Where Does Your Money Go Furthest in Europe ? Prices Across the EU Rose Between 17% and 58% in Six Years

Where Does Your Money Go Furthest in Europe? Prices Across the EU Rose Between 17% and 58% in Six Years

A Simple Country-by-Country Guide to Prices

This guide uses real numbers from the European Commission's Consumer Conditions Scoreboard 2025. It shows, in simple terms, how much prices went up in each EU country between 2019 and 2024 — and what that means for your shopping and your rights. It is written for everyone, including people from across the EU who use English as a second language.

1. The Big Picture: Prices Went Up a Lot, Then Slowed Down — InfoCons Consumer Protection

After Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022, prices rose very fast across Europe. The good news: by the end of 2024, they had slowed down. Prices were going up by 2.7% a year in December 2024 — much less than the high of 11.5% in late 2022. The bad news: things are still much more expensive than before, and many people still find it hard to make ends meet.

Across the EU, 38% of people still worry about paying their bills (it was 48% in 2022), and 35% worry about affording the food they like (it was 44%). About 1 in 4 worry about paying off loans or credit cards. So even though prices are rising more slowly now, the higher cost of living has not gone away.

Everyday things cost much more than a few years ago — InfoCons Consumer Protection

Compared with early 2021, energy cost about 44% more by the end of 2024, and food cost about 32% more. Some basics rose even more: olive oil almost doubled in price (up nearly 100%), and sugar went up about 49%. Butter, rice, bread, eggs and cheese each rose by more than a third. In short, the weekly shop is far more expensive than it used to be.

Two tricks to watch for: smaller packs and lower quality — InfoCons Consumer Protection

Many people noticed that products changed, not just prices. About 74% noticed that some packs got smaller while the price stayed the same (this is called "shrinkflation"). And 52% noticed that the quality got worse for the same price. These happen in every EU country, so it pays to check the price per kilo or per litre, not just the price on the front.

2. The League Table: How Much Prices Rose in Each Country — InfoCons Consumer Protection

The clearest way to compare countries is to look at how much prices rose between 2019 and 2024. The lower the number, the better prices held steady. The table below ranks all 27 EU countries against the EU average of about 27%.

How to read this: green means prices rose less than the EU average, so your money held its value better. Red means prices rose more than average. Source: European Commission, Consumer Conditions Scoreboard 2025 (Eurostat, Figure 1).

The same table, written out

For anyone who prefers it as a list, here is the same information in words. Each line shows the country, how much prices rose, and where it stands out of 27.

• Denmark: prices rose about 17% (no. 1 of 27) — less than the EU average.
• Finland: prices rose about 18% (no. 2 of 27) — less than the EU average.
• Cyprus: prices rose about 19% (no. 3 of 27) — less than the EU average.
• France: prices rose about 19% (no. 4 of 27) — less than the EU average.
• Greece: prices rose about 20% (no. 5 of 27) — less than the EU average.
• Malta: prices rose about 20% (no. 6 of 27) — less than the EU average.
• Ireland: prices rose about 20% (no. 7 of 27) — less than the EU average.
• Portugal: prices rose about 20% (no. 8 of 27) — less than the EU average.
• Luxembourg: prices rose about 21% (no. 9 of 27) — less than the EU average.
• Italy: prices rose about 22% (no. 10 of 27) — less than the EU average.
• Spain: prices rose about 22% (no. 11 of 27) — less than the EU average.
• Sweden: prices rose about 24% (no. 12 of 27) — less than the EU average.
• Slovenia: prices rose about 25% (no. 13 of 27) — less than the EU average.
• Germany: prices rose about 26% (no. 14 of 27) — less than the EU average.
• Belgium: prices rose about 27% (no. 15 of 27) — about the same as the EU average.
• Austria: prices rose about 29% (no. 16 of 27) — more than the EU average.
• Netherlands: prices rose about 29% (no. 17 of 27) — more than the EU average.
• Croatia: prices rose about 33% (no. 18 of 27) — more than the EU average.
• Bulgaria: prices rose about 34% (no. 19 of 27) — more than the EU average.
• Latvia: prices rose about 38% (no. 20 of 27) — more than the EU average.
• Slovakia: prices rose about 38% (no. 21 of 27) — more than the EU average.
• Lithuania: prices rose about 41% (no. 22 of 27) — more than the EU average.
• Czechia: prices rose about 43% (no. 23 of 27) — more than the EU average.
• Romania: prices rose about 44% (no. 24 of 27) — more than the EU average.
• Estonia: prices rose about 45% (no. 25 of 27) — more than the EU average.
• Poland: prices rose about 47% (no. 26 of 27) — more than the EU average.
• Hungary: prices rose about 58% (no. 27 of 27) — more than the EU average.

EU average: prices rose about 27% — this is the middle line everything else is compared to. For comparison, two non-EU countries the report also tracks rose by about 24% (Norway) and 29% (Iceland).

3. What This Means for You — InfoCons Consumer Protection

Whatever country you live in, three simple points are worth remembering:

• Prices are higher for good now, even if they rise slowly. Over six years, prices went up between 17% (Denmark) and 58% (Hungary). Plan your budget around the higher level, not the latest monthly number.
• East and West are different. Prices generally rose more in Central and Eastern Europe. This matters if you compare what your money is really worth in one country versus another.
• Know your rights wherever you shop. Smaller packs, fake discounts and lower quality happen everywhere. EU rules protect you: 14 days to change your mind on online or phone orders, free repair or replacement of faulty new goods within two years, and no duty to pay for things you never ordered.

Note for teachers and researchers: the price figures come straight from Eurostat, as shown in the Consumer Conditions Scoreboard 2025. EU averages are exact, and the rankings compare all 27 EU countries. These figures are fine to use in class or research.

Signature: InfoCons Consumer Protection – Communication Department

Source: European Commission, Consumer Conditions Scoreboard 2025. Price figures: Eurostat (Figure 1).