PRICES IN ITALY ARE IN THE EU AVERAGE BUT FOOD, HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS ARE AMONG THE HIGHEST IN EUROPE. 112% OVER THE AVERAGE IN 2013, THE SEVENTH HIGHEST PRICE, AND 110%, EIGHTH PLACE AFTER FRANCE BUT BEFORE SPAIN, REVEALS EUROSTAT

Italian prices are within the EU average, but clothing, food, hotels and restaurants are among the highest, reveals Eurostat data for 2013. According to this data, setting 100 as the European average, prices in Italy are slightly higher, at 103%, while for clothing, at 107%, they are in fourth place among the most expensive (following Sweden, Denmark and Finland, respectively, 130%, 124% and 118%).

As far as food is concerned, Italians pay 112% over the EU average, the seventh highest price in Europe (following Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Austria, Luxembourg and Ireland) together with Belgium.

Hotels and restaurants in Italy are 110%, in eighth place among the most expensive countries, far exceeding all Mediterranean countries (except for France, which is ahead of us by a pinch, at 111%), competitors in the tourism sector (Spain, Greece, Portugal, Malta, Cyprus and Croatia: respectively 91%, 88%, 77%, 89%, 97% and 74%).

The absolutely most expensive in Europe are the Nordic countries. Denmark is at the top (140% over the EU average), while the cheapest countries are Eastern Europe (Bulgaria holds the record at 48%). Germany has slightly lower prices than Italy, 102%; France is at 109%, while Spain is below the EU average, at 95%.