Kosovo with most expensive food products in region

Kosovo has very high prices of basic food products compared to countries in the region.

Of the same products purchased in Pristina, Tirana, Presevo and Skopje are seen the differences the prices of these products have.

Food prices in countries in the region are almost the same as those in Europe. Despite these places, they are listed with high unemployment rates.

To see where the higher prices are, the team KP has done research. In these four countries, oil, sugar, salt, flour, a package of eggs, coffee, milk, tomatoes, and onions are purchased. And higher prices have been in Pristina.

One liter of oil, a pack of sugar, flour, salt, ve, coffee, milk, tomatoes, and onions have cost eight euros and 66 cents in one of the capital's markets.

And these prices, hardly affordable, are for citizens. Hasan Syla from Pristina, says that with monthly salaries they secure, it is very difficult to survive.

The price compared to the salaries we have is high. We have prices equal to the six countries in Europe that are. We've got some prices equal to them. And our wages are much lower than they... We can't afford them. They do not face 75 euros with 150 euros. A person spends it, not the family”, Hasan Syla said.

So says citizen Pajazi Halimi.

The prices here in Kosovo, for the price of being here as workers, which get 250 euros, are very high. In Kosovo it's a huge issue, it's dealing with the victims' salaries of 250 euros, it's a big disaster”, Halimi said.

Ali Hajra says that daily articles have a high price and that they are double last year.

“Prices are sadly high, and when they go public, they say that in the past year and now a zero percent or one percent are higher than at all. With our daily articles, our prices are much higher - twice last year. We investigate those on our backs. And it is a shame that no one really does something to have more control of the price movement” he said.

The same products were purchased in Presevo. Which cost 6.88 cents.

But, Presevo citizens say these awards are catastrophic to them.

“Prices are catastrophic compared to major cities, such as Belgrade, Nis. The salary is nothing. Salaries are too low. This means crisis”, said Mirsad Ilazi, citizen of Presevo.

While Driton Bina says, “given unemployment here, high unemployment and low wages, prices are not even low. They're more than they should be. They must be lower. More must be worked to reduce unemployment”.

All these products in Skopje have cost eight euros and six cents.

Citizen Brahim Kadrija lives in Switzerland, and whenever he comes to Skopje on vacation, he says he spends a lot because of high prices.

It's not for us too high, but for those who live here, it's expensive. They're more expensive. Since I arrived 1,000 francs I've spent”, he said.

So says Shaban Atiti.

The prices here are very high and with the salary here, we can't reach. For those of us working abroad, prices are small, but for those living here, there are a lot of high prices”, he said.

Products that were purchased in Tirana have had almost the same price as Pristina's. All of these have cost eight euros and 53 cents.

In the sense of prices, in what we have as pensioners, for us is an expensive cyc. For me, I can't afford”, says Rifat Hoxha.

And so says citizen Arben Ulqana.

“Compared to the market, starting with rents and so forth, prices are relatively high. The blame is normally governments, those who program the development of the country. Normally this country would have walked on better steps of welfare”, Hoxha said.

As pensioner Wassa Malolli says these prices are very difficult to afford.

I say, as a pensioner, at least in my family we face with difficulty what is necessary. So, it's not about extra expenses”, Malolli said.

There are currently 30 percent of the unemployed population. The most pronounced unemployment is in women at 34.8%, compared to men, 29.5%. The most pronounced unemployment rate is among 15-24-year-old groups with 55.0%.