From our special correspondent in Figueres,
55 kilometres, a border and a little less than an hour separate Perpignan, in France, from Figueres, in Spain. In these two medium-sized towns, the temptation can be great to take your car and go see if the grass is greener – and especially the prices cheaper – on the other side of the Pyrenees. To get to the bottom of it, 20 minutes has filled its most beautiful trolley in the peripheral Carrefour of each city, with basic products: pasta, meat, fruit…
Obviously, we’re not the only ones wondering, as many people crossed the border early in the morning – and in both directions. Whatever your nationality, don’t expect to run away from inflation by changing countries, however, the problem is essentially the same: expect a price increase of 7.3% over one year in Spain, and 6.2% in the same period in France.
Spain, queen of prices in the fruit department
Still barely awake when we arrive in Figueres, let’s start with breakfast: 2.15 euros for the timeless jar of Nutella there, compared to 1.99 euros if we hadn’t crossed the border. France alone weighs 25% of the consumption of spreads, fortunately we have a discount. We continue in childhood with the package of Frosties: 2.49 euros for 400 g in Perpignan, 3.69 euros for 450 g in Figueres.
If you are not too into the syndrome Peter Pan and you have adult breakfasts, the 6 Carrefour free-range organic eggs cost 2.19 in France, 2.29 on the Spanish side. The difference jumps for the 20 capsules of L’Or Espresso coffee, from 5.45 euros with us to 7.35 euros with our neighbors. Only French victories for the moment? Not so fast. Spain accounted for 25.2% of world citrus exports in 2019, according to data published by the Observatory of Economic Complexity. And it shows through the liter of orange juice: 99 cents in the country of Dali, 1.75 euro in that of Voltaire.
Pasta twice cheaper in France
The reassembled continues throughout the fruit section: 1.85 euros for 500 g of grapes, compared to 3 euros in France; a kilo of bananas wholesale at 1.39 euros, against 1.99, and 250 g of cherry tomatoes at 1.39 euros, whereas you have to pay 2 euros for 200 g in Perpignan. “Fresh products have experienced strong inflation, but in Spain, we are lucky that it remains more or less affordable. We can still eat more or less healthy and good,” says Béa, a local resident weighing her tomatoes.
Come on, let’s get back to the vegetable department: 1.40 euros per kg of potatoes in France – one of the largest producers in the EU – against 1.50 in Spain. But the real tricolor advantage is the starches: 500 g of Barilla spaghetti cost 99 cents, compared to 1.90 euros in Spain, more than double! Cassegrain carrot peas cost a whopping 4.19 euros for 400 g (undrained) in Spain, compared to 2.49 euros for 465 g in France. The kilo of simple rice limits the breakage a bit – we are still in the land of paella: 89 cents in Perpignan, 1.09 in Figueres. “Pasta is really the worst,” continues Béa. It doesn’t show that much because it’s still low prices, but it scratches pennies that you feel at the end of the month. »
Meat, overwhelming advantage on the Spanish side
And on the meat side? Advantage Spain with the deal of the century: 900 g of minced meat at 5.17 euros, against 500 g in Perpignan at 7.30 euros! The 240 g of rindless white ham are 3.73 euros in Spain, and 5.59 euros in France. It is therefore quite naturally in this area that we hear the most foreigners. “Gasoline is expensive, but with enough meat, it’s worth crossing the border,” enthuses Franck, whose cart would have enough to feed a regiment of carnivores.
Finally, we note extra-virgin olive oil at 6 euros per liter, against 7 in France, the bottle of Coca-cola at 1.55 euros in France, against 1.68 in Spain. And since there is not only food in life, the 30 Ariel capsules at 14.25 euros, against 27 in France for 20 cents more.
This gives us a good full at 62.52 euros on the French side, against 59.22 euros in Spain. No clear overall difference therefore, but large differences depending on the product: in France starchy foods and coffee, in Spain meat and fruit. Note, however, that according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the average Spanish salary is between 20 and 30% lower than in France. Purchasing power is therefore largely on the side of Perpignan.