Big Price Rises In Salzburg Ski Restaurants

Stopping off at a Salzburg ski hut has become around 60 percent more expensive in the last 10 years - almost twice as much as general inflation. “Leader” when it comes to drinks with a maximum price of 6.13 euros for half a liter. “Given the enormous price increases, it particularly bothers me that the ski water, which is so popular with children, is taking the top spot,” says AK President and ÖGB state chairman Peter Eder. In a district comparison, Tennengau, Lungau and Pongau are below the national average, while Pinzgau is above the national average. In principle: the larger the ski area, the higher the prices.

A current AK survey in Salzburg's ski huts shows: With an average increase of around 60 percent, the prices for beer, jagatee, fries, yeast dumplings, etc. have increased by almost twice the general price increase.

Ski hut prices rose well above CPI

Compared to the results of the last survey in 2014, prices in Salzburg's ski huts have increased by an average of 59.19 percent. The consumer price index (CPI) rose by 33.5 percent over almost the same period (annual average 2013 – 2023). “If you look at the results of our last gastronomy survey (September 2013 – 2023: + 49.18 percent), it is clear that ski hut prices have risen excessively,” analyzes consumer advocate Christian Obermoser, who led the survey.

192 ski huts in 23 ski areas were collected

A total of 192 ski huts in 23 Salzburg ski areas in Tennengau, Pongau, Pinzgau and Lungau were examined. 24 products were documented using a standardized survey form. Of these, 11 were drinks and 13 were foods, including 5 products specifically for children (2 drinks and 3 foods). It was also asked whether anything was charged for tap water. Only businesses located directly on the ski slopes were surveyed. By the way, the last survey was carried out in 2014 (at that time 195 ski huts were surveyed).

Drinks are 50 percent more expensive, food is over 60 percent more expensive

Beverage prices have increased by 49.06 percent over the past 10 years. Examples:

• Ski water: +62.78 percent
• Beer (Seidl/Halbe): +50.68 / +46.11 percent
• Cola: +47.30 percent

A price was stated for tap water in 62 huts (around a third), with an average price of 1.06 euros for 0.25 liters of water.

The increases in food (including children's meals) have been even more significant since 2014 at 63.44 percent. For example:

• Apple strudel: +75.07 percent
• Spaghetti Bolognese: +69.10 percent
• Frankfurter with pastries: +69.72 percent

Sometimes there is an enormous price difference for food and drink

Schiwasser: In Obertauern 4.90 euros for 0.4 liters (extrapolated to 0.5 liters 6.13 euros). Cheaper in Werdenweng at 3 euros for half a liter – a difference of 104.17 percent.
Cola: 0.25 liters are available on the Kitzsteinhorn for just 2.10 euros. In Dorfgastein, the same amount of caffeinated lemonade was seen at 4.30 euros - a price range of over 133 percent.

The price differences for beer: In Obertauern a “pint” (0.4 l) costs 6.80 euros (extrapolated to “half” 8.50 euros), while inwerfenweng 4.50 euros are charged for 0.5 liters of beer , price difference almost 89 percent.

• Spaghetti Bolognese costs 8.90 euros in Saalbach-Fieberbrunn. In Leogang, however, 18 euros, which corresponds to a price difference of over 102 percent.
• For Frankfurter sausages with pastries, Mühlbach seems moderately priced at 4.50 euros. For example, compared to Saalbach, where 9.60 euros are charged, a difference of over 113 percent.
• Germknödel: Comparatively cheap in Grossarl-Dorfgastein at 5.80 euros. It's different in Leogang for 13.50 euros (including vanilla sauce) - price difference over 132 percent.

District comparison: Lungau with the lowest price jumps

In principle, the following applies to ski hut prices: “The greater the number of kilometers of slopes on offer, the higher the prices when stopping for a break.”

Lungau performs best when it comes to price increases - with an average of 8.62 percent below the national average. The ski areas in Tennengau are also well below the national average (-7.44 percent). Despite strong increases in Obertauern, Pongau is also below average (-2.82 percent).

However, Salzburg's largest district is above the national average: in the Pinzgau ski huts, schnitzel, ski water, etc. cost an average of 4.26 percent more than the national average.