The cost of the Christmas meal in Nicosia remained unchanged in 2025, while the cost of a reduced grocery basket for lower-income households rose by 9 per cent compared with last year, according to a retail price survey by the Cyprus Consumers Association.

The association said its research was conducted between December 10 and December 19, based on three separate retail price surveys carried out exclusively in supermarkets in Nicosia. The survey covered a total of 34 food and beverage items.

The research aimed to calculate the cost for both four- and six-member households across three categories, a “rich” basket including all 34 products, an “economic” basket covering 19 items and a reduced basket for the weakest income groups based on just 11 products.

According to the results, the total cost of the “rich” basket for a four-member household in Nicosia is estimated at €160.12, rising to €226.97 for a six-member family.

Compared with 2024, the association said there was no differentiation, with the overall cost remaining at approximately the same levels.

The basket includes basic staples such as common bread at an average price of €1.63 per kilo, whole chicken at €3.51 per kilo, potatoes at €1.01 per kilo and onions at €1.11 per kilo, alongside higher-cost items such as lamb at €12.56 per kilo and whole turkey at €6.37 per kilo.

Traditional Christmas sweets were priced at €8.48 per kilo for melomakarona and €10.18 per kilo for kourabiedes.

Fresh produce prices showed notable variation, with tomatoes averaging €1.15 per kilo, cucumbers €2.72 per kilo and locally produced apples €2.69 per kilo, while imported apples averaged €2.48 per kilo.

Alcoholic and soft drinks included in the calculation ranged from €3.43 to €3.66 for a 750 ml bottle of wine, €5.82 – €5.86 for an eight-pack of beer and around €4.10 for a 200 ml bottle of zivania.

The final cost of the rich basket also includes an additional 5 per cent to cover ancillary expenses such as spices, lemons, water, paper goods, electricity and cooking gas.

On a per-person basis, the cost amounts to €40.03 for a four-member household and €37.83 for a six-member household.

At the same time, the total cost of the “economic” version, which includes 19 of the 34 products, is estimated at €98 for a four-member family and €129 for a six-member household.

More pressure, however, was recorded among the weakest income groups.

The reduced basket, based on 11 essential items, is estimated to cost €33 for four people and €49 for six.

Compared with the corresponding calculation in 2024, this represents an increase of 9 per cent, the association said.

During the survey period, fluctuations were observed in product prices. On December 19, a significant decrease of around 12 per cent was recorded in lamb prices, attributed to supermarket offers.

By contrast, strong increases were observed in certain vegetables, with average prices for cucumbers rising by 82 per cent, tomatoes by 65 per cent and potatoes by 10 per cent.

A number of products included in the survey were sold at promotional prices, with the association noting that the majority of these offers were maintained throughout the research period.

Significant price differences were also observed between points of sale for Christmas delicacies.

However, because such products vary considerably in ingredients, preparation methods and exact weight, the association said direct comparisons could not be considered reliable or objective and were therefore not analysed further.