Can we still afford to shop at Thai supermarkets?

[Dialemco]

Thailand is no longer a third world country  so it is no longer a good place to retire on a fixed income . Having said that UK is suffering big inflationary costs of up to 20% as is much of Europe. Days of cheap food are now just a memory. If you can't afford to live in Thailand plan to go home.

[MrJ2U]

It's good to check whats available online. 

 

Many items are cheaper.

 

The monopolistic nature of two families owning Tesco, 7/11, Big C's, and Makros  doesn't encourage competition.

 

However, you need these places for meats, poultry, etc.

 

I like shopping at the markets also. 

A little eye candy and its nice to get out and about. 

[mikebell]

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

Then eat the horses?

Let them eat dog.

[mikebell]

 Macro wins hands down over all other local supermarkets which saddle you with waste plastic & polystyrene.

[shackleton]

You pay for what you can afford 

When in my local Lotus's  I always keep a eye out for deals 

Going this morning see what I can buy  hoping the deal on the

bacon is on ????

[kralledr]

Even medicine is more expensive, i need a special creme for my itchy balls, but i can't pay anymore ????

[schultzlivgthai]

6 hours ago, pomchop said:

"I would say my personal food shop has gone up around 20% in the last six months, especially if I stick to the expat-type style supermarkets."

 

These expat markets selling western foods have always been premium priced....if u want western food maybe live in the west or if you MUST have it in Thailand be prepared to pay major premiums.  Never ceases to amaze me how many falangs move to Thailand and then try to eat/drink like they are back in their home country.

 

 

Read it again maybe you’ll understand better what he was trying to say.

[swm59nj]

I live in Bangkok and shop in the major supermarkets.  I really haven’t noticed a dramatic increase in prices.  But  to be honest I don’t pay strict attention.  I just purchase what I need.  If an item is extremely expensive I won’t buy it.  
And farmers type markets  are usually cheaper in any country.  They don’t have the overhead like a large supermarket would have.  
And I don’t think these large supermarkets purposely charge more to get more money from foreigners.  Most of the customers are Thais.

Edited March 4, 2022 by swm59nj

[OneMoreFarang]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Venturing to the local market in Pattaya this morning, I managed to buy two similar carrots plus a cabbage for just THB15, plus two large avocados for only THB70.

How many years did you need to find out that one?

And here is a hint: The vegetables and fruits and also fresher and tastier at the local markets. Who would have thought?

[jacko45k]

2 minutes ago, kralledr said:

Even medicine is more expensive, i need a special creme for my itchy balls, but i can't pay anymore ????

Lighter fuel, a zippo and running shoes!

[Lacessit]

1 hour ago, arick said:

That would get you in big trouble... 

Not in Europe

[JonnyF]

I hadn't really noticed. Farang food/drink has always been expensive here, I gave up comparing it to UK prices years ago. An extra 10 or 15 Baht here and there doesn't really register but I've found the longer I am here the less I crave farang food anyway, apart from my obligatory Sunday roast at the local Irish Pub washed down with a few draught pints I'm not that fussed.

 

The only thing I noticed was the cost of filling up the car. For the first time a few weeks ago it was over 2000 Baht to fill it up but I'm fortunate in that I don't pay for that.

 

If people are really struggling they could turn a negative into a positive and try not drinking for a few days every week and eating less. Or maybe eat local food that is still cheap here and also pretty healthy like Chicken, fish, eggs, bananas etc. Save money and improve your health at the same time.

[Expat68]

6 hours ago, pomchop said:

"I would say my personal food shop has gone up around 20% in the last six months, especially if I stick to the expat-type style supermarkets."

 

These expat markets selling western foods have always been premium priced....if u want western food maybe live in the west or if you MUST have it in Thailand be prepared to pay major premiums.  Never ceases to amaze me how many falangs move to Thailand and then try to eat/drink like they are back in their home country.

 

 

I used to eat 90% Thai, 10% Western, as you get older your gut tolerance also changes (many older Thais are unable to eat the same Thai food they were able to eat before) this now has changed to the other way round for me

[Lacessit]

I buy all my fruit and vegetables at local markets. Big C and Tops are for luxuries such as ice-cream and good quality yoghurt, I can't say I've seen any change in them. I don't eat much Western food.

 

At my age, pesticides don't worry me. I've lived with them for more than seven decades. They are stored in body fat, it's obese people who need to worry about them.

 

If I think something is too expensive, I don't buy it. I make an exception for gasoline, up 25%. The average Thai must really be doing it hard.

[NONG CHOK]

2 hours ago, greg71 said:

And what makes you think the veges in the supermarket are any different from the local farmers / markets ?

Much the same as what's the difference between a bar girl and a beach girl? Actually they're both the same except for the price. Cheers.

Edited March 4, 2022 by NONG CHOK

[kwak250]

3 hours ago, MrNatural said:

You can find a decent iced americano for 40-45B but most fancy shop will sell around 100 or more the same thai coffee. 

 

Is there such a thing as a  decent iced americano?

 

I ordered one by mistake once. 

 

Never made that mistake again

[scubascuba3]

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

Depends - if they carry on discounting cheese from 164 baht a packet to 16 baht a packet, then, yes. Thing is, now my daughter has seen it , it will last maybe 3 days.

 

all those discounts do is make you fat

[Eloquent pilgrim]

6 hours ago, pomchop said:

"I would say my personal food shop has gone up around 20% in the last six months, especially if I stick to the expat-type style supermarkets."

 

These expat markets selling western foods have always been premium priced....if u want western food maybe live in the west or if you MUST have it in Thailand be prepared to pay major premiums.  Never ceases to amaze me how many falangs move to Thailand and then try to eat/drink like they are back in their home country.

 

 

Rather smug, condescending and unfair comment; I have lived here with my Thai wife for 7 years, and we shop mostly in local markets; however, I sometimes go to supermarkets, because I still like to eat some strawberries, raspberries, parmesan cheese, blueberries, avocados, beetroot and occasional packet of McVitie’s digestives.

 

This does not mean that I have not embraced the culture of Thailand, and your suggestion that anyone that has not become as “Thai” as you pretentiously seem to think that you have, should leave the country.

 

Incidentally, I have many Thai friends in London, who eat Thai food almost exclusively there, but it has never occurred to me to suggest they go home if that’s what they want to eat.

[tonray]

I'm waiting for Tops market to install a special checkout lane for Crypto Billionaires...

[kwak250]

3 minutes ago, NONG CHOK said:

Much the same as what's the difference between a bar girl and a beach girl? Actually they're both the same except for the price. Cheers.

Beach girl is already wet.

 

Saying that i expect the bar girl is as well.

[bang saen guy]

6 hours ago, pomchop said:

"I would say my personal food shop has gone up around 20% in the last six months, especially if I stick to the expat-type style supermarkets."

 

These expat markets selling western foods have always been premium priced....if u want western food maybe live in the west or if you MUST have it in Thailand be prepared to pay major premiums.  Never ceases to amaze me how many falangs move to Thailand and then try to eat/drink like they are back in their home country.

 

 

Sorry you can't afford to eat foreign food. Thai food is ok in very small doses. Most did not come to Thailand for the food. If I moved anywhere for the food, Mexico would be a much better choice

[sqwakvfr]

I just got back from a month back in Los Angeles.  Going to Topps, Rimping, Big C, 7-11 and even Amazon Coffee was a pleasure.  Everything I need and want is much cheaper in LOS.  For comparison I had lunch at Chick Fil ($12) and one of my favorites(Chipotle) and lunch was $13.  I went out for breakfast in LA and two pancakes, two eggs, bacon and  coffee was $14.  In terms of day to day items those us who can live in LOS are lucky.  

[ikke1959]

For me easy to do.. we shop in the evening and buy the yellow stickers if we need these goods. If not we don't buy or wait for another day. Dairy products can be used to a week after the expiry date at least. Also if the baht is too expensive I transfer less money to Thailand and when the rate is better more.. so we avoid a too expensive baht. For the rest we shop at Makro, Tops, Big C and not any more at LOtuss because they have less in their shops since the name changed and they are more expensive. And we eat a lot of Thai food. It is sometime cheaper to buy prepared food than cook it yourself.. For 35 THB a bag you can't make it yourself

Edited March 4, 2022 by ikke1959

[Pedrogaz]

For the past 40 years I have always shopped on quality rather than price, I just bought what I wanted and didn't look at prices. Having been retired for a few years with a non-inflation proof pension, I am now starting to notice prices and saying no to myself from time to time. The first  time was with a cereal I am partial to and it was over 300 baht for a box ie about $10, and I said to myself, I'm not paying $10 for a box of cereal. This experience awakened me to prices and I now check pretty much everything....but the problem in Thailand remains lack of competition....too many stores selling stuff at exactly the same prices.

Things are not so bad today, but I am wary about the future and expect to have to dip into savings presently.

[ThailandRyan]

4 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

I just got back from a month back in Los Angeles.  Going to Topps, Rimping, Big C, 7-11 and even Amazon Coffee was a pleasure.  Everything I need and want is much cheaper in LOS.  For comparison I had lunch at Chick Fil ($12) and one of my favorites(Chipotle) and lunch was $13.  I went out for breakfast in LA and two pancakes, two eggs, bacon and  coffee was $14.  In terms of day to day items those us who can live in LOS are lucky.  

Eating out in the US is expensive, however shopping at stores like Winco, Walmart and a few others tends to be cheaper on the food stuffs, especially on the non-perishables as well as fruit.  I bought 10 avocado's for $2 dollars USD or 60 baht versus 40 to 45 baht for just 1 here.  

[Will B Good]

Prices are horrifying, particularly western foods.

 

We have moved out to the boonies now and live off food sold from the street (literally, although there is a tarpaulin underneath the food).......cheap as chips (probably no longer a relevant expression).

[spidermike007]

Fruits and vegetables are usually cheaper at the local markets. Supermarkets can then be used for more specialty items. We have to be smart with our money. 

 

Though Thailand has definitely seen some inflation, it is nothing like in the US right now. Hyper inflation. Likely 20% or higher, in real terms. Prices are skyrocketing. Though labor shortages and supply chain and shipping issues are a factor, I believe alot of it is opportunistic price gouging. One must always disregard the official numbers. They are always lies and bizarre fabrications. 

[Cake Monster]

The Missus and I, have shopped for fresh Veggies and Fruit in the local Markets for Years.

Especially now that the costs have been ramped up in the Supermarkets

Better produce, and better prices, along with the added Bonus of not putting Money into the Large Supermarkets Bank, but helping out the little people a bit.

[Lacessit]

22 minutes ago, Eloquent pilgrim said:

 I sometimes go to supermarkets, because I still like to eat some strawberries, raspberries, parmesan cheese, blueberries, avocados, beetroot and occasional packet of McVitie’s digestives.

 

 

Strawberries and avocados are in season in Chiang Rai as I write, in the local market and on the street stalls. 80 baht a punnet, 50 baht a kilo respectively. Very tasty.

I buy fruit and vegetables in season, when the prices come down. I can't remember the last time I bought them in a supermarket, way more expensive and no better in quality.

[BritManToo]

8 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

Prices are horrifying, particularly western foods.

 

We have moved out to the boonies now and live off food sold from the street (literally, although there is a tarpaulin underneath the food).......cheap as chips (probably no longer a relevant expression).

Cheap as chips still relevant.

I buy my chips frozen from Makro, the price varies 99bht/2Kg-135bht/2Kg.

Same product & manufacturer, huge price swings, been like this the past 7 years.

When it's 99bht/2Kg, I fill up the freezer, when it's 135bht/2Kg I wait ............

 

Me and my boy eat chips nearly every day!