North Macedonia ranks among Europe's cheapest countries for food

North Macedonia has been identified as one of the most affordable countries for food in Europe, according to data from Eurostat and Numbeo. A standard basket containing 18 food products costs 43.90 euros in North Macedonia, which is significantly lower than the European Union average of 69.84 euros.

In contrast, food prices are substantially higher in other European nations. Switzerland recorded the highest cost for the same basket at 137.90 euros, while Norway, Luxembourg, and Denmark also reported high prices. Moldova remains the cheapest country in the comparison with a basket cost of 41.10 euros, followed by North Macedonia, Kosovo, Romania, and Georgia.

Despite the low prices, economic analysis suggests that food accessibility remains a challenge. While food and non-alcoholic beverage prices in North Macedonia are 25.2 percent lower than the EU average, the country's real individual consumption per capita is only about 50 percent of the EU average. This indicates that low prices are coupled with lower income levels and reduced purchasing power.