Republic is second most expensive euro zone country for food and alcohol

• Author: Eoin Burke-Kennedy
• Published date: 29 June 2022
• Publication title: Irish Times: Web Edition Articles (Dublin, Ireland)

The agency looked at how the price levels of food, beverages and tobacco here compared with other European countries in 2021

It found that food prices in the Republic were 17 per cent above the EU27 average, making them the second-most expensive in the euro zone behind Luxembourg, and third most expensive in the EU27.

The price of all foods in the Republic with the exception of fish were higher than the EU average.

Irish prices for milk, cheese and eggs were found to be on average 25 per cent higher, oils and fats were 22 per cent higher, while breads and cereals were typically 20 per cent higher.

For alcohol, the State was the second most expensive country in both the euro zone and EU27 with prices of alcohol prices here just over double the EU27 average in 2021.

The CSO's figures were based on Eurostat figures published earlier this month, which included price comparisons with countries such as Switzerland, Norway and Iceland and EU applicant countries. When these additional states are included, the most expensive place for food and non-alcoholic drinks was Switzerland with prices 66 per cent above the EU...