Which European country has the most expensive groceries?

In Eurostat's 2025 price level indices for food and non-alcoholic beverages, Switzerland (155.9) and Iceland (155.8) are highest, followed by Norway (133.1), against an EU average of 100. Within the EU, Eurostat says prices were 22% above the EU average in Luxembourg, followed by Denmark at 21%.

Which EU country has the cheapest groceries?

Romania. Eurostat says Romania's prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages were 20% below the EU average in 2025, followed by Slovakia at 17% below.

How expensive is food in the Nordic countries?

On Eurostat's 2025 index for food and non-alcoholic beverages (EU average = 100), Iceland is at 155.8, Norway 133.1, Denmark 120.5, Sweden 109.9 and Finland 107.5.

What does a price level index mean?

Eurostat says that if a country's price level index is higher than 100, the country is relatively expensive compared with the EU average, and if it is lower than 100, it is relatively cheap. The indices are national averages, not city prices.

Is the United Kingdom included?

No. The United Kingdom appears in Eurostat's dataset but has no values for 2023 to 2025.

Grocery Prices in Europe: Food Price Levels by Country (2025)

This page compares grocery prices across Europe using one official measure: Eurostat's price level indices for food, for 2025. They compare each country's price level with the EU average, set at 100.

Eurostat explains it like this: "if the price level index is higher than 100, the country concerned is relatively expensive compared with the EU average, while if the price level index is lower than 100, then the country is relatively cheap compared with the EU average." The indices are based on annual national average prices for 508 goods, collected in spring 2024 and extrapolated to 2025 using consumer price indices. They are national averages, so prices in a capital can differ from the national figure.

The headline

In 2025, Eurostat says, price levels for food and non-alcoholic beverages were 22% above the EU average in Luxembourg, followed by Denmark at 21% above. Romania's prices were 20% below the EU average, followed by Slovakia at 17% below.

Outside the EU, Switzerland (155.9), Iceland (155.8) and Norway (133.1) are higher than any EU country.

Food price levels by country, 2025

EU average = 100. "Food and non-alcoholic beverages" is the wider group; "Food" leaves out drinks. Sorted from most to least expensive. Eurostat notes that price level indices "are not intended to rank countries strictly" and only indicate the order of magnitude, particularly when countries are close together.

Country	Food and non-alcoholic beverages	Food
EU average	100.0	100.0
Switzerland (EFTA)	155.9	158.8
Iceland (EFTA)	155.8	158.8
Norway (EFTA)	133.1	132.3
Luxembourg	122.4	123.5
Denmark	120.5	119.7
Ireland	115.5	113.3
Malta	112.9	111.7
Sweden	109.9	109.5
Estonia	109.8	108.5
Austria	109.5	110.2
Finland	107.5	105.7
Latvia	107.5	105.0
France	106.8	107.9
Croatia	105.5	102.3
Greece	105.3	104.7
Belgium	104.5	104.5
Lithuania	103.0	101.4
Germany	102.4	102.7
Portugal	102.0	101.4
Italy	101.1	103.3
Slovenia	101.0	100.1
Cyprus	100.1	100.2
Netherlands	99.4	97.4
Spain	95.3	94.9
Hungary	95.2	94.3
Bulgaria	92.6	91.0
Czechia	89.8	89.8
Poland	89.5	88.4
Slovakia	83.2	82.1
Romania	79.8	78.9

Source: Eurostat, dataset prc_ppp_ind_1, last updated 9 July 2026. The United Kingdom has no values in this dataset for 2023 to 2025.

In the Nordic countries

All five Nordic countries are above the EU average: Iceland at 155.8, Norway at 133.1, Denmark at 120.5, Sweden at 109.9 and Finland at 107.5, for food and non-alcoholic beverages. For what the shops are and how to shop cheaply, see the supermarket guides for Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland.

What this does not tell you

What you will spend. An index compares price levels; it is not a weekly budget. What you spend depends on what you buy.
City prices. The indices are national averages.
Eating out. Restaurant meals are not in this table.

For rents in the same cities, see average rent in European cities.

Frequently asked questions