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12° Nicosia,
22 December, 2025
 
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Budget Christmas gets pricier as lower-income families face 9% hike

While the ''rich'' festive table stays the same, essentials for struggling households are noticeably more expensive, leaving some families counting the cost of the holidays.

Newsroom

Cyprus’ Christmas tables are showing a stark contrast this year. A survey by the Cyprus Consumers Association found that while a ''rich'' festive spread remains steady in price, a scaled-down version for lower-income families has jumped by 9% compared to last year.

The study, conducted in Nicosia supermarkets from December 10 to 19, tracked prices of 34 food and drink items. A full “rich” table costs around €160 for four people and €227 for six, virtually unchanged from 2024. Meanwhile, the budget-friendly table for four comes to €33, and €49 for six, making holiday shopping noticeably tougher for families with tighter budgets.

Price swings were seen throughout the survey period. Lamb dropped 12% thanks to supermarket promotions, but cucumbers shot up 82%, tomatoes 65%, and potatoes 10%. Most offers stayed consistent, yet prices still varied between stores, especially for Christmas treats, making shopping decisions even more complicated.

The association urged shoppers not to rely solely on promotions and to plan carefully, especially if they are managing tighter household finances.

TAGS
Cyprus  |  economy  |  consumers

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