School backpacks in Cyprus sold for between €1.89 and €209.95 — consumer association study

Parents in Cyprus have faced a huge variation in school-supply prices ahead of the start of the school year: backpacks alone cost between €1.89 and €209.95 in stores. The Cyprus Consumers Association reported this following its own study.

Prices were checked simultaneously online and in stores, with the product ranges of 10 retail chains studied in total. These chains have outlets in all cities of Cyprus. Overall, school supplies cost roughly the same as in 2025: only minor fluctuations were recorded in certain categories.

Price differences within the same category were manyfold. Pencil cases sell for between €0.48 and €45.55, while pencils, pens and markers range from €0.20 to €18.99. Notebooks with 50 and 100 sheets and two-subject notebooks cost between €0.32 and €12.99, while document folders range from €0.19 to €8.48.

Prices for school clothing also vary considerably. T-shirts and shirts, including sale items, cost between €3.99 and €48, trousers between €12 and €27, and skirts between €11.50 and €25. The association also pointed to another discrepancy: some retailers offer a lower price in their online store than for the same product at their own physical outlet, so shoppers should compare both channels.

Consumers are advised to prepare in advance a list of only the items needed at the start of the school year, check the product’s quality and ensure that it is suitable for the child’s age. Younger schoolchildren should not be given stationery that looks like food or smells like food. Backpacks should be chosen based on their weight, design and the student’s physical abilities, rather than on brand or appearance.

The association reminds consumers that, under the law, a store is not obliged to accept a return or exchange if a customer has simply changed their mind: the rules of the particular outlet apply, and it is best to find them out before paying. Unsafe products, discrepancies between shelf and checkout prices, misleading promotions and missing price tags can be reported to the consumer hotline on 1429.