Food prices in Serbia lower than the EU average by a third

The cost of living in Serbia is 45% of the European Union average, in Montenegro it is 52%, in Macedonia 40%, and in B&H 38%, reports Eurostat. The conclusion of the most recent report is that, last year, the former Yugoslav states managed to get closer to the so-called real personal consumption expenditure which is, according to the experts, the best indicator of the purchasing power.

The data, in fact, express how much money each state needs to meet the same standard of living.

- It means that in Serbia, at the moment, 45% less money is needed that in other state which have the average EU standard of living. If they need EUR 1,000 to meet all their needs, we only need EUR 450 – explains the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia.

Based on the prices of food and non-alcoholic drinks, Serbia is at 69% of the European average, and as for the region, food staples are cheaper in Macedonia only (58%), which also has the lowest prices of alcohol and cigarettes. On the other hand, the prices of milk, cheese and eggs in Serbia are closer to the average European prices (79%).

The price of tobacco in Serbia is 35% of the European average, and in Macedonia it is 25%. This is another indicator that there's a lot of room for the increase in prices announced for the next year by the tobacco industry and the state.

It's not surprising that the list of the products monitored by Eurostat is considered to be the most comprehensive one. In the food category, they list all types of meat, meat products, cereals, fish and seafood, butter, margarine, all types of oil, coffee, cocoa, jam, honey, even ice-cream and French fries.

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cost of living in Serbia

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