Norwegian Food Prices Are 186% of the EU Average

Norway has the highest food prices in Europe by a considerable distance, according to figures released by Eurostat. Well known for a healthy economy powered by lucrative petroleum and gas exports, Norway’s food prices certainly reflect the economic state of the nation. In 2012, the price of a comparable basket of food and non-alcoholic beverages came in at a whopping 186 percent of the European average.

Switzerland is also well known for its expensive prices – it is the second most expensive country in Europe for food, at 155 percent of the EU28 average. Denmark comes third overall and first in the EU for high food price levels, at 143 percent of the average. Interestingly, this illustrates that the price of a comparable basket of food and non-alcoholic beverages is more than twice as high in the most expensive EU Member State than the cheapest one, which is Poland.

Sweden and Austria round off the top five most expensive European countries for food. Finland, Austria, Ireland, Luxembourg and Italy complete the top 10, all having food prices well above the EU28 average.