German shoppers save on food, cigarettes and fuel in Poland

German media report that many shoppers from the border regions of Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern and Brandenburg travel to Poland to benefit from lower prices. Basic food items such as bread, fruit, vegetables, eggs, milk and meat are on average up to 50 % cheaper, with butter sometimes costing less than €0.70 per unit and a litre of milk priced at €0.65‑0.75 compared with €1.30 in Germany.

Cigarettes also show a large price gap: a pack costs around €4.5 in Poland versus up to €8 in Germany. Fuel is cheaper as well, with gasoline priced at about €1.60 per litre and diesel at €1.70, giving drivers savings of roughly €0.60 per litre when they tank across the border. However, some categories such as cosmetics, personal‑care products and clothing can be 10‑20 % more expensive in Poland.

The price differentials make cross‑border shopping a regular practice for German consumers seeking cost‑effective purchases, while Polish retailers benefit from the influx of foreign customers.