Green Monday, which marks the start of Lent in Cyprus and is traditionally celebrated outdoors with fasting foods and family gatherings, will come at a higher cost this year for several staple items, according to the Consumer Protection Service Price Observatory.

The observatory recorded significant price increases for lagana bread, octopus, cuttlefish and celery, while at the same time noting substantial decreases in tomatoes, cucumbers, beetroot, kolokoumbres, shrimp and squid compared with last year.

The survey reflects prices collected on 19 February from 67 retail outlets, including large and small supermarkets and greengrocers across all districts. It covers products most commonly consumed on Green Monday, such as vegetables, salads, halva and seafood.

Notable price increases

Celery roots posted the steepest increase, rising by 52.84% to an average of €2.32 compared with €1.52 last year. Eggplant salad rose by 27.24%, from €3.42 in 2025 to €4.35.

Fresh small octopus increased by 25.05%, reaching €17.99 per kilo from €14.39, while small fresh cuttlefish rose by 7.20% to €13.10 per kilo. Lagana bread climbed by 18.29%, with an average price of €1.44 compared with €1.22 last year, and tahini increased by 8.88% to €3.81 from €3.50.

Products showing decreases

Tomatoes recorded the largest drop, falling by 46.74% to €1.69 per kilo from €3.81 last year. Kolokoumbres declined by 27.42% to €1.56 from €2.15, greenhouse cucumbers fell by 21.70% to €3.31 from €4.23, and beetroot decreased by 18.09% to €1.59 from €1.94.

Shrimp prices dropped by 25.94%, from €8.11 to €6.01, while whole cleaned squid fell by 14.21%, from €8.60 to €7.37.

Halva prices showed no significant change and range between €4 and €6 for a 400-gram package.

Wide price gaps across retailers

The observatory highlights considerable differences between the lowest and highest retail prices for identical products.

For example, one kilo of halva with almonds ranges from €4.45 at the cheapest outlet to €16.99 at the most expensive. Fresh large squid is priced at €11.95 per kilo at the lowest-priced store and €20 at the highest. Fresh large octopus ranges from €12.50 per kilo at the most affordable outlet to €25.99 at the highest-priced point of sale.

Lagana prices vary between €0.99 and €2.15, while sourdough koulouri ranges from €1.39 to €3.24, depending on the retailer.

The Consumer Protection Service clarifies that the Price Observatory is compiled solely for general consumer information. It does not constitute purchasing advice and does not replace individual market research based on personal preferences and needs. The service also notes that qualitative differences between products are not reflected in the data and urges consumers to compare prices before making their purchases.

Source: CNA

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