AK Tirol finds drugstore goods cost 24 percent more in Austria

An Arbeiterkammer Tirol survey found branded drugstore products cost an average of 24.27 percent more in Austria than in Germany, ORF reported Thursday. Some products cost up to 152.65 percent more in Austria.

The biggest difference was for a 20-pack of Hansaplast Sensitive Strips. The product was available from German retailers for as little as 2.45 euros, compared with a price of up to 6.19 euros in Austria. Of the 42 products surveyed, five were cheaper on average at Austrian retailers.

The 42-item basket cost an average of 160 euros at Austrian retailers and 128.75 euros at German retailers. In Austria, the cheapest basket was at Müller for 145.49 euros and the most expensive at BILLA for 175.84 euros. In Germany, prices ranged from 127.72 euros at Rossmann to 130.22 euros at Rewe.

The basket included personal care and cleaning products. The survey compared gross prices, including promotional prices. Value-added tax rates were 20 percent in Austria and 19 percent in Germany. Membership and customer-card discounts, as well as quantity discounts, were excluded.

AK Tirol collected prices online from October 5 to 8 at MPREIS, BIPA, DM, Müller, INTERSPAR and BILLA in Austria, and at DM, Müller, Rossmann, Globus and Rewe in Germany.