A significant decline in meat consumption is being recorded in Greece, as more and more households reduce their purchases due to rising prices and the ongoing cost-of-living pressures.
According to a survey conducted by the Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB), the percentage of citizens who say they are reducing their meat consumption rose to 45% in 2026, up from 36% in 2025, marking a sharp upward trend within just one year.
At the same time, beef prices continue their upward trajectory, with an annual increase of 19.2%, according to data from the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT), further burdening household food budgets.
The long-term price trend for beef shows a steady rise over the past decade. In 2016, prices ranged between €10 and €12 per kilogram. By 2020–2021, they had risen to €14–€15 per kilogram, increased further to €15.50–€17 in 2023, and are now estimated to range between €20 and €25 per kilogram in 2026.
Meanwhile, significant price differences are also recorded across other types of meat. Pork currently ranges from €5 to €9 per kilogram, lamb and goat meat from €12 to €16 per kilogram, and chicken from €4.50 to €7 per kilogram.
