Grocery Prices In Bangkok Spiraling Upward

[thaigene2]

I've noticed price increases in most of the major supermarket chains in reccent months.

e.g. - two litres of Foremost milk from 65 baht to nearly 80 baht at Tops, meat at Villa (expensive at any time) is up by another 10-15% over the usually inflated price, whiskey and other imported spirits (but not beer) are also up.

While booze prices could be dismissed as increased import duties (though duty-free prices have actually dropped at the airport) and food increases as higher fuel costs, I suspect there's more to it than that. Especially since imported goods should be DROPPING not climbing due to stronger Thai baht.

While the inflation rate may be steady at 3% or something (I'm sure someone will enlighten us on the official rate), how does that account for the average 15% jump in recent months? (remember months, not a year - which is what inflation is measured by).

Any ideas? Noticed any other examples? Or perhaps price decreases in other areas?

[samran]

well, Tops Chidlom and Villa are two of the most expensive places to shop.

Having said that, I have noticed that our shops were getting expensive

I've always maintained that if you want to live a western lifestyle in BKK (which we mostly do) you are going to have to pay for it.

What have we done about it? We've started shopping at Foodland, the new one on Suk Soi 16. We've decreased our weekly bill from about 3800 to 3100, at the same time buying more meat and fish and the same of everything else. Qaulity cuts of meat at foodland are the cheapest about.

As a reference, when we used to live in the UK, our weekly shop was about 50 to 60 quid, and a shop in Australia these days will set you back $150 easily. Fresh food and produce in OZ has gotten very expensive, and I think it is a world wide occurence.

[Florin]

How about a topic comparing food prices in Bangkok for most staple items?

I think for most items the cost difference between a place like BigC and a place like Villa is more perceived than actual...also, some meat bought from a Tesco was much lousier than anything you can find in Foodland...it might be cheaper, but is 5-10 baht less really worth all the added fat?

Also, for certain Western grocery items, places like Tesco/BigC are an awful deal - for example, they only had one brand of olives, which was more expensive (and crappier) than buying a different brand in Villa!

Then there's bread...23 Baht for a baguette in BigC/Tesco, 40+ in Villa/Foodland. However, if you don't eat it all in the first day, the BigC one will surely be usable as a blunt instrument a day later, so which is actually better value?

[MartinBKK]

I have also noticed the sharp increase in supermarket prices and milk is a very good example. It has gone from 65 Baht to almost 80 in less than 3 months. I really can't understand how such an increase can be justified. It is not just supermarket items either it is everything such as accomodation, healthcare costs etc etc.

I took a vacation to the USA at the start of they year and it struck me that the cost of living in Bangkok is similar if not more expensive now. In my mind this is definitely a major reason why there are less tourists here this year than there have been before. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next few months as the effects of prices increases and the strong Baht kick in.

[GuestHouse]

Whatever the official inflation figures for Thailand are it is clear that inflation will impact foreigners living in Thailand differently. Foreigners buy different goods and services and of course there is the added dual pricing issue to consider.

An example of where prices have increased incredibly is the health care sector. A few months ago I enquired on the cost of getting some dental work done at two dentists in Thailand, the prices quoted where within a couple of thousand baht of the price I was quoted in Rome.

I put that down to the international marketting of Thai medical services, not content with making a good profit on a reasonable price, many hospitals and health care providers have hiked prices towards the US level - those prices are nolonger cheap for Europeans.

I think this infation issue is probably the biggest threat to many people's plans to retire or remain in Thailand on a fixed income.

As suggested above, it would be interesting to have an index of goods and services expats use and then monitor them for inflation.

[WAERTH]

How about a topic comparing food prices in Bangkok for most staple items?

I am building a website with regards to imported food items and meats and stuff. Should be online by november. Prices are also mentioned. It will become editable for users.

It will focus on foodstuffs and beverages. Currently I am doing research myself in the supermarkets. I have approx 1800 different products sofar.

Waerth

Edited October 5, 2007 by WAERTH

[GuestHouse]

What a great idea, I hope it works out.

I reckon you could add other services as you go along and perhaps even things like rentals prices.

It would be a great resource for people planning to move to Thailand.

[Florin]

Good stuff indeed! It should be a very useful resource, provided it's kept up to date...

[cclub75]

It will focus on foodstuffs and beverages. Currently I am doing research myself in the supermarkets. I have approx 1800 different products sofar.

Impressive.

However, do you believe it's possible to monitor 1800 products, even on a monthly basis ?

[Jimjim]

I took a vacation to the USA at the start of they year and it struck me that the cost of living in Bangkok is similar if not more expensive now. In my mind this is definitely a major reason why there are less tourists here this year than there have been before. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next few months as the effects of prices increases and the strong Baht kick in.

This is madness talking. It's all about your perception. And your perception is not reality. I can live so much cheaper here than I can in the in the U.S. Still. I know, I just came from living in the U.S. And in a small city in the West, no less. Still more expensive, but nice try.

If you want to eat a Western meal every meal it will certainly make it more expensive but why would you want to when there is so much extremely cheap and good food to eat everywhere? Why come to Thailand and not eat the food?

Less tourists? I still see plenty. Also, whenever I read a story about tourism it always seems to talk about there being more tourists in the current year than in previous years. But, who knows about that one? But if there are less, there could be a myriad of reasons such as fears of terrorism (Bangkok bombs probably scared some people away), etc.

[WAERTH]

It will focus on foodstuffs and beverages. Currently I am doing research myself in the supermarkets. I have approx 1800 different products sofar.

Impressive.

However, do you believe it's possible to monitor 1800 products, even on a monthly basis ?

That is why I intend to make it editable, other people can add and make changes. Can never achieve it on my own. Plus once I get it online I intend to write to product suppliers and sellers to send me lists. That makes it easier. I have 4 years of experience on the Dutch wikipedia, making wellover 20.000 edits, and am actually working on this with the help of some other wikipedians. One of the programmers of the wikimedia software is making the database and doing the programming, the consensus amongst all wikipedians I spoke to about this is. It is a great idea with lot's of challenges, but hey we managed 2.000.000 articles in English wikipedia . The reason why I am not putting anything online yet is because experience with new languages in wikipedia shows it takes of when you have approximately 1000 articles. So I am trying to put 2000 entries in there myself first. And yes the idea can be expanded beyond food! Like a comparison of beer prices per pub or things like that. I am just focussing on one thing first.

If any of you run a shop selling imported goods feel free to mail me a list with the imported goods containing product name, type of packaging, weight, price, country of origin, manufacturers name. You can also mail me these details if you do not own a shop but if you feel a produc you saw somewhere should be in this list. Please also tell me whioch location you saw it.

I found many interesting products sofar. But because of the way am doing it for now, taking a small notebook and walking through shops it goes very slow. I will work at finding a better way once I got the site online.

The goal is not to cover just Thailand. But people can insert data on any country .... like where to buy sri Racha Hot Sauce in the UK for instance!

I actually found a nice webshop which sells over 70 different ketchups from around the world and they ship everywhere! They also have Banana Ketchup. I also put that sitein the Database.

Waerth

[londonthai]

sticky rice, one of the most important staple thai food, went up 100%

the bag 15kg before 200baht now 400baht

[WAERTH]

Why come to Thailand and not eat the food?

Because there's MSG in nearly everything?

Because the food is well over-rated?

Many reasons.

Actually very simple. If you are in the UK do you only eat UK food? If you are in germany do you only eat German food? Me being Dutch when I am in Holland do I only eat Dutch food? No!!!! I like to mix. There are 3 meals a day, 2 of which I eat Thai food and one something else. From Japanese to Mexican to everything. It is very important imho to eat different things. And to try new things! So yes I and most of us eat Thai food, just not 100% of the time!

Waerth

[rcalsop]

I have also noticed the sharp increase in supermarket prices and milk is a very good example. It has gone from 65 Baht to almost 80 in less than 3 months. I really can't understand how such an increase can be justified. It is not just supermarket items either it is everything such as accomodation, healthcare costs etc etc.

I took a vacation to the USA at the start of they year and it struck me that the cost of living in Bangkok is similar if not more expensive now. In my mind this is definitely a major reason why there are less tourists here this year than there have been before. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next few months as the effects of prices increases and the strong Baht kick in.

After a 9 month gap between shopping in Penang then spending time in Thailand back at home so to speak I was shocked at the prices and having started with the thought that Thailand was cheaper than Penang my wife and I did an about turn after 9 months the change was amazing , westernised food are cheaper in Penang now , and the only area Thailand is cheaper now is the markets for fresh fruit and vegtables. Even street eating at our favourite local stall the portions were smaller and increased in price ...talking to my old friends ( thai ) whilst visiting my old company they all bemoaned the increasing costs it was really hurting them . My wife certainly had her eyes opened usually the expert money controller and budgeting fanatic stayed on a month with the kids and ran out ouf money by week three .. never been known before and I was not there to blame .So yes things are becoming more expensive in Thailand for normal living ,still cheaper than UK though

Edited October 5, 2007 by rcalsop

[realthaideal]

"e.g. - two litres of Foremost milk from 65 baht to nearly 80 baht at Tops, meat at Villa (expensive at any time) is up by another 10-15% over the usually inflated price, whiskey and other imported spirits (but not beer) are also up."

I don't go in for many Farang indulgences, but milk is just a staple. Cheese, ice cream, cakes, cereal, those things I can do without. But the milk is a necessity. And dang if I haven't noticed it too. I used to be able to score a Foremost lg plastic jug for even 59 b a couple years ago. Then it was around 63, 65 for a long time. But now at 73 baht it really makes me pause. That's quite a hike and seems here to stay. Prices of chix and pork way up too.

And the noodle carts have raised prices up here in CM too. And everyone will tell you it's because 'naam-man paeng.' And so... the usual scenario, the oil companies have record profits, merchants start to lose their edge on their sales profits, and it all goes down to the consumers who have to foot the bill for it all.

BTW, I have heard that Farang items are being targeted specifically by major chains as this is an easier revenue stream to grow as we ave to have what we miss and will usually pay for it no matter what. Been told this by more than a couple of Thais. Anybody have some real info on this situation ??

[stumonster]

I have noticed milk prices have jumped in the last month or two and am also seeing smaller portions from street vendors.

[JonnieB]

If you want to eat a Western meal every meal it will certainly make it more expensive but why would you want to when there is so much extremely cheap and good food to eat everywhere? Why come to Thailand and not eat the food?

give it a few years and you will understand

[JonnieB]

anyone who follows the news (and more specifically the business news/markets) will be aware that the cost of all commodities and foodstuffs have jumped around the worldwide during the past 12-18 months. This is due to many factors (higher cost of oil raises cost of every thing from fertilizers and herbicides, to the gas for tractors, to the gas to transport foodstuffs to market; increased demand for corn/sugar for all the new ethanol and bio-fuels projects has raised the cost for these primary commodities, the list goes on and on). This is not just a Thai phenomenon. The cost of milk (and therefore all products made from it, e.g. butter, cheese, etc) has also increased world wide both because of the afore mentioned reasons and the fact that many formerly poor and underdeveloped countries (i.e. Brazil, China, india) are getting richer and as people get richer they want, and have the means, to purchase higher-value foodstuffs...this means more dairy products in their diets. This pushes up again the cost for milk. They also want more meats and those chickies and cows and pigs require grains to fatten them up therefore again pushing up the cost of these grains. It's all a vicious cycle. I read recently that the cost of a gallon of whole milk in the USA was now $4.00 or more expensive than a gallon of gasoline/petrol!! In fact, just today's Wall Street Journal has a front page cover story about the increased cost of barley and hops and the effect this is having on the price of beer

Edited October 5, 2007 by JonnieB

[Rinrada]

Picked up a nice piece of Edam in Foodland (in the pong) the other night....60bt....

Went down a treat as a late night snack with a couple of slices of onion and toms on crusty bread plus of course a big Heinee...No complaints ..... agree that Villa seems to be getting a bit peng......however lifes small luxs..etc...

[toptuan]

I just about fell out of my chair when I saw the previous poster's one week grocery budget (3,100 baht). That's mine for one month (and I'm gaining weight!).

Just remember, moving upcountry is NOT the answer to your problems!

(Keep the farangs away, keep our prices low!)

Edited October 5, 2007 by toptuan

[Mid]

I've always maintained that if you want to live a western lifestyle in BKK (which we mostly do) you are going to have to pay for it.

hummmm , about those new inflation figures .........................

[JetsetBkk]

I just about fell out of my chair when I saw the previous poster's one week grocery budget (3,100 baht). That's mine for one month (and I'm gaining weight!).

3,000+ is about what I pay for me & g/f per week. Then there's all the fresh fruit & veg. at the street markets every other day.

One price that has shot up over the last year is for the small round loaves of bread with sesame seeds at Big C. They used to be 17 baht over a year ago, then went to 19 and have recently gone up to 25. And the size has also decreased so that they are now called a "Baquette Ball".

[wileycoyote]

Is there a correlation to the price of fuel ?

Wiley Coyote

[relayer]

Cost of papaya has about doubled over the last year or so, both in the north as well as the south. Most other fruit has more or less stayed the same. Strange.

[cmsally]

Cost of milk is going up over the world. It's in relation to the increase of feed/grain prices.

Of course the Chinese are partly to blame for this and if you do a search on it you will find the Italians

actually had a protest where they refused to eat pasta for a day but apparently they failed miserably!

They just couldn't abstain.

There is apparently competition for land to grow grain for food and for bio diesel - funny I didn't think biodiesel was that big a thing.

Many people I have talked to have said there has been a big increase in the price of rice and apparently cooking gas might go up again.

On the bright side I have enough banana trees to feed an army, but they get boring.

I think it really a worlwide thing, feeding your family will just get more expensive.

Cost of papaya has about doubled over the last year or so, both in the north as well as the south. Most other fruit has more or less stayed the same. Strange.

It must be all those farangs guys moving here that like to eat Somtam

[think_too_mut]

How about a topic comparing food prices in Bangkok for most staple items?

I am building a website with regards to imported food items and meats and stuff. Should be online by november. Prices are also mentioned. It will become editable for users.

It will focus on foodstuffs and beverages. Currently I am doing research myself in the supermarkets. I have approx 1800 different products sofar.

Waerth

That research has been done by the armies of Lotus and Carefour forces.

Using their purchasing power, they have made it as low as possible.

What is your future site going to do? Get people to log in and comment on food prices in BKK? Some, might.

[ratcatcher]

I have also noticed the sharp increase in supermarket prices and milk is a very good example. It has gone from 65 Baht to almost 80 in less than 3 months. I really can't understand how such an increase can be justified. It is not just supermarket items either it is everything such as accomodation, healthcare costs etc etc.

I took a vacation to the USA at the start of they year and it struck me that the cost of living in Bangkok is similar if not more expensive now. In my mind this is definitely a major reason why there are less tourists here this year than there have been before. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next few months as the effects of prices increases and the strong Baht kick in.

If you are an American, you would notice the difference in prices, however, correct me if I'm wrong, this has more to do with the weak U.S.$ than a strong baht.

I am Canadian and the Cdn$ is about 34 as per T.V. (Baht rates) Australian $ is around B30 so in actual fact some of us are a little better off.

However IMHO, since G.W.B. is pi$$ing away the U.S. $ in Iraq and elsewhere, it may be a while before the U.S. dollar recovers to what it was 3 or 4 years ago.

[stumonster]

There is apparently competition for land to grow grain for food and for bio diesel - funny I didn't think biodiesel was that big a thing.

this argument needs a whole thread to itself - its not just land competition ,its the price paid for grain - bio diesel can pay more

[RHCP]

I have also noticed the sharp increase in supermarket prices and milk is a very good example. It has gone from 65 Baht to almost 80 in less than 3 months. I really can't understand how such an increase can be justified. It is not just supermarket items either it is everything such as accomodation, healthcare costs etc etc.

I took a vacation to the USA at the start of they year and it struck me that the cost of living in Bangkok is similar if not more expensive now. In my mind this is definitely a major reason why there are less tourists here this year than there have been before. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next few months as the effects of prices increases and the strong Baht kick in.

After a 9 month gap between shopping in Penang then spending time in Thailand back at home so to speak I was shocked at the prices and having started with the thought that Thailand was cheaper than Penang my wife and I did an about turn after 9 months the change was amazing , westernised food are cheaper in Penang now , and the only area Thailand is cheaper now is the markets for fresh fruit and vegtables. Even street eating at our favourite local stall the portions were smaller and increased in price ...talking to my old friends ( thai ) whilst visiting my old company they all bemoaned the increasing costs it was really hurting them . My wife certainly had her eyes opened usually the expert money controller and budgeting fanatic stayed on a month with the kids and ran out ouf money by week three .. never been known before and I was not there to blame .So yes things are becoming more expensive in Thailand for normal living ,still cheaper than UK though

The price of milk here is on a par with that in the UK where labour costs are much higher. I have a couple of other theories that may account for some of the sharp increases in food products compared to the official inflation rate. Could the retailers be operating a price cartel? Secondly with the economy being relatively weak retailers possibly are attempting to compensate for a drop in earnings on non-food items by raising prices significantly for essential food items that we have to buy.

I also agree that there have been large rises in hotel accommodation and healthcare charges amongst many things. Does anyone know what items the government uses to come up with an inflation rate of I believe less than 2% presently?

[relayer]

I say if milk prices bother you, stop drinking milk. Get your calcium from other sources 'cuz that's all milk is good for anyway. It's a poor source of protein and other than the bacteria and chemical runoff included in it, it's mostly just water. It's also bad for your digestion if you are lactose intolerant, which many people are. Notice how drinking cow's milk is a non-Thai, western-introduced activity? It's not natural.

Get your calcium from canned fish like mackerel, instead, and just skip milk altogether. Much better.

Edited October 5, 2007 by relayer