Comparing basic Food and Staple Prices around the world.

i decided to be a frugal person years ago now if it is not reduced to clear i do not buy it .i eat like a king for about $3 a day or about £1.50 in my money .. i wait till near closing time to get the best deals one of my neighbours works in the local shop the other day the fridges broke down and i got easy $150 worth of stuff for free they were going to chuck it away but i arrived right on time ,,its the only way to live folks i just take toilet roll from the toilets of supermarkets it does me ages , well it does say 400 sheets per roll

Great thread S&F OP!
Well I have already tossed my recpt however I always shop for the same
supplies so here is what it cost in N VA...
Lamb Chops (cut not the French) $12.99/lb (Lamb is my favorite)
Lamb Blade cut Shoulder $5.69/lb
Lamb Necks $2.99/lb
Swift Premium Flat Iron Steak $8.49/lb
Giant Porter House Steak $10.99/lb
Giant T-Bone Steak $9.99 - $ 10.99/lb
Mariani Dried Cherries 6 oz Bag $5.00
Old London Melba Snacks Sea Salt (crackers) 5.25 oz box $2.99
LaTortilla Factory (Lg Tortillas w/ omega-3 from flax seed) 8 in pk $6.99
Lays Non-Fat Chips $3.99/bag
Just in case anyone is interested I'm going to list Fresh Produce since I only
consume meat on the weekends. I try to limit my carbs & processed food.
Broccoli Crowns went from $1.69/lb to $ 2.49/lb (during the last 2 months & is mostly what I eat)
Egg Plant $1.69/lb
Asparagus $3.99/lb
Brussel Sprouts $2.99/12oz bag
Yellow Squash $1.69/lb
Zucchini Squash $1.69/lb
Potatoes 5lb Bag $3.99
Peaches $1.79/lb
Fresh Washington (State) Cherries $8.99/lb
Dole Spring Mix Lettuce 9oz Bag $3.99
Dole Romaine Classic Lettuce Bag $3.99
Arugula 4oz Bag $2.99
English Cucumber $2.99 ea
Various Bags of Shredded Cheese 8oz $3.99
I buy meat when it has the orange or yellow sticker on it
as it is greatly reduced in price & often 1/2 off & freeze it.

I am also on a fixed budget & live on a farm but in the pool house which
is 1 lg room, Full Kitchen & Bath. I have been doing what was recommended
earlier & that is to buy something extra...Rice, Pasta, Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Bagged Tuna (less space) a few other things, & already have ER medical supplies
since I work in that field. I'm still working on my stash & will get there eventually.
I wish I still had my Dehydrator as it was great for many things like Jerky of all
meats & tomatoes...to many to list. I also use coupons & have one for the cheese
that has been working for a yr & a dollar off each bag.

Cheers
Ektar

reply to post by Iwinder


I pay more attention to the sale prices. A can of coffee has a price of around $13.00 but it usually has a reduced price of 9.99 or lower on it and then we buy it when it's below 8 bucks a can. We have enough cans of coffee in rotation to sit out the high price times that occur. It saves quite a lot when you do that with everything. You should figure the price of coffee on your list, a lot of people drink coffee.

The prices of food have increased a lot in the last five years. I don't know how the government changed the way they figure food. I think they lowered the recommended portion size and took the smaller size as the base of their figuring the cost of living increases. This way it shows people have not experienced a rise in the cost of eating. It keeps the social security cost of living increases down that way. It also deceives people into thinking food prices haven't increased when they have. Maybe they can fool a lot of the people but not all of them.

Originally posted by geobro
i decided to be a frugal person years ago now if it is not reduced to clear i do not buy it .i eat like a king for about $3 a day or about £1.50 in my money .. i wait till near closing time to get the best deals one of my neighbours works in the local shop the other day the fridges broke down and i got easy $150 worth of stuff for free they were going to chuck it away but i arrived right on time ,,its the only way to live folks i just take toilet roll from the toilets of supermarkets it does me ages , well it does say 400 sheets per roll

I agree with your post and then some too, we wait till top sirloin steaks go on sale and then order a whole loin cut and wrapped for freezing at $2.99 lb that will last the two of us a year.

Same with half hams when they go on sale for $1.99 lb we buy at least twelve of them and we are good for a nice ham dinner once a month for a year with lots of leftovers.

But as I mentioned in my OP I fear the feed costs are going to put an end to the cheap food.
Milk, eggs,meat, cereals, etc...

A very good friend of ours had a chicken farm with 20,000 laying hens and he always complained about the feed prices, he said if the feed goes up 50 cents a ton he looses big time money.

From what I have read this is going to be much worse, that is why I started this thread.
I want to revisit this thread in say 6 months time and see what has happened so far and then again in a years time to see the differences in the price of food.

Links
www.steinbachonline.com...

www.rep-am.com...

If you Google feed shortages there is no shortage of links......

Thanks for your post.
Regards, Iwinder

Originally posted by Ektar
Great thread S&F OP!
Well I have already tossed my recpt however I always shop for the same
supplies so here is what it cost in N VA...
Lamb Chops (cut not the French) $12.99/lb (Lamb is my favorite)
Lamb Blade cut Shoulder $5.69/lb
Lamb Necks $2.99/lb
Swift Premium Flat Iron Steak $8.49/lb
Giant Porter House Steak $10.99/lb
Giant T-Bone Steak $9.99 - $ 10.99/lb
Mariani Dried Cherries 6 oz Bag $5.00
Old London Melba Snacks Sea Salt (crackers) 5.25 oz box $2.99
LaTortilla Factory (Lg Tortillas w/ omega-3 from flax seed) 8 in pk $6.99
Lays Non-Fat Chips $3.99/bag
Just in case anyone is interested I'm going to list Fresh Produce since I only
consume meat on the weekends. I try to limit my carbs & processed food.
Broccoli Crowns went from $1.69/lb to $ 2.49/lb (during the last 2 months & is mostly what I eat)
Egg Plant $1.69/lb
Asparagus $3.99/lb
Brussel Sprouts $2.99/12oz bag
Yellow Squash $1.69/lb
Zucchini Squash $1.69/lb
Potatoes 5lb Bag $3.99
Peaches $1.79/lb
Fresh Washington (State) Cherries $8.99/lb
Dole Spring Mix Lettuce 9oz Bag $3.99
Dole Romaine Classic Lettuce Bag $3.99
Arugula 4oz Bag $2.99
English Cucumber $2.99 ea
Various Bags of Shredded Cheese 8oz $3.99
I buy meat when it has the orange or yellow sticker on it
as it is greatly reduced in price & often 1/2 off & freeze it.

I am also on a fixed budget & live on a farm but in the pool house which
is 1 lg room, Full Kitchen & Bath. I have been doing what was recommended
earlier & that is to buy something extra...Rice, Pasta, Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Bagged Tuna (less space) a few other things, & already have ER medical supplies
since I work in that field. I'm still working on my stash & will get there eventually.
I wish I still had my Dehydrator as it was great for many things like Jerky of all
meats & tomatoes...to many to list. I also use coupons & have one for the cheese
that has been working for a yr & a dollar off each bag.

Cheers
Ektar

edit on 19-8-2012 by Ektar because: Someone said on here that it was free "hit the Keys" day LOL! I left something out.

Thank you Ektar for the very informative post,
I sure hope I am wrong but when there is no feed there is no food and that also includes grains for breads, flours,pasta, cereals and so on.


Regards, Iwinder

Originally posted by Ektar
Great thread S&F OP!
Well I have already tossed my recpt however I always shop for the same
supplies so here is what it cost in N VA...
Lamb Chops (cut not the French) $12.99/lb (Lamb is my favorite)
Lamb Blade cut Shoulder $5.69/lb
Lamb Necks $2.99/lb
Swift Premium Flat Iron Steak $8.49/lb
Giant Porter House Steak $10.99/lb
Giant T-Bone Steak $9.99 - $ 10.99/lb
Mariani Dried Cherries 6 oz Bag $5.00
Old London Melba Snacks Sea Salt (crackers) 5.25 oz box $2.99
LaTortilla Factory (Lg Tortillas w/ omega-3 from flax seed) 8 in pk $6.99
Lays Non-Fat Chips $3.99/bag
Just in case anyone is interested I'm going to list Fresh Produce since I only
consume meat on the weekends. I try to limit my carbs & processed food.
Broccoli Crowns went from $1.69/lb to $ 2.49/lb (during the last 2 months & is mostly what I eat)
Egg Plant $1.69/lb
Asparagus $3.99/lb
Brussel Sprouts $2.99/12oz bag
Yellow Squash $1.69/lb
Zucchini Squash $1.69/lb
Potatoes 5lb Bag $3.99
Peaches $1.79/lb
Fresh Washington (State) Cherries $8.99/lb
Dole Spring Mix Lettuce 9oz Bag $3.99
Dole Romaine Classic Lettuce Bag $3.99
Arugula 4oz Bag $2.99
English Cucumber $2.99 ea
Various Bags of Shredded Cheese 8oz $3.99
I buy meat when it has the orange or yellow sticker on it
as it is greatly reduced in price & often 1/2 off & freeze it.

I am also on a fixed budget & live on a farm but in the pool house which
is 1 lg room, Full Kitchen & Bath. I have been doing what was recommended
earlier & that is to buy something extra...Rice, Pasta, Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Bagged Tuna (less space) a few other things, & already have ER medical supplies
since I work in that field. I'm still working on my stash & will get there eventually.
I wish I still had my Dehydrator as it was great for many things like Jerky of all
meats & tomatoes...to many to list. I also use coupons & have one for the cheese
that has been working for a yr & a dollar off each bag.

Cheers
Ektar

edit on 19-8-2012 by Ektar because: Someone said on here that it was free "hit the Keys" day LOL! I left something out.

Thank you Ektar for the very informative post,
I sure hope I am wrong but when there is no feed there is no food and that also includes grains for breads, flours,pasta, cereals and so on.


Regards, Iwinder

Originally posted by rickymouse
reply to post by Iwinder

 

I pay more attention to the sale prices. A can of coffee has a price of around $13.00 but it usually has a reduced price of 9.99 or lower on it and then we buy it when it's below 8 bucks a can. We have enough cans of coffee in rotation to sit out the high price times that occur. It saves quite a lot when you do that with everything. You should figure the price of coffee on your list, a lot of people drink coffee.

The prices of food have increased a lot in the last five years. I don't know how the government changed the way they figure food. I think they lowered the recommended portion size and took the smaller size as the base of their figuring the cost of living increases. This way it shows people have not experienced a rise in the cost of eating.

It keeps the social security cost of living increases down that way. It also deceives people into thinking food prices haven't increased when they have. Maybe they can fool a lot of the people but not all of them.

Thanks for the reply and the wisdom, I actually did include Coffee in the list at $10.49 per kg.
It was a sad day the doctor took me off of Coffee and before that we did the same thing, on sale buy 8 cans and sock em in the basement....


Regards, Iwinder

I am in California

Ground beef 5.99lb (it is cheaper to buy stew meat)
Dozen eggs 4.39
Milk 4.29
Cheddar cheese 8oz 5.99
10 corn tortillas 1.29
10 lb potatoes 4.99
Canned goods average about 1.65. I remember as recent as 2 years ago I could get them for a dollar less.

Originally posted by calstorm
I am in California

Ground beef 5.99lb (it is cheaper to buy stew meat)
Dozen eggs 4.39
Milk 4.29
Cheddar cheese 8oz 5.99
10 corn tortillas 1.29
10 lb potatoes 4.99
Canned goods average about 1.65. I remember as recent as 2 years ago I could get them for a dollar less.

Thanks for your input and it is being noted as I type here.....

We also remember just a short while ago getting canned goods on sale for 49 cents or so but not now and I believe not in the future as well.....
Actually you brought up a very good point as I sit and think here I believe it has been at least a year since we bought anything in a can for less than a dollar.

Regards, Iwinder

reply to post by Iwinder

I'm really diggin this thread. I will make a note to get prices on the most
popular food items listed here (including ones I do not buy) as in Ground Beef,
Coffee, Peanut Butter, both white & wheat bread. I will also ask ahead of time
if there is anything special you would like me to check price.
What about the Wine, you need a nice Chianti or Red to go with all that Pasta, LOL!
Even though there is local on the east coast NC,VA, & etc...most of it still comes
from CA, some from Australia & Chili...& the more expensive all over...
Also I forgot to mention in my original post that "Giant" is the store brand.

Cheers
Ektar

Originally posted by Evltre
reply to post by ReadyPower

 

If I was on an $80 budget I would spend it on the following:

This is just off the top of my head and comments/suggestions/alternatives would be appreciated!

$100NZ = $80us roughly
Rice 15 x 1kg bags white rice (budget brand) $ 17.25
Pasta 10 x 500gm packets $ 9.90
Tinned tomatoes x 10 (chopped in juice) $ 7.50
Dried pulses (lentils / pinto beans etc) - 2 kg $ 7.50
Tinned baked beans / spaghetti / sweetcorn x 30 $21.00
Salt - 500gm $ 2.00
Cooking oil 1 x2 litre $ 8.00
Flour - 5 x 1.5kg bags plain (budget brand flour) $10.00 (freeze for a few days before storing in airtight containers as it kills the months etc)
Sugar - 1 x 3kg bags $ 5.80
Coffee - 2 x 100gm instant $ 5.00
Baking power - box $ 2.50
Stock cubes (2 x 10pkt) $ 1.50


(NZ Prices used cause it takes too long to convert. $1 = $.79us)

That totals about $100nz and covers off a pretty reasonable number of options for meals that can be added to from your environment etc. I've just gone with stuff I know my kids / hubby will eat!

Or you could just buy $80 of rice!

Evltre:

That was very nice of you to figure all that out. And I agree the best value can be had by making meals around starches and beans/legumes. The prepared foods & meat items are what racks up the tally on most grocery bills. I like to use use meat more as a flavouring rather than a main dish. We generally make up a big batch of stir fry and enjoy the benefits of leftovers.

Ektar: I will need to check out Lamb next time I'm at the store, the price for your chops is surprising.

Keep the prices coming, very interesting to compare different regions.

Namaste,
YogaGinns

Butter (1 lb) $4.39
Becel Margarine "oleo" (1 lb tub) $3.27
Vegetable Oil (3 L) $6.99
Milk 1% (4 L bag) $4.99
Bread Whole Wheat $2.99
Sugar 2 kg (5 lb) $2.49
X-large eggs (doz) $3.49
Flour reg all purpose (5 lbs) $7.99
Florida orange juice (1.79 L) $3.99
Sockeye Salmon (213 gm can) $3.99
Inside round roast $6.79/lb
Extra lean ground beef $5.19/lb
Bacon (1 lb package) $5.99
Maxwell House ground coffee (1 kg) $10.49
Regular Oatmeal (1 kg bag) $3.49
Special K cereal (475 gm box) $4.99
Raisin Bran (625 gm box) $4.99
Oatmeal Crisp Cereal (475 gm box) $4.99
Kraft Peanut Butter (1 kg jar) $6.99
Sunlight dish soap (950 ml) $2.29
Sunlight laundry soap he (1.47 L) $6.97
Scott paper towels (6 rolls) $7.99
Scott toilet paper (12 rolls) $11.59

I haven't done t he legwork yet but WOW...your prices are HIGH! I never buy anything that isn't on sale anyway but if I can get the info I will post.
I buy all my staple foods at Aldi stores as they are always cheaper. I buy store brands or generic wherever I can ,there are a few things I refuse to compromise on,lol.
really GREAT post , very interesting to see ! Ty

I will be going to the Market on Thur or Fri this week. My question to all of you is this...
do most people only eat the less expensive food whether it's fresh or processed (not being judgmental)
but that totally differentiates in price. Just for myself I look at every label, if not buying local food.

I'm in total support of Local Food both Veggies & Meat as it is much more healthier,
no BS additives, & supports everyone, The meat actually has REAL flavor
like it use to be prior to being commercialized.
So today not really shopping, went to Target for Charcoal due to a $1 off coupon...
so in support of this thread I checked out a few items...
Rib Eye Steak $10.99/lb
T-Bone Steak $8.99/lb
Ground Beef (Chuck) I think was $1.59/lb
Broccoli Crowns were cheaper at this store ($171/lb] however I did not buy
due to being limp.
I will check Coffee, Eggs & etc when I go to the market between Thur & Sat.
So any special request please let me know...

Cheers
Ektar

I LOVE Cooking & 99 % of mine is outdoors regardless of weather.

Here's my report from Thursday's Shopping 23 Aug 2012
American Lamb Stew (Chunks of Meat) $2.79/lb
Lamb Shanks $5.99/lb
Whole Leg of Lamb $6.99/lb
Filet Mignon $17.99/lb
Giant Rib Eye Bone End $8.49/lb
(It's all about the Yellow stickers as they only have 1 day or same day to sell) I paid $$6.99/lb
Fresh Corn on the Cob 3 Ears for a $1.00
Whole Baby Bella Mushrooms 6oz $1.99
Bananas $0.49 - $0.59/lb
Cilantro 1 banded bunch $1.69
Egg Plant $1,69/lb
Butternut Squash $1.29/lb
Tribe Roasted Red Pepper Hummus 16oz $5.99
Barney Almond Butter 10oz $4.99
Kraft Fat Free Shredded Mozzarella Cheese 7oz $3.09
Crisco Fat Free Olive Oil Spray 5oz $3.15
Peter Vella Burgundy Wine 5 liter box $17.99
Folgers Coffee 16oz Instant $9.99
Whole Wheat Bread any where from $2.79 up to $5.99/Loaf
Bacon $3.99 - $6.99/lb (unless it's the thick sliced you get less than a lb)
Sorry I forgot to check the Milk & Eggs. If the thread is still active I will check
more dairy, ground beef, & pork.
Cheers
Ektar

Originally posted by ujustneverknow

Butter (1 lb) $4.39
Becel Margarine "oleo" (1 lb tub) $3.27
Vegetable Oil (3 L) $6.99
Milk 1% (4 L bag) $4.99
Bread Whole Wheat $2.99
Sugar 2 kg (5 lb) $2.49
X-large eggs (doz) $3.49
Flour reg all purpose (5 lbs) $7.99
Florida orange juice (1.79 L) $3.99
Sockeye Salmon (213 gm can) $3.99
Inside round roast $6.79/lb
Extra lean ground beef $5.19/lb
Bacon (1 lb package) $5.99
Maxwell House ground coffee (1 kg) $10.49
Regular Oatmeal (1 kg bag) $3.49
Special K cereal (475 gm box) $4.99
Raisin Bran (625 gm box) $4.99
Oatmeal Crisp Cereal (475 gm box) $4.99
Kraft Peanut Butter (1 kg jar) $6.99
Sunlight dish soap (950 ml) $2.29
Sunlight laundry soap he (1.47 L) $6.97
Scott paper towels (6 rolls) $7.99
Scott toilet paper (12 rolls) $11.59

I haven't done t he legwork yet but WOW...your prices are HIGH! I never buy anything that isn't on sale anyway but if I can get the info I will post.
I buy all my staple foods at Aldi stores as they are always cheaper. I buy store brands or generic wherever I can ,there are a few things I refuse to compromise on,lol.
really GREAT post , very interesting to see ! Ty

Thanks, yes what I posted are regular prices not "on sale prices" otherwise we would be lacking a control or an benchmark for the cost of food.

The infamous Loss Leaders are always a good deal but posting sale prices will bugger up the consistent data and that is what I am looking for.

Thanks for adding to this thread.
Regards, Iwinder

Originally posted by Ektar
Here's my report from Thursday's Shopping 23 Aug 2012
American Lamb Stew (Chunks of Meat) $2.79/lb
Lamb Shanks $5.99/lb
Whole Leg of Lamb $6.99/lb
Filet Mignon $17.99/lb
Giant Rib Eye Bone End $8.49/lb
(It's all about the Yellow stickers as they only have 1 day or same day to sell) I paid $$6.99/lb
Fresh Corn on the Cob 3 Ears for a $1.00
Whole Baby Bella Mushrooms 6oz $1.99
Bananas $0.49 - $0.59/lb
Cilantro 1 banded bunch $1.69
Egg Plant $1,69/lb
Butternut Squash $1.29/lb
Tribe Roasted Red Pepper Hummus 16oz $5.99
Barney Almond Butter 10oz $4.99
Kraft Fat Free Shredded Mozzarella Cheese 7oz $3.09
Crisco Fat Free Olive Oil Spray 5oz $3.15
Peter Vella Burgundy Wine 5 liter box $17.99
Folgers Coffee 16oz Instant $9.99
Whole Wheat Bread any where from $2.79 up to $5.99/Loaf
Bacon $3.99 - $6.99/lb (unless it's the thick sliced you get less than a lb)
Sorry I forgot to check the Milk & Eggs. If the thread is still active I will check
more dairy, ground beef, & pork.
Cheers
Ektar

Thank you and I hope you find your way back to this thread, I am in the process of updating the original list I posted on page one with the current prices now.

Should be interesting as it has been about 7 months now.

Regards, Iwinder

reply to post by Iwinder


Looking at your itemized price list, it seems you're paying about $1.00 - $1.50 higher overall than I am for the same items here in Manitoba.

And of course, a lot of those items I grab when they're on sale. Last week, I purchased 12 cans (1 kg can) of Maxwell House dark roast coffee for $8.99/can and 6 packs of Royale Bathroom Tissue (24 double rolls) for $7.99/pack.

We live in the country, so I'll take the 4 hour round trip into the city once or twice a month to stock up on sale items.

But pretty much you're definately paying $1.00 - $1.50 more per item on average (not on sale), just off the top of my head.

Originally posted by CranialSponge
reply to post by Iwinder

 

Looking at your itemized price list, it seems you're paying about $1.00 - $1.50 higher overall than I am for the same items here in Manitoba.

And of course, a lot of those items I grab when they're on sale. Last week, I purchased 12 cans (1 kg can) of Maxwell House dark roast coffee for $8.99/can and 6 packs of Royale Bathroom Tissue (24 double rolls) for $7.99/pack.

We live in the country, so I'll take the 4 hour round trip into the city once or twice a month to stock up on sale items.

But pretty much you're definately paying $1.00 - $1.50 more per item on average (not on sale), just off the top of my head.

Thanks so much for your addition here, I hope you return when I either update this thread or start a new thread with a link to this thread.

Perhaps because we live close to some major cities they can charge what they want?

Regards, Iwinder

FYI I will be updating this thread with a new one either tonight or tomorrow.
We hope the previous posters above and new posters will add to the thread...

Regards, Iwinder

a reply to: Iwinder
Interesting to read what others consider basics, and also to compare prices. My grocery list doesn't seem to be similar to the other lists on here so I didn't have a clue what some of those items typically cost, but once you've updated I might add my own basic list to compare.