Cocoa, cooking chocolate and milk have become more expensive, while potatoes, butter and pork are cheaper year-on-year. XTB’s analysis shows that the purchase of a model shopping basket has become more expensive by 6% year-on-year. Slovaks also pay significantly more for fuel when traveling to visit relatives, whom they traditionally visit during the Easter holidays.
“Food prices react to a whole range of factors – from the weather and the harvest to what is happening on international commodity markets. This year, the situation is interesting in that, while some raw materials typical for Easter baking have noticeably become more expensive, we see rather the opposite trend in cooking,” explained XTB financial markets analyst Ondrej Greguš.
According to XTB analysts, the Easter consumer basket of the best-selling foods has risen in price by almost 6% year-on-year. The family thus paid 57.6 euros for the same purchase last year, while this year the contents of the basket amount to 60.9 euros. XTB analysts were based on the February raw material prices of the Slovak Statistical Office.
The price of cooking chocolate increased year-on-year by almost 9% and cocoa powder by 6%. The reason is the ongoing consequences of the cocoa crisis from previous years. The cocoa market was in deficit for several years when demand exceeded production and producers drew on stocks. Fresh milk also became more expensive by more than 5%. The exception for sweet baking is butter, which has become cheaper after last year’s significant increase in price, namely by more than 32%.
Potatoes saw a significant price drop, by as much as 28.5%. The reason is the record European harvest. Boneless loin of pork has become cheaper by more than 22%. A classic meat dish during Easter is also smoked ham, which has become more expensive by 7%.
“While in 2025 the reduced value added tax (VAT) on selected foods contributed to the pressure to make them cheaper, in 2026 the situation is the opposite. From January 1, 2026, the VAT on selected foods increased from 19% to 23%, while the change mainly affected foods with a higher sugar and salt content. Specifically, sweets, chocolate, sweet pastries, cookies, jams or salty snacks. This is not good news for Easter baking. Chocolate, cocoa and powdered sugar are among the products affected by this change. Their increase in price is not only a consequence of the situation on world commodity markets, but also of domestic tax policy,” added Greguš.
You also have to pay extra for traveling to see your family – while last year during Easter, motorists paid about 1.49 euros for a liter (l) of gasoline and about 1.42 euros for diesel, this year the prices are significantly higher. Gasoline is at the level of 1.531 euros/l, diesel at 1.573 euros/l.
