Riga Resident Shocked That Some Products Cheaper in Norway Than Latvia
A woman from Riga found that common foods like dark chocolate and pesto are cheaper in Norway than in Latvia, highlighting price disparities despite Norway's higher wages.
A Riga resident visiting Norway was surprised to find that several everyday products cost the same or even less than in Latvia. Despite Norway's reputation as an expensive country with much higher salaries, she noticed striking price differences for pesto and dark chocolate.
For instance, Lindt dark chocolate was priced at 47.90 kroner (about 4.38 euros) in Norway's Rema store, while in Latvia's Rimi it regularly costs over 6 euros. Even on sale, it rarely drops below 4.85 euros. Similarly, Barilla pesto cost 29.90 kroner (2.73 euros) in Norway, compared to 4 euros in Latvian stores like Maxima and Rimi, or about 2.80 euros on promotion.
The woman commented that surviving without sales in Latvia is nearly impossible, especially for families on an average salary. She noted that a significant portion of income goes to housing and food, creating a feeling of mere survival rather than a fulfilling life.
She also observed differences in discount practices: in Norway, fresh products are often marked down by 50% at the end of the day, while in Latvia, stores sometimes charge full price for items expiring the next day or for damaged vegetables and fruits.
