Tesco Ireland generated plenty of headlines last week with its announcement that it was reducing the prices of 12,500 goods at 11 stores south of the border in a bid to stem the flow of customers into Northern Ireland.

Yet despite these improved prices, a Sunday Tribune survey of the prices of 10 popular goods on sale last Thursday in the company's stores in Northern Ireland, Dundalk and Phibsborough in Dublin reveals that many items still remain marginally cheaper in the north than shops just over the border and substantially cheaper than in the stores further south.

The same held true when we visited Dunnes Stores in Newry, another Dunnes' outlet at Marshes shopping centre in Dundalk, and the Dunnes Stores supermarket in the Pavilions Shopping Centre, Swords.

For comparative purposes, we also included prices in Superquinn at the Pavilions Shopping Centre in Swords.

The difference in prices north and south of the border was most notable when we examined the price of a typical bottle of wine – though not surprising given the lower rates of Vat and excise on alcohol in the North.

A bottle of Blossom Hill Chardonnay was on sale in Tesco Portadown for £5.84 – or €6.55. By comparison, the same wine cost €8.99 in Tesco Dundalk, €9.49 in Dunnes Stores in Dundalk, €9.43 in Tesco in Dublin and €9.49 in Dunnes Stores in Swords.

A 40 pack of Persil 'colour care' capsules cost just €6.01 in Tesco Portadown (it does not have an outlet in Newry). In its Dundalk store, however, Tesco priced the capsules at €6.69. The same-sized pack of Persil 'bio' capsules cost €8.45 in Tesco in Dublin and €9.15 in Superquinn Swords.

Only one of the 10 products on sale in Tesco's Portadown store – a one kilo packet of Uncle Ben's Long Grain rice – was more expensive in Northern Ireland than in its Dublin store, though the northern price is still cheaper than in Tesco's Dundalk store.

Our survey also reveals a minor difference in the price of a 28 pack of Pampers 5+ nappies and a litre of own brand milk in all the stores surveyed.

Vat rates on standard goods are just 15% in Northern Ireland compared to 21.5% in the Republic.

Tesco said that following last week's price cuts, which it plans to extend nationwide, the price gap between its border stores and the north now stands at just 10%.

This suggests that the level of savings available to shoppers may be decreasing. But our findings show there are still savings to be made up north, particularly for those looking to buy in bulk.

This survey is intended to serve as a guide only. All sterling prices were converted to euro using the conversion website www.xe.com last week.

Product: Brennans white sliced pan

Tesco (Portadown), €1.42
Dunnes (Newry), €1.43
Tesco (Dundalk), €1.59
Dunnes (Dundalk), €1.59
Tesco (Phibsborough, Dublin), €1.59
Dunnes (Pavillion, Swords), €1.59
Superquinn (Pavillions), €1.59

Product: Flora cooking oil (1 ltr)

Tesco (Portadown), €1.74
Dunnes (Newry), €2.12
Tesco (Dundalk), €1.97
Dunnes (Dundalk), €2.45
Tesco (Phibsborough, Dublin), €2.45
Dunnes (Pavillion, Swords), €2.45
Superquinn (Pavillions), €3.49

Product: Own Brand Milk (1 ltr)

Tesco (Portadown), €0.77
Dunnes (Newry), €0.83
Tesco (Dundalk), €0.87
Dunnes (Dundalk), €0.79
Tesco (Phibsborough, Dublin), €0.79
Dunnes (Pavillion, Swords), €0.79
Superquinn (Pavillions), €1.05 (fat free)

Product: Uncle Ben's Bag Grain Rice (1kg)

Tesco (Portadown), €4.03
Dunnes (Newry), €4.44
Tesco (Dundalk), €4.29
Dunnes (Dundalk), €3.19
Tesco (Phibsborough, Dublin), €3.19
Dunnes (Pavillion, Swords), €3.19
Superquinn (Pavillions), €3.19

Product: Pampers 3+ (28 Pack)

Tesco (Portadown), €6.70
Dunnes (Newry), €6.72
Tesco (Dundalk), €6.83
Dunnes (Dundalk), €6.99
Tesco (Phibsborough, Dublin), €6.99
Dunnes (Pavillion, Swords), €6.99
Superquinn (Pavillions), €6.99

Product: Sprite (2ltr)

Tesco (Portadown), €1.74
Dunnes (Newry), €1.85
Tesco (Dundalk), €1.99
Dunnes (Dundalk), €1.99
Tesco (Phibsborough, Dublin), €1.99
Dunnes (Pavillion, Swords), €1.99
Superquinn (Pavillions), €1.69

Product: Nescáfe Gold Blend (100g)

Tesco (Portadown), €3
Dunnes (Newry), €1.95 (50g)
Tesco (Dundalk), €2.32 (50g)
Dunnes (Dundalk), €4.21
Tesco (Phibsborough, Dublin), €4.21
Dunnes (Pavillion, Swords), €4.21
Superquinn (Pavillions), €4.29

Product: Kerry Low Low spread (250g)

Tesco (Portadown), €0.86
Dunnes (Newry), €0.88
Tesco (Dundalk), €1.29
Dunnes (Dundalk), €1.29
Tesco (Phibsborough, Dublin), €1.29
Dunnes (Pavillion, Swords), €1.29
Superquinn (Pavillions), €1.29

Product: Blossom Hill Chardonnay

Tesco (Portadown), €6.55
Dunnes (Newry), €N/A
Tesco (Dundalk), €8.99
Dunnes (Dundalk), €9.49
Tesco (Phibsborough, Dublin), €9.43
Dunnes (Pavillion, Swords), €9.49
Superquinn (Pavillions), €N/A

Product: Persil Colour Care capsules (40s)

Tesco (Portadown), €6.01
Dunnes (Newry), €4.04 (20s)
Tesco (Dundalk), €6.69
Dunnes (Dundalk), €4.25 (20s non-bio)
Tesco (Phibsborough, Dublin), €8.45 (bio)
Dunnes (Pavillion, Swords), €4.25 (non-bio)
Superquinn (Pavillions), €9.15 (bio)