At the beginning of June, the cost of the grocery basket tracked weekly by DECO PROteste resumed its upward trend. After three consecutive weeks of decline, prices increased by €1.97 (+0.77%), bringing the cost of the same basket of goods to €259.31.

At first glance, the increase may seem modest. However, since the start of the year, the basket has already become €17.48 more expensive, a rise of 7.2%. Looking at the longer-term picture, Portuguese consumers are now paying €71.61 more for the same products than they were in January 2022. That represents an increase of 38.2%.

According to Eurostat’s price level data, Portugal remains one of the more affordable countries in Western Europe for grocery shopping. Food prices are roughly 15% below the EU average, making supermarket purchases significantly cheaper than in France or Germany. Spain is slightly more expensive than Portugal, though it also remains below the EU average.

There is, however, another side to the story. Eurostat measures absolute price levels and does not take incomes into account. Portugal’s average salary is among the lowest in Western Europe, and what may appear to be a bargain for an expatriate can look very different to a local resident.