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Many Hungarians go to Romania on shopping tours despite government price reduction efforts
The Orbán cabinet introduced mandatory caps on profit margins in Hungary, reducing the prices of 30 basic food products from 17 March. But it seems that shopping tourism in Romania remains a flourishing business. Many Hungarians living in Eastern Hungarian settlements close to the border embark on such travels to buy multiple products for much lower prices than in Hungary. They can save up to 15-20%.
Sour cream, sunflower oil cheaper
24.hu participated in one of these shopping tours between Debrecen and Nagyvárad (Oradea), a big city in Western Romania only 72 kilometres away from Hungary’s “second capital”, the “Calvinist Rome”.
The service provider driving the van filled with Hungarians living in and around Debrecen said there was a constant demand for such shopping tours before. Romania’s 1 January Schengen Zone accession enabled him to open his business and begin transporting people and goods across the border. He said the tours are organised in Facebook groups, and despite the government measures to reduce food prices, the demand remained.
People participating in the shopping tour said multiple goods were cheaper in Romanian shops, while others were at the same price. The journalist of 24.hu said that, for example, chicken breast fillet was 30%, butter 24%, 1.5% UHT milk 11%, and eggs 27% more expensive in Nagyvárad than in Debrecen. However, you could buy sour cream for 12% less, while sunflower oil was also 24% cheaper than in Hungary. Sugar was at the same price.
15-20% saved on the Romanian shopping tours
Fellow shoppers from Hungary said they could save 15-20% if they bought only the cheaper products.
Therefore, we can say that it might happen that a local experiences the same price level as we do in Hungary. However, if you live close to the border and organise your shopping carefully, you can save some money.
Shoppers from Hungary named chips, tomatoes, fruit-containing drinks, dog food and mineral water among the cheaper products. One person said that he paid HUF 56 thousand (EUR 140) while the Hungarian price would have been around HUF 70 thousand (EUR 174) for the same food products.
Read also:
- Here’s when the new shopping centre in Budapest will open its doors!
- Purchase limits, rising prices: downsides to the price margin caps in Hungary
“The Orbán cabinet introduced mandatory caps on profit margins in Hungary, reducing the prices of 30 basic food products from 17 March”. That is 100% lie…prices remained the same as before of everything except milk which was 328 ft and now is 315 ft. So this saved me 13ft for a liter of milk LOL.
The Viktator just announce things to get his propeganda in the news…in reality he does nothing except stealing the tax payer’s money. After the 2026 election the new government must open an investigation about all the Viktator’s corruption.
Orban – his Fidesz Government have had (2) two or is it (3) three FAILED attempts at this “Fairyland” idea of Price Capping.
Orban & his Fidesz Government – full of “mis-leading” PROPAGANDA, that “vail” – Truth & Facts – that daily from the gargantuan PRESSURIZATION they FACTUALLY are under, that BUILDS – still “spill out” absolute Fabrications of TRUTH.
Hungarians grow in thousands numbering millions WHO know this Orban led Fidesz Government are a DOOMED government.
Price Capping – and Orban can’t DO this, due to the Orban and the former DISGRACED – Minister of Finance – Mihaly Varga, the policies they both had there “Fingers in the Pie” – in setting Hungary’s – VAT – at 27% the highest in Europe, that to this DAY remains a “Double” dip on taxes being paid by Hungarians.
Orban – can’t REDUCE vat which would have a lowering effect on food prices.
If Orban was to reduce VAT – the Hungarian ECONOMY would DISINTEGRATE.
Inflation continues on the RISE in Hungary which if there was an “effective” Price Capping policy from the Orban led – Fidesz Government could, just COULD have some EFFECT.
Orban and his Fidesz Government – price capping and HIGHER Inflation what THEY say they are DOING to “lessen” the PAIN on Hungarians that these (2) two FACTS are having on Hungarians – CRAP – not TRUTH.
People in the baranya of hungary go shopping to kroatie . gasoline – tabako- sigrets – Meat – chicken – and lot of other stuff have beter price in kroatie .if you buy everything over dear its make different of more than 50.000 ft on mounth . also building materials – wood -for building of burning have very good price over dear . for 1boskub wood 1x1x1.70 Oak wood i buy it for 18.000ft just over the border with Barcs baranya .