A comparison of ice cream prices across 10 European countries has found that workers in Greece need to spend the longest time earning enough to buy a single scoop, highlighting differences in purchasing power across the continent despite recent signs that ice cream inflation is easing.
The study, based on prices gathered by Euronews journalists and market surveys, showed that the cost of a scoop ranged from about €1.15 to €4.10, depending on the country. While the United Kingdom recorded the highest indicative price in the comparison, Türkiye had the lowest.
Prices varied widely depending on factors including location, shop type, portion size and flavour. Exchange rate movements also influenced comparisons where local currencies were converted into euros.
Tourist destinations often recorded significantly higher prices than ordinary neighbourhood shops. In Greece, where a scoop typically costs around €2.60, prices on popular holiday islands can reach between €4 and €6.
Türkiye also showed notable differences between everyday prices and those in tourist areas. While a scoop in Istanbul averaged around TL62.50, prices in major holiday resorts climbed to between TL100 and TL120, equivalent to roughly €1.85 to €2.20.
In the United Kingdom, researchers noted that direct comparisons were less straightforward because many consumers purchase soft-serve cones or packaged ice creams from mobile vendors rather than individual scoops from traditional parlours. A recent survey commissioned by Aldi found parents paid an average of £2.65, or approximately €3.10, for an ice cream bought from a van.
To assess affordability rather than price alone, researchers compared the cost of a scoop with average take-home earnings and working hours. Annual net income data for European Union countries came from Eurostat, while figures for the UK and Türkiye were drawn from the OECD. Working-hour data was used to estimate how many minutes an average worker would need to earn enough for one scoop.
Germany recorded the shortest working time at approximately 7.4 minutes. Workers in the United Kingdom needed around 9.3 minutes, while Belgium followed at 11.4 minutes. Italy required an estimated 13.2 minutes and France 14.5 minutes.
Türkiye, Poland and Spain were grouped at around 15 minutes, while Portugal reached 16.6 minutes. Greece ranked last, with workers needing an estimated 20.9 minutes of net earnings to afford a scoop, almost three times longer than workers in Germany.
Industry representatives in Greece said ice cream prices have risen by around 20% since 2020, largely because of higher energy costs. They noted that production expenses have remained relatively stable during 2026 after significant increases last year. Premium ingredients such as pistachios continue to add to costs, while rents and shop locations also influence retail prices.
Recent Eurostat data suggests price pressures have eased across much of Europe. The harmonised price index for ice cream and related products fell by 0.4% across the European Union in the year to June 2026, with notable declines in Portugal, Sweden, Denmark, Luxembourg, Greece and Belgium. However, prices continued to rise in several countries, including Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Austria, showing that inflation trends remain uneven across the region.
