“Shopping in Poland, Austria, and Germany: Where to Find the Best Deals for Czechs”

“My parents have been going shopping in Poland for many years. They are retired, so they take a trip once a fortnight. They stop at a supermarket or the market, have lunch, coffee somewhere and often fill up with gas even cheaper,” Petr Vyslužij from Šumpersko told Právo.

In Poland, the biggest differences can now be seen in goods that are currently on sale. According to the strategy of retail chains, it can be said that what is valid for a certain type of product today may no longer be valid in a week.

For example, on Tuesday, a liter of fresh semi-skimmed milk could be purchased in Kaufland in Ostrava for exactly 20 crowns. In Ratiboř, Poland, which is located about 20 kilometers from the Polish border, they had the same milk at the current exchange rate for 17 crowns.

There was an even bigger difference, for example, with bush tomatoes. In Ostrava it could be bought for 99.90 CZK, in Ratiboř for less than 60 crowns per kilogram.

There were also relatively large differences in sausages. While Kaufland in Ostrava offered 100 grams of the best quality ham from 32 to 34 crowns, in Poland it could be purchased for less than 20 crowns per 100 grams.

But the favorable difference does not apply to everything. A kilogram of bananas in Ostrava on Tuesday cost 24.90 CZK, in Poland it was almost seven zlotys, i.e. roughly 35 crowns. There are huge differences with alcohol, especially with wine, which is not worth buying at all for Czechs in Poland.

Shopping in Poland is worth combining with refueling. A Czech motorist can save more than two hundred on one full tank. The Orlen gas station in Ratiboř, which is not one of the cheapest, offered a liter of Natural 95 for PLN 6.69 (roughly CZK 33.50) this week. That is, more than four crowns cheaper than the average price at Czech petrol stations.

Residents of the border areas of Břeclavsk and Hodonínsk have the option of choosing from two other countries where to go shopping. When comparing prices, Austria most often wins over Slovakia.

The Prava editor visited the popular chain Hofer in Mistelbach in Lower Austria, Lidl in the Slovak town of Holíč and Tesco in Břeclav. From the point of view of prices, Austria was the most frequent winner of the comparison.

For example, a large loaf of bread can be bought from 1.19 euros in both countries. Which was CZK 27.90 when converted on Wednesday. It cost 44.70 CZK in Tesko in Břeclav.

Austrians also have the cheapest eggs, starting at 2.49 euros (58.44 CZK) for ten pieces. You can buy them at home for at least 59.90 crowns, and in Slovakian Lidl they cost 2.79 euros (65.48 CZK). It’s the same with packaged ham. It costs at least 1.99 euros (46.70 CZK) in Hofer, 59.90 crowns in Tesko and 2.79 euros (65.48 CZK) in Slovak Lidl.

The Austrians play prim even in butter. For 250 grams, they want 1.89 euros, or 44.36 CZK. Peppers, tomatoes and even Jägermeister distillate were cheaper in Austria. Whole milk and sugar were cheaper in Slovakia and Austria. They wanted 1.29 euros (30.28 CZK) for a kilo of crystal in Holíč. In Austria, it was seven crowns more expensive – a kilo for 1.59 euros (37.32 CZK). In Břeclav, the customer paid 39.90 crowns.

At least the domestic offer succeeded in the meat. Chicken breast in the Austrian Hofer costs 12.29 euros (228.45 CZK), so the Slovak Lidl offer with a price of 7.49 euros (175.79 CZK) was more interesting. Domestic Tesco reported a discount from 229.90 to 139.90 CZK.

Gasoline car owners do not expect significant price differences when going shopping. Gasoline in Mistelbach cost 1,567 euros (CZK 36.78), but there are also more expensive pumps. Slovaks paid 1,585 euros (37.20 CZK) for a liter of natural gas, in Hodonín and Břeclav the rate was 37.90 crowns per liter. And diesel tanks are currently not worth filling up at the neighbors.

Only selected goods are worth buying in Germany. For example, 250 grams of butter could be bought at the Netto discount store in Altenberg, Germany, which is located only three kilometers beyond the border, on Tuesday morning for 1.44 euros (roughly CZK 35). In the Albert hypermarket in Teplice, the same amount of butter cost 56.90 crowns.

It was also advantageous to buy eggs. A pack of ten pieces cost 46 crowns in Altenberg, 60 crowns in Teplice. Last but not least, it was also worth buying, for example, oil. While a liter of sunflower oil cost 47 kroner in a German discount store, it cost 60 kroner in Alberta.

It is definitely not worth refueling in Germany for Czechs. On Tuesday, the OMV gas station sold a liter of gasoline for 37.70 crowns and diesel for 32.50 crowns. To Start in Altenberg offered gasoline for 40.80 crowns and diesel for 36.60 crowns.