Key facts
- A Euronews comparison found Greece requires the most working time for an ice cream scoop, nearly three times that of Germany.
- The UK had the highest comparison figure for working time, while Turkey had the lowest.
- Indicative prices for a scoop ranged from €1.15 to €4.10 across 10 European countries.
- Ice cream prices in Greece have risen approximately 20% since 2020, largely due to increased energy costs.
- EU-wide inflation for ice cream and sorbets declined by 0.4% in the year to June 2026.
A Euronews comparison of ice cream prices and working times across 10 European countries revealed significant disparities, with Greece requiring the longest working period for a single scoop, nearly three times that of Germany. The UK also showed a high working time requirement, while Turkey had the lowest.
The indicative price for a scoop of ice cream varied between €1.15 and €4.10, influenced by location, establishment type, portion size, flavour, and currency fluctuations. While focusing on ordinary shops, the report noted that tourist prices could be substantially higher, particularly in popular Greek islands and Turkish resorts.
To estimate the working time needed, Euronews combined price data with earnings and working-hour statistics. For EU countries, net annual earnings from Eurostat represented the take-home pay of a single person earning the national average wage. These figures were converted into an estimated per-minute rate. The calculation is illustrative, not an official statistic.
In Germany, a scoop required approximately 7.4 minutes of net working time, rising to 9.3 minutes in the UK and 11.4 minutes in Belgium. Italy followed at 13.2 minutes, then France at 14.5 minutes. Turkey, Poland, and Spain were grouped around 15 minutes, with Portugal at 16.6 minutes and Greece at 20.9 minutes.
Ice cream prices in Greece have seen a notable increase, with costs rising by about 20% since 2020, primarily attributed to higher energy costs. However, production costs reportedly stabilized in 2026, with most recent increases occurring in 2025. Ingredient costs, such as pistachios, can be high, but standard flavours like vanilla and strawberry have seen less significant price hikes. Rents and shop locations also contribute to the final price.
Official inflation figures indicate a recent easing of price pressures in the ice cream category across the EU. Eurostat reported a 0.4% decline in the harmonised index for ice, ice cream, and sorbets in the year to June 2026. Significant price drops were observed in Portugal (-8.3%), Sweden (-4.6%), Denmark and Luxembourg (-2.8%), Greece (-2.6%), and Belgium (-2.3%). Conversely, prices rose in Lithuania (7.9%), Romania (6.4%), Slovakia (3.8%), and Austria (2.6%). Spain saw a 1.2% increase, Germany 0.8%, and Poland 0.2%. A negative inflation rate signifies a decrease compared to the previous year, not a return to pre-2020 prices.