The article aims at considering the effect of the enlargement on the structure of household consumption. On the basis of a discriminatory analysis this study concludes that the dissimilarity in budget shares in Western and Eastern countries is proven and persistent, and greater in real terms than in nominal ones. Engel's law is confirmed, even if in real terms the absolute level os food consumption has in most cases been reduced. The historical experience of Eastern countries is apparent in the field of essential services.
