Grocery prices in Italy, and where the value is

Eurostat sets the EU average at 100. For Italy in 2025:

• Food and non-alcoholic beverages — 101.1, eighth of the ten European countries this site covers — only the Netherlands and Spain are cheaper.
• Overall price level — 98.0, just under the EU average.

Italy is a steady, middle-of-the-table country for groceries, and it's been stable: the food index stood at 101.1 in both 2024 and 2025.

Source: Eurostat — Purchasing power parities and price level indices (prc_ppp_ind_1), 2024 and 2025 values, dataset updated 9 July 2026, read 7 October 2026.

Eurostat's food categories show where Italy is good value. The cheapest of the ten countries we cover, in two categories:

• Alcohol — 81.9
• Soft drinks — 81.8

Also below the EU average:

• Oils and fats — 93.0
• Fish and seafood — 95.8
• Sugar and sweets — 97.8

Most of the rest sits a little above average — bread and cereals 106.4, fruit 107.2, dairy and eggs 105.3, meat 104.1 — with vegetables at 100.1, right on the line.

The everyday picture is a pleasant one: wine with dinner and olive oil in the kitchen are among the better-value things in an Italian shop.

A price level index compares the same basket across countries, taxes included. It isn't a measure of household spending, and it doesn't include rent.

For a move to Italy, the figures support budgeting groceries at roughly EU-average prices, with drinks and cooking oils cheaper and bread, fruit and dairy slightly dearer. Italy's overall price level of 98.0 means the rest of everyday life also runs close to average, so groceries won't distort the budget either way.

International health cover is priced on your age and the level of cover you choose, not on where in Italy you live.