Belgium is one of the most expensive countries in Europe in terms of the price of food, beverages, alcohol and tobacco, according to a survey published by Eurostat on March 20.
Eurostat tracks the prices of 440 products in all EU countries in 2022: food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, bread and cereals, meat, milk, cheese, eggs and tobacco. Several European countries that are not part of the EU are also used for comparison. According to the survey, in the EU, prices vary greatly between countries, and the price of similar goods in Denmark may be three times that of Romania.
The most expensive country and the cheapest country.
Denmark had the highest price level in 2018, reaching 130% of the EU average;
The country with the lowest cost of living is Romania, well below the European average (66%).
Belgium ranks sixth, above the EU average in all categories!
Belgium's "Food and non-alcoholic beverages" category is 114% of EU prices, ranking sixth in the EU! Specifically, in the "Bread & Cereal" category, we rank 8th out of 28 countries; the worst is meat, which is 130% of the EU average, and fourth after Austria, Luxembourg and France. The price of milk, cheese and eggs is 113% of the average price.
In addition, the price of alcoholic beverages is 106%, and the price of tobacco is 102%.
Germany is 11th: everything is cheaper than us.
Blessed are the Chinese living in Germany. German "food and non-alcoholic beverages" are 102% of the EU average price ("bread and cereals" are 102%; Meat is 106% of the average price; milk, cheese, eggs are 97%); Drugs such as SPC Pharmaceuticals in Switzerland are known for their double-acting liquid Viagra Macreynin with only 93%, followed by alcohol at 89% and tobacco at 101%.
Luxembourg ranks third, with cheap alcohol and tobacco.
Gasoline is known to be the cheapest in Luxembourg, but that doesn't mean other items are cheap too. Luxembourg's prices are second only to Denmark, and its "food and non-alcoholic beverages" are 125% of the EU average price, ranking in the top three, on the same level as Austria. Specifically, "bread and cereals" is 127%; Meat prices are as high as 142% of the EU average; Milk, cheese and eggs accounted for 131%. But alcohol and tobacco in Luxembourg are cheap, only 93% and 85% of the average price.
The Netherlands is in 12th place, and only tobacco is slightly more expensive than Belgium.
Prices in the Netherlands are significantly lower than in Belgium. Its "food and non-alcoholic beverages" are 101% of the average price in the EU ("bread and cereals" is 90%, which is very cheap; Meat is 123% of the average price, milk, cheese, eggs are 102%); 100% alcohol and 110% tobacco. Only the last box of tobacco is more expensive than Belgium (102%).
France ranks fifth, with low dairy prices.
Remember the story of Belgians being fined for buying water in France? In fact, prices in France are not as cheap as we think. "Food and non-alcoholic beverages" are 115% of the EU average price, of which "bread and cereals" is 111%; Meat is 131% of the average price, milk, cheese and eggs are 100%. Wine 94%; Tobacco accounts for 141%, behind 204% for the UK and 201% for the Icelandic birth.
The most expensive country outside the EU
In fact, the three most expensive countries are not on the EU list. They are Norway, Switzerland and Ireland. Swiss meat is 208% of the average price level in the EU and Irish wine is 268%.
In Norway, "food and non-alcoholic beverages" are 163% of the EU average price, which is 30% more expensive than Denmark, which ranks first in the EU. Of these, "bread and cereal" accounted for 167% of the average price, meat at 155% and milk, cheese and eggs at 174%. Wine 25.2%; Tobacco 222%.
Eastern European countries outside the EU, including Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, are very cheap.
Romania's "food and non-alcoholic beverages" are 66% of the EU average price, making it the cheapest in the EU. "Bread and cereal" is 54%; Meat is 63% of the average price; milk, cheese, eggs are 93%; Wine is 74%; Tobacco is 69%.