Consumers outside Dublin can save significantly more by shopping around for better value than consumers in Dublin, according to new figures from the Central Statistics Office.
An analysis of prices charged for 73 items included in the Consumer Price Index found that rural consumers could cut their weekly shopping bill by more than a half by shopping around. It found that on average the gap between the most expensive and least expensive shops outside of Dublin was 124%. In Dublin, the difference in prices between the most expensive and least expensive shops was 75%.
The survey also found that while Dublin was more expensive for 60% of the goods and services surveyed, the typical gap in prices was small and is narrowing.
On average Dublin is 3.2% more expensive for goods than the rest of the country. But this is down from 4.2% 18 months ago.
The survey suggests that by shopping around people outside of Dublin could shave more than two thirds off the cost of fillet pork, ham fillet, cooked ham, smoked salmon, potatoes, onions, spaghetti, orange juice, and fine quality wines.
It found that if Dubliners shopped around they could halve the price they pay for items like back rashers, cooked ham, smoked salmon, potatoes, grapes, eggs, bread, spaghetti, jam, orange juice, and wines.
According to the survey, people in Dublin pay on average at least 10% more than those outside of Dublin for eight items covered. This includes grapes, where they pay 20.3%, potatoes 20.2% and cinema tickets 18.7%.
Consumers outside of Dublin pay at least 10% more than Dubliners for just four goods. These are low fat milk, fillets of whiting, brown bread and white bread.
The Dublin Chamber of Commerce said that the higher prices in Dublin may reflect higher costs that companies face in the capital, including local authority rates, water and waste charges.
Dublin pubs charge an average of 8% more for alcoholic drinks than pubs outside of the capital, according to the CSO comparison. This is down from a 10% premium that Dublin pubs were charging 18 months ago.
The CSO analysis shows that the gap in pub prices includes 13.4% more for a half pint of larger in Dublin, 7.9% more for a pint of stout, 5% more for a single measure of whiskey, and 1.2% more for a measure of brandy.
The figures also show the average price for a pint of stout in Dublin last month was €3.69, compared with €3.43 outside Dublin. A pint of lager costs an average €4.18 in Dublin compared with €3.74 outside.
