Dubliners paying 4.9% more for goods, CSO finds

Dubliners continue to pay more for everyday items than consumers in the rest of the country and the gap has increased in the …

Dubliners continue to pay more for everyday items than consumers in the rest of the country and the gap has increased in the last six months, figures released by the Central Statistics Office this morning show.

An average basket of goods and services in Dublin costs 4.9 per cent more than outside the city as of last month, compared to 4.3 per cent last November, the latest survey by the CSO shows.

Meat and fish prices are generally comparable while fruit and vegetables generally cost more in Dublin. It costs 9.7 per cent more to drink in Dublin pubs. However, the difference between the prices in off-licences throughout the country is negligible.

Petrol and diesel prices are 1.5 per cent dearer in the capital. In May, the average price of a litre of petrol in Dublin was €1.26 compared with €1.24 throughout the rest of the country. Average diesel prices in Dublin are €1.34 while elsewhere the price is €1.31.

A man's wash, cut and blowdry costs 44.7 per cent more in Dublin, while women are expected to pay 20.7 per cent more to get their hair done.

A medium-sized chicken costs 20 per cent more in Dublin.

The average price of a pint of lager is 13.4 per cent dearer in Dublin.  A pint of stout cost €4.22 in the capital on average, compared to €3.85 in the rest of the country, the survey found.

The CSO included 79 items in its bi-annual analysis and found 49 were more expensive in Dublin, two had the same price and 28 items were cheaper.

Among the items which are cheaper in the capital were plaice fillets, which cost  9.5 per cent less. Lamb and round steak cost just over 5per cent less, while a litre of full fat milk is 5 per cent cheaper.

The survey also found that there was a lower variation in Dublin prices. In the capital, the five highest prices quoted were on average 67.8 per cent higher than the corresponding five lowest prices. The equivalent gap outside Dublin was 130.7 per cent.

The CSO's price analysis is done twice a year, using the prices of 79 goods and services collected for the Consumer Price Index.

Conor Pope

Conor Pope

Conor Pope is Consumer Affairs Correspondent, Pricewatch Editor