© AFP
A recent survey by RTL Infos shows that household size, family status, and cross-border shopping habits heavily influence how much Luxembourgers spend on groceries each month.
A pensioner told RTL Infos: "If you want to live well and eat well, which is what I always do, you have to spend €500 or €600 a month on groceries. You can save on other things, but eating healthily is very important, so I don’t look at the prices."
RTL Infos asked passers-by in Esch-sur-Alzette a simple question: "Do you have to spend a lot on groceries in Luxembourg?" The answers revealed a wide range.
One young man said he spends "around €1,000 a month" on himself. He explained that this amount includes meal vouchers. In contrast, a mother shopping for a family of four manages with "about €400 a month". "We’re careful, we compare prices in different shops. We also shop in Germany because it’s cheaper than here", she added.
Another resident mentioned that Luxembourg "is interesting for some things, but for others it’s two to three times more expensive than elsewhere. Don’t come to Luxembourg for food."
A border resident, who spends roughly €700 a month on groceries for herself and her husband, said: "I like coming to Luxembourg because they have good and well presented products. I also like Luxembourgish products." Her husband noted that many people cross into France to shop because it is much cheaper.
To gain a broader perspective, RTL Infos conducted a survey on Luxembourg residents’ grocery budgets. A total of 1,037 people responded, revealing a diverse range of spending habits across the country.
More than half of couples with children spend over €800 per month
In this survey, respondents were asked to indicate whether they were single or in a relationship and whether they had children. As expected, family circumstances have a major influence on grocery spending.
Couples with children (46% of respondents) are the biggest spenders: 28% spend more than €1,000 per month, and 27% spend between €800 and €1,000. Only 8% spend less than €400, and 1% less than €200.
Couples without children (28%) generally spend less: 25% report a monthly budget of €400–€600, 22% between €600 and €800, and 18% spend over €1,000. Only 18% spend below €400.
Single parents (8%) show more modest spending: 29% spend €200–€400 per month, 24% between €400–€600, and 23% between €600–€800. Only 10% exceed €1,000, while 2% spend less than €200.
Single people without children (18%) spend the least: 44% allocate €200–€400 per month, 23% spend €400–€600, and 15% between €600–€800. Just 4% exceed €1,000, while 9% spend less than €200.
Shopping habits also vary by location. While 62% of respondents shop exclusively in Luxembourg, 32% alternate between Luxembourg and neighboring countries, and 6% shop only abroad, where supermarket prices are generally lower.
