Is the Italian Lidl still more expensive than its Hungarian counterpart?

In Hungary, the cost of food increased to such an extent in one year that the price difference between Italian and Hungarian Lidl products decreased from 30 to 7 percent. 

Earlier this week, Telex compared food prices in Italian and Hungarian Lidl stores. Read on to find out in which country you have to dig deeper into your pocket.

More than half of the products are cheaper in the Italian Lidl

Last December, Telex conducted a price comparison between a number of products found both in Italian and Hungarian Lidl stores. At that time, one euro cost only HUF 357, and there was no war. Although even back then, certain foodstuffs were pretty costly in the Hungarian Lidl, staples were still cheaper. However, since then, food prices have started to soar in Hungary like nowhere else in Europe. Now, more than half of the analysed food and grocery products are cheaper in Italy.

• Read also: 20 percent increase may come, consumption will not decline

What is cheaper in the Hungarian Lidl?

Not only spaghetti, organic olive oil and spicy salami slices but also canned tomatoes and beans are way more pricey in Hungary. However, you can save money at checkout if you pick price-capped products. These are the following: flour, sugar, chicken breast fillet and sunflower oil. Potatoes, eggs and bread are also cheaper in domestic Lidls, therefore, we can say that staples remain more affordable in Hungary. For instance, a single organic egg costs HUF 109 (EUR 0,27) in Hungary, and HUF 122 (EUR 0,31) in Italy. In addition, you have to pay HUF 349 (EUR 0,87) for one kilogram of potatoes in Hungary, and HUF 482 (EUR 1,21) in Italy. Moreover, you can find a 1.75 liter Coca-Cola in a Hungarian Lidl for HUF 532 (EUR 1,33), while it amounts to the equivalent of HUF 725 (EUR 1,81) in Italy.

• Read also: Hungarian potato will be out of the shops after January

Will Hungary reach Italian Lidl prices?

As a result of the brutal inflation in Hungary, there is a 47 percent increase in food prices. Meanwhile, in Italy, food prices rose by only 13.8 percent in November on an annual basis. Could Hungarian Lidl prices reach that of Italian ones? Apart from the price-capped goods, everything became more expensive by 30-80 percent in Hungary. Just to mention a few, the prices of these products increased significantly: onions (162 percent), toilet paper (131 percent), cubed cheese (114 percent), bread (100 percent). However, in Italy, there are dramatic price increases as well when it comes to certain items such as toilet paper (108 percent), flour (102 percent) or sugar (85 percent). Nevertheless, the loin, tomato and salami price decrease is good news for Italians.

Telex also compiled a shopping basket that aimed to model a family’s average weekend shopping. It contained items such as 2 kilos of bread, 1 kilo of chicken breast, 1 package of pasta, 10 eggs, 4 liters of milk, etc. This shopping basket costs HUF 23,461 (EUR 58,67) in Hungary and HUF 25,203 (EUR 63,03) in Italy, which means a difference of 7 percent.

Read alsoHungary leads EU in overall price increases

Source: Telex