(19 June 2015) – In 2014, price levels for consumer goods and services differed widely in the European Union: Poland was cheapest both for food and consumer electronics, while restaurants & hotels were the least expensive in Bulgaria. Overall, price levels ranged from 48% of the EU average in Bulgaria to 138% in Denmark.
Price levels for food & non-alcoholic beverages in 2014 ranged from 61% of the EU average in Poland to 139% of the average in Denmark. Differences in price levels between Member States were less pronounced for this product group than for the total of goods and services.
Clothing is one of the groups of products showing a smaller price variation among Member States, with Hungary (70% of the average) cheapest and Sweden (121%) most expensive. Consumer electronics is another group of products where prices differed less among Member States, ranging from 85% of the average in both the Czech Republic and Poland to 116% in Malta.
With the noticeable exception of Denmark (151% of the average), price differences among Member States were also limited for personal transport equipment, from 75% in the Czech Republic to 114% in Portugal and 117% in the Netherlands. In contrast, prices for restaurants & hotels showed more significant variations, with price levels ranging from 46% of the average in Bulgaria to 147% of the average in Denmark.