In this article
I had heard that some people living in Andorra do their grocery shopping at Mercadona in La Seu d'Urgell because it is cheaper than the supermarkets here, so I wanted to find out whether the trip is worthwhile.
I compared 14 everyday products that most people buy — olive oil, coffee, pasta, rice, pulses, fruit, vegetables, toilet paper, toothpaste and detergent — at Andorra2000 (Carrefour) and Pyrénées in Andorra and Mercadona in La Seu d'Urgell. The same basket is 16.5% more expensive in Andorra. Extra virgin olive oil costs €6.89 here versus €4.95 at Mercadona; flour is almost twice the price.
Below you will find the full table with prices and links, a calculation of whether the drive is worthwhile including fuel, and how Tax Free works for this basket, given that many products have Spain's super-reduced 4% VAT rate. In short: if you spend €50 at Mercadona, the same basket would cost almost €60 in Andorra — and with Tax Free, the real saving is nearly €15.
Prices collected on 27 June 2026
16.5%
more expensive basket in Andorra
€14.82
real saving on €50 (price + Tax Free)
28.2%
more expensive olive oil in Andorra
In this article
Where is the biggest price difference?
This chart compares the price of each product in Andorra (blue) with Mercadona (green). Hover over a bar to see the exact figures.
Products with the largest percentage differences
The chart shows the five products with the largest percentage price gaps. Prices were checked on Andorra2000, Pyrénées and Mercadona websites on 27 June 2026.
Figure 1. Price comparison for the five products with the largest percentage differences. The horizontal axis shows the price in euros.
Prices were checked on each retailer's official website. They may change with time and availability; each price link opens the product listing.
The basket, product by product
The basket includes 14 everyday products: olive oil, coffee, pasta, rice, pulses, fruit, vegetables, toilet paper, toothpaste and detergent. Prices were checked on the retailers' digital platforms. Click any price in the table to open that product's listing.
The full basket costs €42.78 at Andorra2000 and Pyrénées, compared with €35.72 at Mercadona in La Seu d'Urgell — a difference of €7.06.
Build your own basket
Adjust quantities to compare the same products in both places.
| Category | Product | Quantity | Andorra | Mercadona (La Seu d'Urgell) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pantry | Extra virgin olive oil (1 L) | €6.89 | €4.95 | €1.94 | |
| Pantry | Instant coffee (100 g) | €2.99 | €2.90 | €0.09 | |
| Pantry | Spaghetti (1 kg) | €1.75 | €1.20 | €0.55 | |
| Pantry | Long-grain rice (1 kg) | €1.39 | €1.25 | €0.14 | |
| Pantry | Baguette (250 g) | €0.79 | €0.50 | €0.29 | |
| Pantry | Wheat flour (1 kg) | €1.15 | €0.72 | €0.43 | |
| Pantry | Chickpeas (1 kg) | €2.89 | €2.15 | €0.74 | |
| Fruit and vegetables | Potatoes (1 kg) | €1.99 | €1.90 | €0.09 | |
| Fruit and vegetables | Bananas (1 kg) | €2.29 | €1.55 | €0.74 | |
| Fruit and vegetables | Golden apples (1 kg) | €2.99 | €2.20 | €0.79 | |
| Fruit and vegetables | Onions (1 kg) | €2.29 | €2.00 | €0.29 | |
| Hygiene and cleaning | Toilet paper (12 rolls) | €5.49 | €4.60 | €0.89 | |
| Hygiene and cleaning | Colgate toothpaste (75 ml) | €2.89 | €2.90 | -€0.01 | |
| Hygiene and cleaning | Ariel detergent (18 loads) | €6.99 | €6.90 | €0.09 | |
| Basket total | €42.78 | €35.72 | €7.06 | ||
| Difference | €7.06 more in Andorra | ||||
- The Andorran prices are from Andorra2000 and Pyrénées.
- The Spanish prices are from Mercadona in La Seu d'Urgell.
- Prices and availability can change; use the product links to check current listings.
What about Tax Free? How it really works
Yes, residents of Andorra can claim Tax Free, and many already do: Spain refunded €6.2 million in Tax Free to Andorran residents in 2025, across around 170,000 claims (12% more than the previous year). The vast majority were grocery purchases. Mercadona was the first major supermarket in La Seu to process Tax Free, back in 2015; since then Aldi and BonPreu have also made it easier.
The important point: if you request it directly from the shop (as is usual at Mercadona, through its Customer Invoices Portal), there is no intermediary commission — you receive the full VAT, not a reduced percentage. However, because many basic groceries have reduced VAT in Spain (4% for oil, bread, fruit and pulses; 10% for pasta, coffee and eggs), the refund is modest: around €3.53 on this €35.72 basket.
Tax Free makes little difference on a basic grocery basket because VAT on these items is low. You pay little VAT and therefore get little back. Here is the actual breakdown:
| Spanish VAT rate | Basket value | VAT included | Products |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4% (super-reduced) | €17.22 | €0.66 | Bread, flour, pulses, potatoes, fruit, vegetables, oil and rice |
| 10% (reduced) | €4.10 | €0.37 | Coffee and pasta |
| 21% (standard) | €14.40 | €2.50 | Toilet paper, toothpaste and detergent |
| Total | €35.72 | €3.53 | Weighted average VAT: 9.9% |
Why the refund is small — and when it is larger
Almost half the basket (€17.22) consists of products taxed at 4%, while only €14.40 (the three household and cleaning products) is taxed at the full 21%. That is why the weighted average VAT is 9.9% and the refund is only €3.53.
The refund is more noticeable on products taxed at 21%, such as toiletries, cosmetics, electronics and clothing. If half of a €50 purchase is taxed at 21% (€25 × 21% ÷ 1.21 ≈ €4.34 VAT) and the other half at 4% (€25 × 4% ÷ 1.04 ≈ €0.96), the refund would be €5.30. If the whole purchase were taxed at 21% (€50 × 21% ÷ 1.21 ≈ €8.68), the refund would be almost three times the amount for this basket. This basket is mostly basic food, which is why the figure is low.
Three things to do before you go
- Ask for the DER (electronic refund document) at the till before paying and show your passport or residence document. If you are already registered in Mercadona's Customer Invoices Portal, the process is faster.
- Validate the DER at the DIVA terminal at Farga de Moles customs before crossing back. This step is the same regardless of where you shop.
- Mercadona pays the refund directly to the card used for payment. Other retailers may handle the refund differently, so check their process.
A real example: spend €50 at the till, save nearly €15
This example starts with the amount actually paid at Mercadona to calculate the Andorran equivalent. The interactive calculator in the next section starts with the Andorran price and works in the other direction. Both approaches give the same result — use whichever feels more natural.
1. Pay €50.00 at Mercadona
That is the amount you actually spend.
2. Compare the same basket in Andorra
The same trolley would cost €59.88 in an Andorran supermarket — 16.5% more.
3. Claim the Tax Free refund
Since €3.53 of every €35.72 in this basket is VAT (about 9.88%), you would get €4.94 back: €50 × €3.53 ÷ €35.72 = €4.94.
4. Work out the real cost and saving
Your net cost is €50.00 − €4.94 = €45.06. Compared with the €59.88 it would have cost in Andorra, the total saving is €14.82 (24.8% less).
Is the trip worthwhile?
The same basket viewed from the other direction: the previous example started with €50 spent at Mercadona. Here, a €50 shop at Andorran prices would cost about €41.75 at Mercadona, saving around €8.25 on price alone. The return drive between Andorra la Vella and La Seu d'Urgell is about 35–40 km; at average fuel consumption and €1.44/L petrol, it costs around €3–€3.50. That leaves roughly €5, before any Tax Free refund.
Calculate whether the trip pays off
Estimate based on the 16.5% average price difference found in this comparison and average fuel consumption of 6 L/100 km at €1.44/L (average petrol price in Spain, June 2026). Your actual saving depends on what you buy.
Tax Free is estimated using the VAT share of this basket (€3.53 VAT per €35.72 of shopping, around 9.9%). The underlying rates are 4% for bread, flour, pulses, potatoes, fruit, vegetables, olive oil and rice; 10% for coffee and pasta; and 21% for toilet paper, toothpaste and detergent. Your refund will be higher if your basket has more items taxed at 21%.
Planning a visit to Andorra rather than living here? This comparison is aimed at people doing their weekly shop, but if you are visiting for a few days, our two- or three-day Andorra itinerary and guide to where to stay in Andorra may be more useful.
- Compare the whole basket, not just one product.
- Include fuel and the time needed for the return trip.
- A larger shop is more likely to cover the cost of the drive.
In short: is it worth driving to Mercadona?
Yes, for a large monthly shop. If you spend €50 or more, the price saving (about €8.25) covers the fuel (about €3.50), leaving nearly €5. With Tax Free, the net saving is around €8–€9.
No, for small everyday shops. On a €15–€20 purchase, the saving does not make up for the time and fuel. It is better to shop in Andorra or group purchases together.
Tax Free makes little difference on groceries, but more on other products. You would get around €3.53 back on this €35.72 basket because these items are taxed at 4–10%. If your purchase includes toiletries, cosmetics or other products taxed at 21%, the refund is considerably larger. Request the DER, but do not expect a large refund on a basic supermarket shop.
Methodology
All prices were checked online through each retailer's digital platform. When the same own-brand product was available on both sides, own-brand products were compared. Otherwise, we chose the least expensive available product at each shop or matched the same specific brand for a direct comparison.
Sources
Price sources consulted on 27 June 2026:
Price sources
- Andorra2000 (Carrefour) — alimentacio.andorra2000.ad
Checked 27 June 2026 - Pyrénées Andorra — pyrenees.ad
Checked 27 June 2026 - Mercadona — tienda.mercadona.es
Checked 27 June 2026
Born and raised in Encamp, Andorra. In my free time I explore my country and share the best activities, trails and hidden spots that most travel guides don't mention.