The time to leave for the holidays is approaching: a summer that could reserve quite a few surprises on the cost frontstarting with the increases in beach prices which – as demonstrated by a recent Altroconsumo survey – they mark a +4% compared to 2023.
Sandwiches 70% more expensive than in normal bars
Eating a classic stopover on the highway, a sandwich, can be expensive. In fact, in the rest areas considered, the average price of a sandwich stands at around 7 euros, compared to 4.20 euros for a normal bar (Observat prices data, April 2024). In fact, you spend around 70% more on the motorway. It’s no better for those who decide to have breakfast: for a cappuccino in a bar on the motorway must be taken into account on average 1.84 euros, while for a brioche 1.72 euros. Compared to what emerged from the latest survey on the prices of breakfast at the bar, we are talking about higher figures: for a cappuccino at the local bar you spend on average 1.64 euros, for a croissant 1.57 euros. On the motorway they therefore cost us 12% and 26% more respectively. Finally, for a smooth coffee, the average cost stands at 1.35 euros compared to 1.17 euros (on average) for coffee at the bar: also in this case we are talking about +14%.
Bottled water: over 3 euros per litre
Among the most common purchases on the highway there is definitely bottled mineral water. Especially on the hottest days, maintaining a good level of hydration is important even when you are behind the wheel. Not all service areas are equipped with fountains to fill your water bottle, so choosing mineral water often remains the only alternative. But how much do you spend on a bottle? Still or sparkling, it doesn’t matter, water in service areas costs on average 3.16 euros per liter for small bottles. The smaller format (500 ml) has a lower price both per liter and per pack compared to the 750 ml one.
If we consider that a half liter bottle at the supermarket it costs around 35 euro cents (€0.67 per litre, according to the latest Altroconsumo survey in March 2024) and that we are talking about a primary good, the prices charged by refreshment points are on average high.
Soft drinks, smaller formats cost more
Carbonated drinks such as orange soda and cola were also considered in the analysis. These products are expensive around 8 euros per litrewith a slight difference that sees orange soda slightly less expensive than cola: 7.96 euros per liter versus 8.06. We found products in different formats: 500 or 450 ml bottles, but also 330 ml bottles and cans. As was documented in a recent analysis on the phenomenon of shrinkflation in supermarkets, it has also been found on the motorway the smaller formats are also the most expensive (perhaps to keep the final price substantially similar).
It is in particular the price of the 450 ml bottle is surprising: despite being slightly smaller than the 500 ml one (-10%) per liter it costs 21% more. As noted for mineral water, in service areas soft drinks also have a decidedly higher price than in supermarkets: according to the latest Altroconsumo survey (March 2024) In large-scale distribution, Coca Cola costs on average 1.40 euros per litre: a big difference.
Up to 16 euros per liter for energy drinks
Among the assortment present in refreshment points there is often a selection of energy drinks. Let’s talk about products that cost on average 13.57 euros per litre, but the differences between one product and another are quite marked. Red Bull and Monster were taken into consideration in the analysis: despite fairly aligned prices per pack, Prices per liter change a lot. The cans are on sale at a price between 3.50 and 4.50 euros. The smaller formats, as already observed for soft drinks, contribute to increasing prices: Red Bull in 250 ml format costs 16 euros per litre.
For an ice cream the average cost is 3 euros
To buy packaged ice cream on the motorway you have to take into account an average cost of 3 euros. Two formats were taken into consideration: a chocolate-covered stick and a classic ice cream cone, finding rather similar prices. With an average price per kilo of 38.51 euros, ice creams remain rather expensive products to purchase in refreshment points, especially if we consider that for some variants the price exceeds 50 euros per kilo.
Ice cream in a cone: the price per kilo exceeds 40 euros
In the price analysis of ice cream cones, they were instead considered two Algida products (Classic Croissant and XXL Croissant Exaggerated) and one Sammontana (Five stars). Here is the comparison of the rather similar prices per package, with differences in prices per kilo.
Sweet and savory snacks: in the jungle of formats
In addition to drinks and ice creams, we also checked the prices of savory and sweet snacks. In the analysis we noted the cost of chips, crackers and chocolate.
Chips, the smallest formats (45 g) exceed 50 euros per kilo
They were often found in the refreshment points considered San Carlo brand crisps except in two cases where there were Pringles and Amica chips. How much does a bag of crisps cost? From 1.50 to 4 euros, but the formats vary greatly and significantly impact the price per kilo. The range of products to choose from include small packages of 45 g and family sizes of 190 which correspond to very different prices.
Up to 3.55 euros for a 100 g pack of Tuc
For crackers we found a certain uniformity in the proposal: we almost always found the product Tuc Original in the 100 g format. Only in one case did we detect a different product: Ritz 200 g. The prices of Tuc packaging varies greatly, on average a package costs 3.16 euros, but we have cases in which it is sold for 2.44 euros and cases in which it reaches 3.55 euros. For Ritz crackers the price recorded is 3.99 but the pack is 200 g.
Price per kilo of chocolate +80% compared to the supermarket
To buy a chocolate bar of around 100 g on the motorway you spend an average of 3.70 euros, but prices can vary from 1.20 to 6.29 euros. In the stores visited we also found larger formats between 200 g and 300 g: for these formats the price of a pack varies between 5 and 6 euros. Here are all the prices recorded in detail.
Even for chocolate, as seen in other product categories, we see high prices. A chocolate bar weighing less than 300 g at the supermarket it costs on average 19 euros per kilo (Altroconsumo data March 2024), in motorway catering stores around 35 euros per kilo: 80% more.
