€21 Bratwurst and €10 glühwein: Locals say they have been priced out of Christmas markets

14.12.2023 - 23:41 / euronews.com / Angela Symons / Winter Wonderland

In some parts of Europe, high prices and Christmas markets go hand in hand. But in others, this year’s soaring costs have come as a shock.

A 2023 survey crowned Budapest’s Christmas market the best in Europe - but with €21 hot dogs on the menu, enthusiasm is starting to wane.

With average wages below €830 per month, locals have been priced out of joining the festivities. A bowl of goulash goes for €12, stuffed cabbage for €17.

As a visitor from the southern city of Pecs, Margit Varga, points out, “This isn’t designed for Hungarian wallets”.

But Hungary isn’t the only country facing festive price shocks as food inflation continues to bite, having reached a high of almost 20 per cent in the EU earlier this year.

Here’s how other Christmas markets’ prices stack up.

With its winter festivals and fairy-lit cobbled streets, Scotland’s capital city promises a magical Christmas escape.

But this year, Edinburgh’s Christmas market has been branded ‘hell on earth’ with ‘outrageous prices’ and ‘robbing stall holders’, one X user writes. Hamburgers are priced at £12 (€14), tickets for the big wheel are £10 (€11.60) and mulled wine is as much as £7 (€8).

Edinburgh Christmas Market branded 'hell on earth' as brutal reviews urge people not to bother .The Market holders are lucky to have a Scots accent between them entrance is free no quite the Prices are outrageous £12 for a hamburger . Robbing stall holders .just like supermarkets

In England, things aren’t much better. The northeast city of York can usually be relied on to offer festivities at a fraction of London prices. But this year, a burger and chips also costs £12 (€14), while mulled wine is a slightly more reasonable £5 (€5.80).

That’s almost on par with London’s famous Winter Wonderland, where mulled wine will set you back £5.70 (€6.60), burgers cost up to £14 (€16.20) and hot dogs are £8.50 (€9.90). At peak time, a ride on the giant wheel costs £11 (€12.80).

In the northwest, prices at Liverpool’s Christmas market have also raised eyebrows. Local newspaper the Liverpool Echo posted the prices to Facebook - including £6.50 (€7.50) mulled wine and £8 (€9.30) bratwurst. Commenters said “You'd need to take out a mortgage to purchase any of these items” and “I’ll go to the nearest Greggs” - a low-cost British bakery chain.

Some added that the organisers, not the stallholders, are to blame, claiming that a medium-sized cabin on the market costs £10,000 (€11,600).

In Germany, the birthplace of Christmas markets, the festive tradition is almost sacred. But that hasn’t shielded visitors from inflation.

One person posted a picture on social media with a €6 bratwurst from Frankfurt Christmas market, saying “prices went up this year”.

It is beginning to look (smell, taste) a lot like