Romanians Pay Near EU Average For Clothing, Less For Food

The price level for consumer goods and services was 59% of the EU average in Romania in 2010, nearly the lowest in Europe, according to a report published Tuesday by Eurostat. The price of food and non-alcoholic beverages is 67% of the EU average, while the price of alcohol of tobacco is 64%.

This means Romania has the cheapest food in the EU, except for Bulgaria, where these prices are 66% of the EU average. Romania and Bulgaria also have the lowest prices on alcohol, tobacco, restaurants and hotels.

In Romania, clothing costs 94% of the EU average, while consumer electronics can be bought for 96% of the EU average. Personal transport equipment, like automobiles, cost 88% of the average, slightly lower because of consistent sales from domestic production.

Bulgarians pay a bit less than Romanians, with a price level of 51% of the EU average.

In Poland and Lithuania, this index is 63%, in Hungary – 65%, in Latvia – 69%, in Slovakia – 71%, in the Czech Republic – 72% and in Estonia – 75%.

The highest prices can be found in Denmark (143% of the EU average), followed by Finland (123%), Luxembourg and Sweden (120%), Ireland (118%), Belgium and France (112%), Austria (107%), the Netherlands (106%), Germany and Italy (104%). Prices in the United Kingdom are the same as the EU average.