site.btaRestaurant and Hotel Prices in Bulgaria 47% Below EU Average in 2024

The prices for goods and services for household final consumption expenditure varied significantly across EU countries in 2024, according to data published by the European statistical office Eurostat.

The highest price levels were recorded in Denmark (143% of the EU average), Ireland (138%), and Luxembourg (133%). In contrast, the lowest price levels were observed in Bulgaria (60% of the EU average), Romania (64%), and Poland (72%).

Bulgaria shows a slight improvement compared to previous years—price levels in the country were 58% and 59.2% of the EU average in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

In 2024, the largest differences among member states were found in the prices of alcohol and tobacco. These products were three times more expensive in Ireland—the most expensive country in this category—where prices were 105% above the EU average, compared to Bulgaria, where prices were 31% below the EU average, making them the lowest in the EU.

Following Ireland, the highest price levels for alcohol and tobacco were registered in Finland (75% above the EU average) and France (37% above). Besides Bulgaria, the lowest prices were also recorded in Poland and Slovakia, where they were 17% below the EU average.

According to Eurostat, the significant price variations across EU member states are mainly due to differences in taxation, especially for products like alcohol and tobacco.

The second biggest variation in price levels across the EU in 2024 was in the restaurants and hotels category. The lowest prices were once again observed in Bulgaria (47% below the EU average), followed by Romania (31% below) and Hungary (28% below). On the other hand, the highest prices in this category were recorded in Denmark (48% above the EU average), Ireland (29%), and Finland (27%).

Clothing ranks third in terms of price level variation. The lowest clothing prices were found in Bulgaria (21% below the EU average), followed by Hungary and Romania (both 15% below). The highest clothing prices were reported in Denmark (33% above the EU average), Sweden, and Finland (both 20% above).

As for food and non-alcoholic beverages, prices in Bulgaria in 2024 were 88.8% of the EU average. Only Romania, Poland (86.8%), and Slovakia (83.4%) recorded lower prices in this category among EU member states.