The price of everyday vegetables can look very different when compared across countries. A recent social media post by an Indian living in Norway has brought that difference into focus, with lemons, tomatoes and cucumbers becoming the centre of an online discussion.
Vinod, who has been living in Norway for several years, shared a video on X showing grocery prices he encountered there. He compared them with the prices of similar vegetables in India’s metro cities and then raised a larger question about whether Indian farmers receive a fair share of what consumers eventually pay. The post has since sparked different reactions online.
Lemons Cost Rs 850 Per Kg In Norway, Man Claims
Even after living in Norway for years, it still surprises me every time I visit the butikk 😊🇳🇴
These are the daily prices of groceries:
Organic lemon: ₹850/kg, tomato: ₹680/kg, cucumber: ₹300 each 😳
In India’s metros, lemons can cost around ₹90–₹110/kg, tomatoes… pic.twitter.com/JeLxob8dkK
— Vinod (@turiyatman) September 29, 2026
According to Vinod’s post, the prices he saw at a Norwegian store were considerably higher than those commonly seen in Indian cities. “Even after living in Norway for years, it still surprises me every time I visit the butikk,” he wrote.
He then shared the prices he observed:
“These are the daily prices of groceries: Organic lemon: ₹850/kg, tomato: ₹680/kg, cucumber: ₹300 each.”
Vinod compared these figures with prices he said are seen in India’s metro cities. “In India’s metros, lemons can cost around ₹90–₹110/kg, tomatoes ₹60–₹80/kg, and cucumbers ₹20–₹30 each, depending on quality.”
The comparison quickly attracted attention because the difference is substantial, particularly in the case of lemons and tomatoes. It is worth noting that these are prices cited by the individual in his social media post. They are not presented as a comprehensive comparison of grocery prices across Norway and India.
‘It’s 8 Times Cheaper Than Norway’
Vinod also compared the difference in vegetable prices with salaries in the two countries. He wrote, “It’s 8 times cheaper than Norway, but salaries aren’t 8 times higher in Norway – not even close. Still, we complain as always.”
The comparison then moved beyond grocery bills. Vinod said his larger concern was about the amount farmers receive for their produce. “It’s not about Norway’s cost structure, salaries, imports and so on… it just makes me wonder if we’re paying our farmers a fair price, enough for their hard work in India. What do you think, fam? Are we failing our farmers in India?” That question became one of the main talking points in the reactions to his post.
Social Media Users Divided Over The Comparison
The post received different responses from users. Some agreed with the broader concern about farmers and the difference between what consumers pay and what producers receive.
One user wrote, “Farmers don’t get a fair price; people in the city pay more compared to the income. The only people earning are the middlemen controlled by politicians by controlling the prices.”
Another user supported Vinod’s point and wrote, “I cannot respect you enough for putting forward such an important issue. I see hundreds of posts daily criticising vegetable prices in countries outside India by NRIs and praising India for such low prices, but no one cares to think that isn’t it because we underpay our farmers. Same goes for people praising India for Blinkit and other similar rapid delivery services missing abroad, and the harsh reality is that we are exploiting our vulnerable class.”
At the same time, other users questioned whether simply converting Norwegian prices into Indian rupees provides a meaningful comparison.
Users Bring Purchasing Power Into The Debate
Some reactions focused on purchasing power and income differences between the two countries. One user wrote, “Check per capita income of the country u mentioned and India. Also check how many are holding the top 1% of that income in those countries and how many in India, and then re-post it with authentic data.”
Another user pointed to purchasing power parity, or PPP, as an important factor when comparing prices across economies. PPP is commonly used to compare the purchasing power of currencies by accounting for differences in price levels between countries. In simple terms, a product costing ₹850 after converting a Norwegian price into rupees does not necessarily mean it is equally expensive for a Norwegian resident as ₹850 would be for an Indian consumer. This was one of the reasons some users argued that salaries, purchasing power and the broader cost of living should also be considered.
Vinod Clarifies His Point
Despite the discussion around PPP and income levels, Vinod said that was not the main point behind his post. He replied, “It’s not about PPP… this post is asking are we paying fair price to farmers in India.”
That clarification shifted the focus back to the issue he originally wanted to raise. The debate, therefore, has two separate elements. One is the straightforward comparison of grocery prices in Norway and India. The other is the larger question of how agricultural produce moves through the supply chain and how much of the final consumer price reaches farmers.
These are complex issues influenced by production costs, supply and demand, transportation, storage, retail margins and other factors. A comparison of a few grocery prices alone cannot establish how much farmers earn or determine whether they are being paid fairly.
A Grocery Price Comparison Sparks A Bigger Conversation
What began with three everyday products has turned into a broader discussion about food prices, purchasing power and farmers’ earnings. The Norway-India comparison has certainly highlighted how different grocery prices can be in two countries. But the reactions also show why such comparisons need context. Exchange rates alone do not capture differences in wages, living costs or purchasing power.
For Vinod, however, the central question remains about farmers and whether they receive enough for their work. His post has prompted people to look beyond the price tag at the supermarket and think about what happens before the produce reaches the consumer.
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