Iceland, Switzerland and Norway most expensive in 2017

The European price comparison programme showed that the price levels for actual individual consumption were highest in 2017 for EFTA member countries Iceland, Switzerland and Norway, with 72, 67 and 57 per cent above the EU average respectively. The rest of the Nordic countries were among the 8th most expensive relative to EU28. Albania and North Macedonia were the cheapest countries. 

Food and non-alcoholic drinks were most expensive in Switzerland, followed by Norway and Iceland with 69, 66 and 55 per cent above the EU average respectively. The cheapest food and non-alcoholic drinks were in North Macedonia, Romania and Poland, where they were at least 30 per cent below the rest of Europe. Norway, Iceland and Ireland topped the list for price levels of alcohol, tobacco and narcotics, with 134, 126 and 79 per cent above the EU28 average respectively. This is partly due to the high level of taxes of alcohol and tobacco in these countries. North Macedonia and Serbia were the cheapest, at 55 and 46 per cent below the EU28 average respectively.  Iceland tops prices for clothing and shoes, with 76 per cent above the EU28 average, while the rest of the Nordic countries have prices around 30 per cent above.

See Eurostat publication