Food costs - Thailand vs the West

[norfolkandchance]

1 hour ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

Which shop is that from ?

Depending where you are type in Expat shops. Most deliver.

I live in the NE. My source delivers every 6 weeks.

[Mac Mickmanus]

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

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.

There are many small shops in Thailand , all selling the same things , extremely limited products and variety . 

   U.K supermarkets sell nearly everything there is available to make .

   Compare the size of an average Thai 7/11 to the size of a huge U.K supermarket for a comparisons to items for sell 

[BritManToo]

3 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

Compare the size of an average Thai 7/11 to the size of a huge U.K supermarket for a comparisons to items for sell 

My local 7/11 is 100m from my front door in Thailand (along with Tesco Lotus and BigC mini).

My local supermarket (Walmart/ASDA) was a 20 mile round trip in the UK.

 

I prefer Thailand.

Edited July 18, 2021 by BritManToo

[Mac Mickmanus]

7 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

My local 7/11 is 100m from my front door in Thailand (along with Tesco Lotus and BigC mini).

My local supermarket (Walmart/ASDA) was a 20 mile round trip in the UK.

 

I prefer Thailand.

What about for products available ?

Do you prefer the amount of products available in Thailand or the U.K ?

[BritManToo]

3 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

What about for products available ?

Do you prefer the amount of products available in Thailand or the U.K ?

I make most of my own food, the basic ingredients are widely available in both countries.

I suppose if I could only eat Heinz baked beans it would get a little difficult.

But I'm as happy with my Full Moon dark wine cooler as any bottle of wine in the UK.

(I always had a couple of spoons of sugar in wine anyway)

 

Do people really need so many choices?

[Mac Mickmanus]

3 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

 

 

Do people really need so many choices?

In my UK supermarket they have a whole aisle full of different sauces , six shelves high and about 30 meters long selling numerous sauces from all over the World , my latest favorite was the Arabian yoghurt and mint sauce for a Pound .

   In Thai 7/11's you get the choice of either tomato ketchup or chili sauce  , to get something exotic like BBQ sauce , you need to go to a big supermarket 

[BritManToo]

2 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

In my UK supermarket they have a whole aisle full of different sauces , six shelves high and about 30 meters long selling numerous sauces from all over the World

I  only use HP Sauce.

Lazada deliver it to my front door.

[Thomas J]

Food is significantly more expensive here in Thailand than in the USA.  There are always exceptions like locally grown fruit.  However things like apples, pears, grapes, oranges, etc are much more expensive.  Any dairy item is hugely more expensive.  I suspect that has to do with the USA being the producer of the vast majority of its meat, produce, dairy products etc.  


Things that are low cost in Thailand include any labor cost. Taxi rides, lawn mowing, electrician etc.  

[JackGats]

15 hours ago, bert bloggs said:

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.

Well, let me list some items of food I like to consume at least from time to time when I am in Thailand:

 

Cheese, yogurt, non-chicken meat, nuts (macadamia, cashew etc.), coffee, vinegar, olive oil, milk, ham, bread, potatoes, cocoa. I'm only listing healthy food here, if I wanted to list sweets and junk food which I don't eat the list would be endless. I'd say these items are between twice and five time more expensive in Thailand.

 

In Brazil for instance you can buy western food as cheap or even cheaper than in Europe. That may be why the Brazilian currency cyclically comes under pressure, because the government there doesn't impose punitive duties on everything the country doesn't produce.

[Meat Pie 47]

why don't you compare the wages in Thailand with western countries?

[rupert the bear]

there are many different answers to this question.the 1st variable is where u shop.i go to big c/lotus usually as variety and decent prices by local standards.you can go to other shops such as villa tops etc but i find they cost more.in uk and southern europe its variable too.tesco and aldi .those guys are cheap.of course we earn more in comparison in the home countries so.....last time in europe i was in greece and spain just before covid and in uk too a short time,i found fruit/veg so cheap especially in local mkts. in athens,late in the day its a give away,uk too cherries strawberries blueberries etc so cheap,veg too and not hi in pesticides due to local regs.so  i dont think theres a clear answer to this question,look around youll get a cheap deal most everywhere but quality......fresh fish non farmed  try spain and portugal, greece too.depends where u r.beer wine of course europe wins.food on the street- thailand almost every time but not all of the time.some food courts are great others very ordinary.menu del dia off the tourist routes is amazing value.3 courses and a drink[some places a bottle of wine] 8 or 9 euros,hard to beat that.we were such lucky people before covid!!!all these choices were available as free citizens of the world,of course now we could compare vax prices and choices ,testing too but .....lets not go there!!!!

[Iforbach]

I noticed taxi fares have come down ..while food ..has gone up but still discounted yellow stickers .to be had .not using air con ..wearing old clothes longer ..walking more backwards oh and fasting every other day ..not drinking as much due to closed bars and as to smaller packaging of food bought magnified glass eye shield and use smaller plates and downsized shopping bag ...using tea bags three times and less milk..bought half ton of rice from wife's village ...cut down on laundry ..eg wear underpants ..next day turn them  around wear again  then turn inside out repeat...throw them then against wall if they don't stick wear again !!!.so when I do math ..on all that I'm 35 baht 9 Satang worse off ..per week ..but luckily my wife is bringing in the  bacon 500 grams...ps they started making smaller packaging yonks ago ..I bought ice cream stick other day and ice cream seperate ..next day ..and ordered a leg lamb ..from catalogue ..3 more payments we can keep it ....happy shopping ..going by some? scales ..lots bargains out there 

[kensawadee]

22 hours ago, colinneil said:

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.

Yes...... So many of us farangs find later we were, I might say 'stupid' but I will soften that to 'Unprepared', for what we found in a foreign (third world) countries..... NOW if you can do it????? Put the blame where it belongs --- On yourself...... Because you came to a foreign country expecting to find everything same as YOU were accustomed to........ Now who's fault is it in this case??????? 

I love women, at least the biggest percent of them..... Would you like to know why???????  Well , I will tell you even if you don't want to know ---- as a child, My mother taught me  to go through life and form any of my opinions after walking a mile in that 'other persons shoes'.... At 81 years old I still try to do that......

Colin, I know you are in a wheelchair, But i can't find that an excuse to try to fight verbally (On this site) with others, as myself, to seek pity and approval for yourself, when you may have a differing opinion.....

As I read many posts on this forum I find MANY POSTERS claiming Thai women (and in cases some men feeling 'ALL WOMEN') are 'Users'...... Well here again , Have you walked a mile 'IN THEIR SHOES'?????

For me.... I always stop to think first, about the 'other side' of the story......

I think there are an alarming rate of farangs in Thailand, who after a drink of two, are totally unaware of how abusive they are after their drinks.... But the women they live are fully aware of it... And then those guys post here about their women 'silently hating them'.... This bunch of guys don't even know what they do after a few drinks......  MY OWN FATHER AND OLDER BROTHER FALL INTO THIS CATAGORY (HOPELESS DRUNKS AFTER JUST 1 BEER (They couldn't remember the next day anything past the first beer).....

The next time you drink..... I 'Challenge' you to wake up the next morning and remember the evening before, right up to climbing into bed and resting your head on the pillow, AND SEEING YOURSELF AS YOUR WIFE/GF SAW YOU LAST NIGHT..... i saw my own family fail this challenge.......

Afterward you may discover that these Thai wives/gfs are entitled to a better life than what they are experiencing with you..... After all.... these Thai women ---- THEY ARE NOT SOI DOGS..... TO BE BE USED AND KICKED AROUND..............

IF YOU CAN'T LIVE WITH THEM.... Leave them..... A good lesson will be learned BY ALL.......

[AlQaholic]

Check out the prices on this site: https://www.tops.co.th/en/

gives you a good idea about high end prices.

[vandeventer]

On 7/17/2021 at 8:22 PM, utalkin2me said:

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

Every week their is a rise on the goods I buy in Macro. Tesco is better but covid strikes there too often. Some of the checkout girls tested positive last week where I live.

Edited July 19, 2021 by vandeventer

[georgey]

On 7/18/2021 at 2:24 AM, 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.

Agree with you absolutely. Prices in central BKK are seriously high (compare to the West), unless you restrict yourself to locally-produced stuff, and, even then, if you bother to do the maths, you're sometimes in for some real shocks. 

[rickudon]

Obviously, depends on the product. Milk, dairy products up to 50% cheaper in the UK. Bread, also up to 50% cheaper. Baked beans, 66% cheaper. Biscuits cheaper. Crisps in Thailand similar price but half the weight. Fruit and Veg - hard to compare - depends on season, but overall cheaper in Thailand. Fresh meat and fish cheaper in Thailand. Generally processed foods expensive in Thailand, Fresh food cheaper unless imported. Quality and safety of food in Thailand sometimes worse.

Not food, but beer in Thailand a bit more expensive and poor quality. Wine ridiculous price. 

 

That's just obviously food shopping. Eating out, nearly all other activities cheaper. Housing costs lower, but for Brits, offset by Medical costs in Thailand. Overall, Thailand slightly cheaper, but not a lot.

[BritManToo]

28 minutes ago, rickudon said:

That's just obviously food shopping. Eating out, nearly all other activities cheaper. Housing costs lower, but for Brits, offset by Medical costs in Thailand. Overall, Thailand slightly cheaper, but not a lot.

As a Brit my 3 bed detached house in Thailand cheaper than a bedsit in Bolton is the only comparison I need to make.

Food costs are trivial in either place.

 

 

Does everyone on this thread hate really Thailand so much?

Moving here then complaining your favorite brands from home cost more is the height of madness.

 

If you can't adapt to local foods, Go home!

Edited July 19, 2021 by BritManToo

[Mac Mickmanus]

6 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

As a Brit my 3 bed detached house in Thailand cheaper than a bedsit in Bolton is the only comparison I need to make.

Food costs are trivial in either place.

Medical costs are about 300bht/quarter for my hospital visit and meds Vs 30 pounds for 3 months NHS prescription.

Tax, insurance, MOT less than 500bht/year Vs 200 pounds/year.

 

Does everyone on this thread hate really Thailand so much?

Comparing food prices and availability  between two Countries is hardly "hating" a Country , its merely stating facts . 

[BritManToo]

Just now, Mac Mickmanus said:

Comparing food prices and availability  between two Countries is hardly "hating" a Country , its merely stating facts . 

No, you've definitely been hating Thailand on this thread.

I've firmly got you down as a hater!!

[Mac Mickmanus]

36 minutes ago, rickudon said:

Obviously, depends on the product. Milk, dairy products up to 50% cheaper in the UK. Bread, also up to 50% cheaper. Baked beans, 66% cheaper. Biscuits cheaper. Crisps in Thailand similar price but half the weight. Fruit and Veg - hard to compare - depends on season, but overall cheaper in Thailand. Fresh meat and fish cheaper in Thailand. Generally processed foods expensive in Thailand, Fresh food cheaper unless imported. Quality and safety of food in Thailand sometimes worse.

Not food, but beer in Thailand a bit more expensive and poor quality. Wine ridiculous price. 

 

That's just obviously food shopping. Eating out, nearly all other activities cheaper. Housing costs lower, but for Brits, offset by Medical costs in Thailand. Overall, Thailand slightly cheaper, but not a lot.

Meat seems to be about the same price .

Cooked Chickens in the UK are about 3 quid and 120 Baht in Thailand , Steak is also about the same price and beer can be much cheaper when bought in supermarkets , about 40 % cheaper , 75 p compared to 50 Baht

[GreasyFingers]

2 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

Comparing food prices and availability  between two Countries is hardly "hating" a Country , its merely stating facts . 

You seem to consume a lot of processed foods, and imported ones at that. Where in the west can you buy a freshly cooked meal for 40 baht.

[BritManToo]

14 hours ago, JackGats said:

Cheese, yogurt, non-chicken meat, nuts (macadamia, cashew etc.), coffee, vinegar, olive oil, milk, ham, bread, potatoes, cocoa. I'm only listing healthy food here, if I wanted to list sweets and junk food which I don't eat the list would be endless. I'd say these items are between twice and five time more expensive in Thailand.

I've always thought the local Cocoa was very reasonably priced P3 is 119bht for 500gm.

P1 and P2 a bit cheaper at 99bht .......... are these expensive compared to the west?

https://www.lazada.co.th/shop/ccspecialist/

[Mac Mickmanus]

1 minute ago, GreasyFingers said:

You seem to consume a lot of processed foods, and imported ones at that. Where in the west can you buy a freshly cooked meal for 40 baht.

Street food is cheaper in Thailand , but to cook at home is more expensive in Thailand (to make western food) , even baked beans on toast with cheese on top would cost about 50 P in the UK, in Thailand it would cost about 80 Baht (2 quid) ,four times the price 

[BritManToo]

6 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

but to cook at home is more expensive in Thailand (to make western food) , even baked beans on toast with cheese on top would cost about 50 P in the U

555 at thinking baked beans on toast is cooking!

[GreasyFingers]

3 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

Street food is cheaper in Thailand , but to cook at home is more expensive in Thailand (to make western food) , even baked beans on toast with cheese on top would cost about 50 P in the UK, in Thailand it would cost about 80 Baht (2 quid) ,four times the price 

Haven't baked beans on toast for over 40 years. Again it is processed food, and is expensive here if that is the way you eat. We eat very little processed food except as a bit of a treat like  cheese & salami on  a biscuit

[Mac Mickmanus]

Just now, BritManToo said:

555 at thinking baked beans on toast is cooking!

Takes more effort and is more healthier and cheaper than 40 Baht Thai street food 

[Mac Mickmanus]

4 minutes ago, GreasyFingers said:

Haven't baked beans on toast for over 40 years. Again it is processed food, and is expensive here if that is the way you eat. We eat very little processed food except as a bit of a treat like  cheese & salami on  a biscuit

 

 

     

 

  I would add some H.P sauce with it and two slices of toast double up 

[GreasyFingers]

Just now, Mac Mickmanus said:

 

 

     

 

  I would add some H.P sauce with it and two slices of toast double up 

If that is your healthy food I would hate to see your unhealthy food.

[Mac Mickmanus]

5 minutes ago, GreasyFingers said:

If that is your healthy food I would hate to see your unhealthy food.

I didnt suggest that its healthy food in its own right , just healthier than Thai Street food where cooking oil is a main ingredient