Consumer price levels in Ireland are the fifth highest in the EU according to Eurostat, the European statistical agency.
Restaurants and hotel prices are above average with Ireland in fourth place after the three nordic countries.
However the average price of clothing and consumer electronics is below the European average.
Consumer prices in Ireland are 17% above average. That compares with 2% above average in the UK and 3% above average in Germany.
Denmark (+42% above average) is the most expensive EU country, followed by Sweden (+28%) , Finland (+25%) and Luxembourg (+22%).
Prices in Ireland, Belgium and France were 10% to 20% above average.
Bulgaria has the lowest prices in the EU, approximately half (51%) of the EU average. Poland and Romania are more expensive (60%) followed by Hungary (64%)
