The report by Mega shows that just buying milk and eggs from a supermarket in Greece costs around €5.80, a significant mark-up compared to countries with much higher wages.
For example, 1 litre of milk costs:
- Greece: €1.55
- Spain: €1.08
- Germany: €1.08
- Belgium: €1.46
- Sweden: €1.36
Similarly, a dozen eggs cost:
- Greece: €4.23
- Spain: €2.89
- Germany: €3.04
- Belgium: €4.04
- Sweden: €3.77
In total, Greek consumers pay €5.78 for these two basic products, a staggering 31% more than in Spain and 28% more than in Germany. This is despite the fact that the minimum wage in Greece is just €830 per month, compared to over €2,000 in Germany and Belgium, and €1,393 in Spain.
INKA survey: Widespread dissatisfaction with government measures
A recent survey by the Consumer Institute (INKA) found that 94.3% of respondents feel heavily impacted by rising prices, and the same percentage expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s efforts to address the cost-of-living crisis. The main concern for Greek households remains food prices, with 85% of respondents pessimistic about the future, fearing that prices will continue to rise.
Among the government’s measures to tackle inflation, nearly 80% of respondents said they were “not at all satisfied,” while another 13.8% said they were “not satisfied.”
Beyond food, 97.2% of respondents reported seeing the steepest price increases in this category, with energy costs following closely behind. The financial strain has forced 96% of consumers to adjust their shopping habits, including buying fewer items (69.7%), opting for cheaper products (71.5%), and relying on discounts and special offers (77%). Additionally, 81.4% have cut back on entertainment spending.
Quality of life and future outlook
The cost-of-living crisis is having a significant impact on quality of life in Greece, with 92.7% of respondents saying their lives have been “negatively” or “very negatively” affected. A majority (62.7%) reported participating in social or political actions in protest of rising costs.
Looking ahead, Greek consumers remain deeply pessimistic. When asked about the outlook for the next 12 months, 85.4% predicted that prices will continue to rise. Only 5.5% expected their financial situation to improve, with more than half (52.3%) fearing it will worsen further.
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