Taking a break to eat on the motorway has become increasingly expensive: according to Altroconsumo, the prices of the main products have increased by 4% compared to 2023. A sandwich costs on average 7 euros, while a brioche costs almost 2 euros.
Having lunch on the motorway has now become a luxury. Prices in service areas are increasingly expensive, as he analyses Altroconsumo in a survey involving about 22 service areas between Milan, Naples, Rome and Venice. A simple sandwich it has now become a truly unaffordable food, costing almost double that of a bar. In general, the already high prices record a +4% increase compared to 2023. For those preparing for a road trip to their vacation destination, making a pit stop for food may not be so accessible.
The costs of a sandwich on the highway
According to the survey published by Altroconsumo, the average price of a sandwich is 7 euros in a service area, while in a normal bar it costs 4.20 euros. A substantial difference that increases the cost by 70% at the expense of travellers. Even water has now become a precious commodity: whether natural or sparkling, the same bottle that costs 60 cents in the supermarket costs on average 3 euros per liter in the service area.
Not to mention carbonated drinks, from orange soda to cola: these products cost on average 8 euros, with orange soda being slightly cheaper than cola (with a difference of about ten cents between each other). The formats make the difference in the price with the bottles ranging from 500ml to 450ml, passing through 330ml cans: following the trend of shrinkflationi.e. that phenomenon which sees a smaller quantity of product for a higher price, the smallest formats are also the most expensive.
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The costs of breakfast in a service area
If lunch is very salty, breakfast is no different either. A cappuccino costs on average 1.84 euros, while a croissant costs 1.72, which represents 12% and 26% compared to the cost of the same period last year: a steep increase that makes you want to have breakfast before leaving and bring a snack for the trip. Also the coffee increases: today it costs 1.35 euros more, with an increase of 14%. If, however, you would like a snack during the trip, for example a bag Of french fries, or an ice cream for a snack, the prices still remain high. According to Altroconsumo, the average for an ice cream is three euros, while for a packet of crisps the average price from North to South is 3.13 euros. A truly excruciating car journey.
