The Cheapest and Most Expensive EU Countries: New Data from Eurostat

Eurostat has published data on price levels in EU countries for 2025 — the gap between the most expensive and cheapest countries is as high as 77%. Find out where housing, groceries, and education are the most expensive and cheapest in the European Union

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Prices for everyday goods and services vary dramatically across different European Union countries — and new Eurostat data for 2025 confirms this. The difference between the bloc’s most expensive and least expensive countries in terms of overall cost of living is 77 percentage points.

Read also: European countries with the highest electricity rates in 2026—where do people pay the most?

The Most Expensive EU Countries

Denmark topped the list for cost of living among all 27 member states in 2025 — the consumer basket there was 40% more expensive than the EU average. Ireland came in second (+36%), and Luxembourg third (+32%).

The Cheapest EU Countries

At the opposite end of the ranking is Bulgaria, where the cost of living is 37% lower than the EU average. Next are Romania (-35%) and Poland (-27%).

For Ukrainians considering these countries as options for a long-term stay or a budget-friendly vacation, these figures are particularly relevant. Poland, in particular, remains one of the most popular destinations for Ukrainians abroad — and at the same time, one of the most affordable among EU countries.

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How do living costs differ across EU countries?

Housing costs account for the largest share of European households’ budgets — and this is where the gap between countries is most pronounced. In Ireland, housing costs exceeded the EU average by 90% — the highest figure among all EU countries. Meanwhile, in Bulgaria, housing was 59% cheaper than the European average. In other words, the difference between the most expensive and cheapest countries in the housing category is nearly 150 percentage points.

The second-largest category of spending — food and non-alcoholic beverages — shows the least variation among all categories. The highest food prices were recorded in Luxembourg — 22% above the EU average. The lowest are in Romania: 20% below the European average. The overall gap between the leader and the lowest-ranked country in this category is only 42 percentage points, which is significantly smaller than in the housing or education sectors.

The most striking price variation is in the field of education. Here, Eurostat data show a truly striking difference: from less than half the EU average in Romania to more than three times that level in Luxembourg. This means that education in Luxembourg can cost 6–7 times more than in Romania.

Tip: For those planning a road trip to these countries, it’s worth taking care of your road vignette in advance — you can conveniently apply for an electronic vignette for travel abroad online via Visit Ukraine.

We remind you! Switzerland, Denmark, Liechtenstein, Ireland, and Luxembourg top the ranking of the best countries in Europe to live in for 2026. Read about how much it costs to live there each month and what makes these countries attractive for relocation.

Photo: lizaelesina / Freepik

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