Stamp prices will rise on 3rd April. A first class stamp will cost £1.10 and a second class stamp will cost 75p. That’s an increase from 95p to £1.10 for a first class stamp and an increase from 68p to 75p for a second class stamp. I have more to say on the price rises in this article on Royal Mail’s actions.
Because of the proposed increases, I wondered what the relative cost was in different countries in Europe. I found the information, but without knowing how much a ‘loaf of bread’ costs in each country, I cannot really compare the costs to the man in the street. Additionally, a letter in the UK means one of within certain dimensions and weighing up to 100g. It may be that some countries cut off the letter rate at a lower weight. The price comparison table I found goes to 20g only.
Of course, Britain has a two-tier postal service. As an aside, I thought the two tiers might have existed for hundreds of years. In fact they were introduced in 1968 under a Labour Government.
So the comparison is limited. But what is not in doubt is the real cost in the UK. And remember that people in the UK send more cards and letters than do the people of any other country. Therefore, the price increases will hit the poorest as a regressive tax.
The Prices In Different Countries
Here is comparison of the cost of a standard postage stamp to send a letter (up to 20g) in all European countries as of May 2021. And to reiterate, stamp prices will rise on 3rd April. A first class stamp will cost £1.10 and a second class stamp will cost 75p.
- Albania: 30 ALL (Albanian Lek)
- Andorra: €0.80 (Euro)
- Austria: €0.80 (Euro)
- Belarus: 2 BYN (Belarusian Ruble)
- Belgium: €1.16 (Euro)
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: 2.20 BAM (Bosnian Convertible Mark)
- Bulgaria: BGN 0.65 (Bulgarian Lev)
- Croatia: HRK 8.00 (Croatian Kuna)
- Cyprus: €0.80 (Euro)
- Czech Republic: CZK 19.00 (Czech Koruna)
- Denmark: DKK 11.00 (Danish Krone)
- Estonia: €0.65 (Euro)
- Finland: €1.30 (Euro)
- France: €1.16 (Euro)
- Germany: €0.80 (Euro)
- Greece: €1.20 (Euro)
- Hungary: HUF 165 (Hungarian Forint)
- Iceland: ISK 160 (Icelandic Króna)
- Ireland: €1.10 (Euro)
- Italy: €1.10 (Euro)
- Kosovo: €0.80 (Euro)
- Latvia: €0.80 (Euro)
- Liechtenstein: CHF 1.00 (Swiss Franc)
- Lithuania: €0.55 (Euro)
- Luxembourg: €0.80 (Euro)
- Malta: €0.28 (Euro)
- Moldova: MDL 4.50 (Moldovan Leu)
- Monaco: €1.16 (Euro)
- Montenegro: €0.60 (Euro)
- Netherlands: €0.96 (Euro)
- North Macedonia: MKD 25 (Macedonian Denar)
- Norway: NOK 20.00 (Norwegian Krone)
- Poland: PLN 2.00 (Polish Złoty)
- Portugal: €0.80 (Euro)
- Romania: RON 2.20 (Romanian Leu)
- Russia: RUB 62.00 (Russian Ruble)
- San Marino: €0.80 (Euro)
- Serbia: RSD 80 (Serbian Dinar)
- Slovakia: €0.80 (Euro)
- Slovenia: €0.80 (Euro)
- Spain: €1.00 (Euro)
- Sweden: SEK 11.00 (Swedish Krona)
- Switzerland: CHF 1.00 (Swiss Franc)
- Ukraine: UAH 20.00 (Ukrainian Hryvnia)
- United Kingdom: £0.76 (British Pound Sterling)
- Vatican City: €0.95 (Euro)
Stamp Prices Will Rise On 3rd April. Meanwhile, In The USA
In my search for relative postage costs I discovered that it is very cheap to send a letter within the USA. That’s the way to run a country. Don’t put barriers in the way of people wanting to do things. It is in the same vein as not charging for car parking in city car parks. Rather, encourage people to turn over the pages of life. They come to town to shop, so encourage them.
This difference in attitude is crucial to understanding why some countries do well economically.