8% cheaper.\n\nThree of the five most expensive countries for groceries are Nordic nations – Iceland, Norway, Denmark, and Luxembourg. The other Nordic countries, Finland and Sweden, also surpass the EU average. Among five major European economies, France leads the list, with groceries costing 27.5% above the EU average. Spain is the sole exception, with prices 10.3% below the average.\n\nOn the flip side, Romania stands out as the cheapest grocery destination within the EU, with prices 33.3% below the EU average. Eastern European and Balkan nations, including candidates for EU membership, also generally offer cheaper groceries. North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia have indexes of 59.8, 67.9, and 68.8, respectively. Turkey, although more expensive than several EU members, still falls below the EU average, and its food inflation remains the highest in Europe.\n\nLower grocery prices don't necessarily translate to greater affordability, as households in some countries spend a larger portion of their budgets on food. For example, Romania has lower prices but still allocates 23.1% of its budget to groceries, a percentage that exceeds 20% in Bulgaria as well. The 18-item grocery basket costs €69.84 in the EU, with Switzerland's basket at €137.90 – the most expensive in the region. Moldova, however, has the cheapest basket at €41.10.\n\nOne of the main factors driving grocery price differences is labor costs, with energy costs playing a significant role as well. Higher energy, fuel, and transportation expenses impact agricultural production, food processing, and distribution. Prof. Jeremiás Máté Balogh from Corvinus University emphasized that while lower grocery prices may seem more affordable, households may still spend a larger share of their income on food due to differences in wages and purchasing power.",
  "summary": "Grocery prices vary widely across Europe. Bread can cost more than three times as much in one country as in another. Euronews Business takes a closer look at the differences and what drives them.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}