Price Level Comparison

Food price levels vary widely across the 38 OECD economies that report data for 2024, measured against the United States benchmark of 100. Switzerland has the highest level at 137, +37.0 index points above the benchmark, followed by South Korea (136), Iceland (127). The lowest is Türkiye at 64, −36.0 index points from the benchmark, with Colombia (65.4), Slovakia (71.7) close behind. United States (100), Australia (101) and Ireland (98.1), and 2 more sit close to the United States benchmark, within a few index points either side of 100. The median level among these economies is about 90.9, below the United States benchmark. 15 of the 38 economies with data sit within 10 index points of the benchmark in either direction. The largest single difference from the benchmark is about +37.0 index points, recorded by Switzerland. Across the group, the spread between the highest and lowest reported levels is about 73 index points. 12 of the 38 economies with data report a level above the United States benchmark, and 26 report a level below it.

A value of 100 means a price level identical to the United States benchmark. A value of 120 means prices are about 20 index points above the United States benchmark; a value of 85 means prices are about 15 index points below it.

These are relative price level indices, not U.S. dollar amounts and not a measure of how fast prices are rising over time. They do not represent what a household actually spends, and a higher or lower index does not mean every individual good in that category is priced identically across countries — the index reflects the category as a whole, not any single item within it.