Food costs - Thailand vs the West

[Tango777]

I'm wondering how food costs compare lately between the US and Thailand. There have been steep price increases in the US (5-20%) on a lot of foods. RE is up way over 20% YOY at least in Florida. 

 

We bought these Thai Eggplants at an Asian foods Supermarket here. This store is one of the biggest around here, a former supermarket space. This is the stuff they make green curry with. $ 1.59 / lb. Over here skinless/boneless chicken breasts have gone from $ 1.99 at Walmart which has been their price for 10 years, to $ 2.09 in the last 4 weeks, a 5% increase. Many probably know there are football field size chicken houses all over the South here. This Supermarket is in Florida. 

 

 

Edited July 17, 2021 by Tango777
Math error

[utalkin2me]

I can’t do the conversion but chicken breast maybe 58 baht per kilo. I know two more or less average sized breasts run me 30ish baht, Way cheaper here.

 

.Those Thai eggplants, I picked up a huge bag at makro, way over a kilo, was 35 baht. Wish I could remember the weight. 

Edited July 17, 2021 by utalkin2me

[internationalism]

price of food is also steadily creeping up in thailand. Just need more time to find special offers.

" $ 1.99 at Walmart which has been their price for 10 years, to $ 2.09 in the last 4 weeks, a 10% increase" - that is only 5%. 

[utalkin2me]

I have not noticed food prices creeping up myself. In Thailand. 

[BritManToo]

25 minutes ago, Tango777 said:

I'm wondering how food costs compare lately between the US and Thailand. There have been steep price increases in the US (5-20%) on a lot of foods. RE is up way over 20% YOY at least in Florida. 

Cooking oil is the only rise I've noticed from 40bht to 50bht in the past couple of months. Everything else is embarrassingly cheap, and western foods have all got cheaper in the past 10 years.

 

1KG of large bell peppers (red/green) 30bht.

 

Edited July 17, 2021 by BritManToo

[bert bloggs]

Our weely shoping bill compared to what it used to be in England is so low ,also much healthier as i am not tempted to buy processed meals ,mind you the wife would just put them back when i am not looking lol, also food you can buy at the open stalls is also so cheap, i was talking on the phone the other day to my daughter,just couldnt believe what her shopping bill for one week was,prices seem to have gone through the roof.

[Airalee]

All depends on what you’re eating.  How much is a tin of King Oscar Sardines there?  Cheese?  Steak?  Salad Dressing?  Avocados?  Blue Diamond almonds?  Broccoli?

 

Chicken Breasts can be cheaper or more expensive here.

 

 

[norfolkandchance]

I bought a 2 scope ice cream for 10 Baht today.

[Damrongsak]

Eggs have been cheap in the US for a few years now. About 1.6 Baht per egg.  Saw some chicken thighs for 63 Baht/kg.  My wife gets white rice for about 35 Baht/kg.

 

 

[Airalee]

1 hour ago, Damrongsak said:

Eggs have been cheap in the US for a few years now. About 1.6 Baht per egg.  Saw some chicken thighs for 63 Baht/kg.  My wife gets white rice for about 35 Baht/kg.

 

 

Eggs here, at normal supermarkets (Tesco/Big C/Max Value) are at least double the price of the US, so is Butter, Milk, and countless other things as shown in the latest Kroger/Ralphs weekly mailer.   (normal supermarkets, NOT Whole Foods).  Here in Thailand, when something goes on sale, you might get a 3-5% discount whereas in the US, you can find 2 for 1 deals just about everywhere you look.

 

And for the Beer Drinkers, 30 pack of Beer is about 600 baht (including tax)…so…฿15 per can.  Abslout Vodka about ฿300 for 750ml.  How much would that run here?

 

Much MUCH less expensive to shop for groceries in the US.  And no, I’m not using the cheap wet markets as a reference here (where the choices are minimal and the hygiene questionable) nor am I using the expensive grocery stores here or in the US.  I’m comparing like for like and you’ll actually get far more selection at a market in the US.  And picking Thai Eggplant would be like me picking Rainier Cherries here and trying to make a comparison.

 

 

[dave s]

Thailand is also doing "shrinkflation". For example, I noticed today that a can of aritificial potato chips has gone from 110 grams to 107 grams. And the local Big C wants 7 baht more for it.

 

[JackGats]

If you want a high-protein diet with some variety Thailand is more expensive. If on top of that you care for cruelty to animal and want to get your proteins from dairy products, Thailand is 5 times as expensive.

 

50 euros do not go a long way at Central, just a handful of items at the bottom of your cart. At Aldi or Lidl or one of the other popular supermarkets in the EU I fill a wole shopping cart to the top with 50 euros.

[Damrongsak]

1 hour ago, JackGats said:

If you want a high-protein diet with some variety Thailand is more expensive. If on top of that you care for cruelty to animal and want to get your proteins from dairy products, Thailand is 5 times as expensive.

 

50 euros do not go a long way at Central, just a handful of items at the bottom of your cart. At Aldi or Lidl or one of the other popular supermarkets in the EU I fill a wole shopping cart to the top with 50 euros.

In the USA, I am always surprised when I go to Aldi or Lidl.  We forget to bring bags, so don't get much.  But it is really cheap.  Just get basics.

[Salerno]

2 hours ago, JackGats said:

in the EU I fill a wole shopping cart to the top with 50 euros.

I need a smaller shopping cart ...

 

 

 

 

Edited July 17, 2021 by Salerno

[BritManToo]

5 hours ago, JackGats said:

50 euros do not go a long way at Central, just a handful of items at the bottom of your cart. At Aldi or Lidl or one of the other popular supermarkets in the EU I fill a wole shopping cart to the top with 50 euros.

50 euros is 3 weeks food shopping for me in Thailand!

No need to buy all your food in one go, there are shops everywhere, unlike the UK where it was a 20 mile trip to the nearest supermarket. I'm always surprised at the numbers of foreigners who move to Thailand but can't adapt to the way life is lived here.

Edited July 18, 2021 by BritManToo

[Mac Mickmanus]

6 hours ago, Victornoir said:

 

Numbeo cost living comparison Miami/Pattaya detail in the link.

 

Indices Difference
Consumer Prices in Miami, FL are 83.60% higher than in Pattaya (without rent)
Consumer Prices Including Rent in Miami, FL are 140.17% higher than in Pattaya
Rent Prices in Miami, FL are 324.70% higher than in Pattaya
Restaurant Prices in Miami, FL are 190.95% higher than in Pattaya
Groceries Prices in Miami, FL are 82.69% higher than in Pattaya
Local Purchasing Power in Miami, FL is 307.16% higher than in Pattaya

 

https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=Thailand&country2=United+States&city1=Pattaya&city2=Miami%2C+FL

That's if you buy local food , if you buy Western food the cost in Thailand is 4-10 times more expensive than in the U.K

[bert bloggs]

48 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

That's if you buy local food , if you buy Western food the cost in Thailand is 4-10 times more expensive than in the U.K

Same if you buy Thai food in the UK ,i remember buying mama noodles far more expensive in the UK.

As for 50 euros filling your cart ,maybe in France or whereever ,we used pounds in UK  but you could not buy much for that ,wheras here in Thailand i can buy masses of food.

Edited July 18, 2021 by bert bloggs

[colinneil]

Cannot understand people on here comparing prices here to western countries.

Food here is a damn sight cheaper than the UK, also how can you compare things when there is such a drastic difference in earnings.

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

That's if you buy local food , if you buy Western food the cost in Thailand is 4-10 times more expensive than in the U.K

It just isn't, maybe 2x  the price on some products

MIlk 83bht/2l, cheese 265bht/500gm, Sharwood Tandoori paste 109bht/jar.

But more than compensated by the local food I buy that's 1/4 the price.

 

Then if you add in street/fast food prices, moo ping 5bht/stick, chicken kebabs 10bht/stick compared to say fish and chips 10 pounds, donar kebab 7.50 pounds your bills are much much cheaper.

 

Cooked this Tandoori chicken yesterday, total cost around 60bht for 3/4 portions. Cooked these mince pork and onion pasties, total cost around 60bht for 4 pasties. Don't try to tell me it would have been cheaper in the UK!

 

 

 

 

Edited July 18, 2021 by BritManToo

[BritManToo]

18 minutes ago, colinneil said:

Cannot understand people on here comparing prices here to western countries.

Food here is a damn sight cheaper than the UK, also how can you compare things when there is such a drastic difference in earnings.

I'm guessing these guys do one of these.

1) don't actually live here.

2) only shop in Tops/Villa/Rimping.

3) put money in the open hand of the woman that does their shopping.

[colinneil]

Just now, BritManToo said:

I'm guessing these guys do one of these.

1) don't actually live here.

2) only shop in Tops/Villa/Rimping.

3) put money in the open hand of the woman that does their shopping.

You are correct about putting money into the open hand of a woman.

Years ago living with my ex, i arrived here from the UK, she says no gas, ok i will go at get a new bottle, no no i send my nephew, he needs five hundred baht, thought nothing of it.

Fast forward  to being with my new wife, gas ran out, i went to get a new one, 290 baht.

Got home said to my wife, gas shop have made a mistake, no darling that is the price.

So who was stupid just putting money into an open hand?   ME.

[Mac Mickmanus]

2 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

It just isn't, maybe 2x  the price on some products

MIlk 83bht/2l, cheese 265bht/500gm, Sharwood Tandoori paste 109bht/jar.

But more than compensated by the local food I buy that's 1/4 the price.

 

Then if you add in street/fast food prices, moo ping 5bht/stick, chicken kebabs 10bht/stick compared to say fish and chips 10 pounds, donar kebab 7.50 pounds your bills are much much cheaper.

A jar of pickled onions can be bought for as little as 30 Pence in the U.K (14 Baht ) , they are about ten times the price in Thailand .

  H.P. sauce is a Pound in the UK and 3 Pounds (120Baht) in Thailand .

  U.K products are about 3 times the price in Thailand for goods like for like , but if you were buying supermarkets own brand in the U.K , then the cost is about 6-10 times higher in Thailand .

  

[BritManToo]

2 minutes ago, colinneil said:

So who was stupid just putting money into an open hand?   ME.

Not that stupid ........ we've all done it!

[BritManToo]

Just now, Mac Mickmanus said:

but if you were buying supermarkets own brand in the U.K

There is only one HP Sauce ........ I pay 100bht/bottle in Thailand.

As for pickled onions, onions are 10bht/kg and vinegar is 10bht/bottle

Edited July 18, 2021 by BritManToo

[Mac Mickmanus]

5 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

There is only one HP Sauce ........ I pay 100bht/bottle in Thailand.

 

Which shop is that from ?

[BritManToo]

1 minute ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

Which shop is that from ?

Lazada ....... Food Variety shop, free shipping over 500bht, plus 7% discount over 1,000bht.

Lazada ...... Saimburi's 105bht for the slightly larger plastic squeezy bottles.

Edited July 18, 2021 by BritManToo

[Mac Mickmanus]

17 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I'm guessing these guys do one of these.

1) don't actually live here.

 

I go back to the U.K regularly and thus can compare the prices .

  How often do you go back to the U.K . ?

[BritManToo]

Just now, Mac Mickmanus said:

I go back to the U.K regularly and thus can compare the prices .

  How often do you go back to the U.K . ?

2016 .... but I can still look at Tesco online prices.

[HAPPYNUFF]

Just my wife and I,,  our  shopping bill,  usually  go every ten days or so, to Lotus  and Macro,,, cost  anywhere between  5000 to 7000 baht, and  we   eat mainly Thai style foods, then theres the extras most days,, milk, bread, eggs , fresh  vegies from the market.

I compare prices   on line with those at my local Woolworths  store back in Australia,  not a lot of difference when you balance the total purchase,,  an example,,   Meadowlea butter here,, 159 baht for 500 grams, ( last week  165 baht)  Australia,  49 baht.. I admit   pork and chicken is very cheap   here though.

[BritManToo]

16 minutes ago, HAPPYNUFF said:

not a lot of difference when you balance the total purchase,,  an example,,   Meadowlea butter here,, 159 baht for 500 grams, ( last week  165 baht)  Australia,  49 baht.. I admit   pork and chicken is very cheap   here though.

But you chose to buy an imported product, as opposed to a similar local product. Milk Pot costs half the price (from YoK) 85bht.

 

 

 

Edited July 18, 2021 by BritManToo