On this week’s Shopping Trolley Hotline, we answer the question of whether shopping in Northern Ireland is truly cheaper. 

Newstalk’s Simon Tierney went to Tesco in both the Republic and Northern Ireland, buying the same typical 20 grocery items from both. 

“We've compared and contrasted the exact same items from the exact same supermarket chain,” he told The Hard Shoulder. 

Simon began the shopping investigation on June 19th and monitored prices over the following three weeks before coming to his conclusions. 

After investigating milk, fruits, vegetables, cereals and other staples, it seems that Northern shoppers do have it better. 

Simon’s calculations found that Tesco products in the Republic of Ireland were 11% cheaper after converting the Northern Irish pound to euro. 

Milk, for example, was €1.04 per litre in the Republic – and just €0.76 in the North. 

This is important knowledge for parents of young children, according to Simon. 

“We're going through a huge amount of milk,” he said. “I buy nine litres of milk a week.” 

 

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Tesco in Derry, Northern Ireland. Image: Shawn Williams / Alamy Stock Photo

To go with your milk, Kellogg’s Corn Flakes were €3.50 in the Republic and €2.59 in Northern Ireland. 

A loose banana is 10 cents more expensive in the Republic of Ireland at 26 cents. 

A chicken fillet up north was €3.14 compared to €3.60 in the Republic – while a kilogram of lean beef steak mince was 25 cents cheaper per kilogram in Northern Ireland at €8.26. 

For own-brand four-pack toilet roll, the difference is also big – with customers in the Republic paying €2.20 and Northerners paying €1.72. 

The only groceries that were cheaper in the Republic of Ireland were own-brand white cheddar cheese - €2.27 versus a whopping €3.55 - white sliced pan – three cents cheaper at 88 cents – and loose broccoli, which was 10 cents cheaper at €2.49. 

Penne pasta was also 13 cents cheaper in the Republic at 69 cents – while a Goodfellas pepperoni pizza will cost you an extra 46 cents in Northern Ireland at €3.55. 

Groceries in Northern Ireland

Overall, the cost of 20 grocery items in the Republic was €73.50 - compared to €66.29 in Northern Ireland. 

Simon said the cheaper prices up north could be down to more competition between grocers. 

“There's a lot more competition up north and in the UK – you've got Morrison's, you've got Asda, you've got Sainsbury's, you've got Waitrose. 

“That competition is going to drive prices down.” 

Other issues that could leave Republican groceries more expensive include customs duty, differing fuel costs for grocers and a larger euro market. 

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