Breakfast Prices Through the Years: A 19-Year Journey
By Nele Spandick
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Historical Price Analysis: Assessing Breakfast Costs in the Past - 19 Years Ago - Cost analysis: What was the cost of breakfast 19 years back?
Over half of Germans choose bread and rolls paired with cold cuts for breakfast, alongside a steaming cup of coffee. But how much have these beloved German breakfast staples cost over the past 19 years?
A side-by-side comparison from RTL, including stern, sheds light on price changes within these two timeframes. RTL reporters unearthed the prices of various supermarket items from 2006 and brought them back to stores in 2025 for an eye-opening comparison.
Analyzing the Price Trends
Beyond the examined samples, statistics indicate that numerous prices have skyrocketed past the level of inflation. Although price hikes might seem less alarming when taking into account wage growth, the figures hint at a more nuanced story.
The strong upward trend in prices can primarily be attributed to the last five years. Prior to 2020, prices saw modest growth of around 2% per year. However, a significant shift occurred from 2020 to 2023, followed by a slight levelling off, save for exceptions like coffee which continues to skyrocket.
Take a closer look at the full video on RTL+ for further insights.
A Picture Paints a Thousand Words
- Price Comparison
- Sausage
- Rolls
- Breakfast
- Coffee
- Cheese
- Tea
Breaking Down the Boys & Their Toys
Basic economic wisdom dictates that classic breakfast items such as bread rolls (Brötchen), butter, coffee, and eggs have witnessed moderate price increases over the past two decades, closely aligning with consumer price inflation. This may vary due to fluctuating commodity prices, complex supply chain issues, and evolving consumer demand.
Germany's inflation rate has hovered between 1-2% per year since the mid-2000s, with temporary spikes more recently due to energy expenses and supply bottlenecks. Compounded over 19 years, inflation amounts to approximately 30-40%, depending on the specific time frames under consideration.
Wages in Germany have climbed gradually over the same period, in some years outpacing inflation slightly, thus augmenting the purchasing power of average workers. When weighing price growth relative to inflation and wages, the overall affordability of common breakfast items has remained stable or slightly improved for consumers.
The lack of exact data for item prices from 2006 and 2025 hinders a precise numerical comparison in this context. Daily food allowances in Germany as per the U.S. Department of State's per diem rates in 2025 range between $120-$140 USD, but these allude to overall daily expenses, not itemized breakfast costs[1].
To summarize, average breakfast item prices in Germany have risen in line with inflation since the early 2000s, and living standards have stayed steady or improved moderately due to wage growth. To access detailed historical market data and pinpoint exact figures, turn to German statistical agencies or consumer price indices.
- Unlike the modest annual price increases of 2% seen in classic breakfast items like bread rolls, butter, coffee, and eggs before 2020, a significant shift happened from 2020 to 2023, with items like coffee continuing to skyrocket, indicating a need for careful budgeting and personal-finance management.
- When comparing prices of breakfast staples such as sausage, rolls, breakfast, coffee, cheese, and tea from 2006 to their current prices in 2025, it becomes evident that finance and budgeting strategies have become essential for maintaining a balanced lifestyle, as many prices have surpassed the level of inflation over the past 19 years.
