Pub prices 5% higher in Dublin, survey finds

The price of alcohol in Dublin pubs is on average 5 per cent higher than the rest of the country, according to the latest price comparison survey by Central Statistics Office (CS0).

The survey compared the prices of 73 goods and services and found that average prices were higher in Dublin for 44 items and lower for 29.

It found that 26 items had average prices that fell within a 3 per cent range of each other.

Average prices for 30 items were more than 3 per cent higher in Dublin, while prices of 17 items were more than 3 per cent lower.

The price of alcoholic beverages varied greatly between take home drink and drinks consumed on a licensed premises.

Pubs prices were consistently higher in Dublin with nearly all items 5 per cent higher than outside the capital. The greatest difference was for a half-pint of lager where average prices in Dublin were 13.4 per cent higher than the rest of the country.

Average take-home prices for alcohol were generally comparable with 3 per cent or less difference between Dublin and outside Dublin, for all but two items.

These items were cider - which was 4.4 per cent lower in Dublin - and table wine which was 3.9 per cent higher in Dublin.

Meat prices were consistently higher in Dublin as were fish and most fruit and vegetables .

Average unleaded petrol prices were 1.1 per cent lower in Dublin while average diesel prices were also 0.8 per cent lower in Dublin.

The survey compared the average prices of two services namely cinema entrance and ladies wash, cut & blow dry.

Cinema tickets were on average 18.7 per cent dearer in city while the price of a wash, cut & blow dry was 15.2 per cent higher.

The CSO said the current data for prices were collected for the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in May 2005.