Shopping tourism: This is how much cheaper Slovakia is than Hungary

Some of us try to cope with soaring inflation by choosing cheaper brands, looking out for promotions, maybe buying less. Others hop in the car and hit the road to go and shop in another – usually neighbouring – country, for example, Slovakia. It’s not only fuel that is cheaper abroad, but many foodstuffs as well.

Shopping abroad

According to Blikk, a Hungarian tabloid, more and more people are going shopping in Romania, Serbia and Slovakia, where many things are cheaper. Especially now that the forint has strengthened and it costs less per euro to pay in shops over there.

Blikk followed a group of four Hungarian people shopping in Slovakia. They compared the Slovakian prices of different items to the Hungarian prices. In many cases, the result is shocking.

Many things are cheaper in Slovakia

Tímea, György, Pál and Melinda, two couples, set off to shop in Slovakia. The journey took around 90 minutes. Tímea looked up the Slovakian prices on the internet beforehand and she was immediately convinced. She said that the last time they were there, they bought ham for HUF 1500 (EUR 3.99), which is HUF 4000 (EUR 10.63) for a half kilo packet at home. According to her, many Hungarian products are cheaper over there, including pasta and salami.

Pál mentioned Slovak cigarettes, which cost HUF 960 (EUR 2.55). That is the cheapest option until he gives up cigarettes for good, he said.

They were constantly using their calculators: they only bought something when it was definitely cheaper than at home. Of course, there are some items that are more expensive in Slovakia. For example, 1 kg of sugar costs HUF 524 (EUR 1.39). At least there’s no shortage of it there.

A well-known Hungarian pasta brand costs HUF 625 (EUR 1.66) for a half-kilo packet in Slovakia. That’s HUF 200 cheaper than at home. Csabai sausages were also found at HUF 4129 (EUR 10.98) per kilo in euros, compared to more than HUF 5000 (EUR 13.29) in Hungary. A puff pastry cost half as much as in Hungary. Lactose-free milk was HUF 329 (EUR 0.87) a litre in the Slovakian Kaufland, as opposed to HUF 5-600 in Hungary.

Tímea put eight whole chickens in the basket. At home, she cuts it into pieces and puts it in the freezer. She will not have to buy it for a while. In Hungary, a branded Oreo breakfast cereal is HUF 4500 (EUR 11.96), in Slovakia, the same is HUF 1500 (EUR 3.99). They also brought home several bottles of their favourite herbal liqueur: not a necessity, but it is one and a half times the price in Hungary.

It’s possible to save a lot by shopping abroad

Tímea’s bill was EUR 337, i.e. HUF 126,000. Melinda and her family paid around HUF 80,000 (EUR 212). They found that the drinks, the chicken and the sweets have increased the costs. However, looking at the receipts, they calculated that they had still came out HUF 60-80,000 (EUR 160-212) better than if they had bought the same things at home.