This evaluation of food prices in Poland follows on naturally from Finding Poland’s post on the cost of living in Poland.
To gain an overview of current grocery prices in Poland, I visited my local supermarket, Carrefour. It’s located in Galeria Morena shopping centre.
I will compare prices observed on December 23, 2024, with prices recorded for the two previous versions of this post (April 2024 and August 1, 2024).
A General Overview of the Prices of Staple Goods in Poland
Before analysing the prices of certain foods within specific food groups, here’s an overview of the price of mostly staple goods which I recorded in Carrefour in April 2024, on August 1, 2024 and on December 23, 2024:
Notes:
* Where possible, I observe prices for Carrefour’s own products (Carrefour Classic and Targ)
As I recorded prices on December 23 – a few days before Christmas – I was wary of prices of certain products being on offer. Therefore, I made a careful note of the lowest regular price in the previous 30 days, something which grocery stores are compelled to do according to Polish law if a product is on offer.
Food prices in Poland – Early upward trajectory in 2024 after stabilisation in the last quarter of 2023, followed by stabilisation in the third and fourth quarters of 2024
The stabilisation of prices of staple goods was a trend in Poland in 2023. With regard to the prices of 16 products I tracked both in February 2023 and early September 2023, there were only two products with significant price increases. Those were for Krakowska Sucha ham and Activia natural yoghurt. The prices of these two products has evidently stabilised.
Moving into 2024, I noticed some hefty prices increases when it came to flour, bread, meat and certain dairy products. However, prices of flour and meat have generally stabilised or decreased in the final months of 2024.
The table above indicates that food prices in Poland have stabilised in the third and fourth quarters of 2024. Indeed, I recorded no change to the prices for nine out of the seventeen products/foods I surveyed.
Taking a closer look at the prices of various food groups in Poland
Now that I’ve dealt with food prices in Poland in a general sense, let me give my views pertaining to food prices of various foods within the main food groups.
Dairy products
Like in every country I suppose, the price of dairy products in Poland soared in the early part of 2023.
When it comes to eggs, it’s a matter of debate as to how to separate a ‘normal’ egg from a bio/eco/free range egg. The only genuine ‘organic’ eggs I know of are laid in a chicken pen in my parents-in-law’s garden.
However, even if these eco/bio/free range eggs are the real deal, I think it’s bordering on criminal to even attempt to charge consumers around 15 zł for ten eggs. Fortunately, prices of eggs started to come down in the summer of 2023. Moving into 2024, the price of regular Carrefour classic free range eggs increased slightly from their late 2023 level. Egg prices continued to increase in the final two quarters of 2024.
The price of cheese slices is out of control. For instance, it costs 7,99 zł for 150 grams of Sierpc Ser Królewski cheese slices.
Meat
In January 2023, I recorded a price of 9,00 zł for 450 grams of mixed pork and beef mincemeat. A month later, the price was 11,99 zł. The price was the same in early September 2023. Not only did a price rise occur in early 2023, the weight of Carrefour’s own branded mixed pork and beef mincemeat was also cut from 450 to 400 grams.
As I’ve already mentioned, the price of certain kinds of meat has decreased in the final months of 2024.
Fish
Of course, the price of fish hasn’t escaped the impact of gree__, sorry inflation.
For a kilo of skinless cod, it cost 7.99 zł per 100 grams in February 2023.
In September 2023, I was mildly surprised when I saw that the price of cod had fallen around 19% from its February level. Then, the price went back up to 7,99 per 100 grams towards the end of 2023. The price of cod dropped again by 13.39% in the period from December 2023 to April 2024. No change in price was recorded between April 2024 and December 23, 2024.
I must admit that I’ve always been fond of toasted sandwiches with smoked salmon slices. Indeed, I used to buy salmon slices marinated with dill when they cost around 8 zł. However, the price of these salmon slices has shot up by around 80%.
Fruit
I like certain stone fruits, such as mangoes. Pomegranates are another favourite of mine. However, fruit varieties such as those are really expensive in Poland. For instance, it currently costs 8,49 zł for a large mango in Carrefour.
What about that wonder, the avocado? Judging by the price of an avocado in Carrefour – up to 8 zł – it’s definitely a luxury item in Poland. However, Carrefour often has a special offer on a certain variety of avocado for 3,99 zł.
Food prices in Poland
Food prices in Poland went through the roof in early 2023. Since that time, prices of staple goods generally haven’t increased by a ridiculous amount.