Cheaper food prices in Greece than in Hungary? – PHOTOS

We have elaborated earlier on the issue of skyrocketing food prices in Hungary in our previous article. Currently, Hungary has the third-highest price increase when it comes to unprocessed food in European Union. Our readers reported that even in neighbouring Austria, certain items cost less. We thought to examine the situation further down south, in Greece. Below, you may read our findings.

Despite the price cap, the cost of fruits and vegetables is 19.5 percent higher than last year in Hungary and will likely surge even further. The quality we receive is also often questionable compared to southern countries. Besides, both local farmers’ markets and supermarkets in the Hellenic country offer a larger selection of seasonal and non-seasonal fruits and vegetables.

Read more: Shocking rise in food prices in Hungary

Farmers’ markets comparison

We visited a local farmers’ market in Kallithea, a southern neighborhood of Athens, in the morning hours when vendors still charge higher prices than in the early afternoon hours before closing. To compare the costs, we took the average prices of fruits and vegetables and Nagybani market in Budapest, the price differences were shocking in many cases. Greek tomatoes come for EUR 0.50-0.60/kilogram, depending on the size, while Hungarian tomatoes are priced at HUF 385/kilogram (EUR 0.96) on average. The price of broccoli was 1 euro in Greece but in Hungary, it can cost as much as HUF 660-800 (EUR 1.64-1.99). One kilogram of cucumber is EUR 0.75 in Athens and approximately HUF 500 (EUR 1.24) in Budapest. Zucchini also showed a minor price difference, costing EUR 0.50 abroad and HUF 300-350 (EUR 0.75-0.81) at home. Green beans are EUR 1.99 in the Mediterranean country and HUF 1,100-1,500 (EUR 2.74-3.73) in Hungary. You can buy potatoes for as little as EUR 0.35, while the lowest price in Hungary is HUF 160 (EUR 40). Everyone’s favourite summer fruits, peaches and watermelons showed striking differences in prices in the two capitals. While Greek peaches cost only EUR 0.98-1 per kilogram, Hungarian vendors sometimes charge as much as HUF 900 (EUR 2.24) for them. Watermelons were sold for EUR 0.50, whereas Hungarian supermarkets charge HUF 399 (EUR 0.99) for a kilogram of this juicy treat if it is still available at all.