Prices for staples like eggs and milk have been on a rollercoaster ride over the past five years. Food costs have soared in most countries, driven by factors including post-pandemic supply-chain disruption, the war in Ukraine, surging input expenses, climate change and even animal diseases. However, grocery bills have actually fallen in a few nations.

As part of our cost of living series, we've been tracking the prices of essential goods and services around the world. Now, to get an idea of the impact of these increases, we've compared the typical cost of a basket of essentials across selected countries in 2020 and 2025 using data from Numbeo. Read on to discover which nations have experienced the most dramatic food price hikes over the last five years – ranked from lowest to highest – and find out how your country compares.

Data correct as of 19 May 2025.