johnnyone

That may or may not be the case, but it's one item. Overall the costs are not double as the poster stated.

Why is there never a balanced view?

Lynn R

How about longlife milk then? €0.53 for a litre of semi skimmed in Mercadona, £0.80 in ASDA. At today's exchange rates that's just about double too. If I had the time and inclination to go through more items, who knows how many might be found?

Sorry, but the difference does appear to be wider in Spain's favour than the one third I had previously thought. But yes, you were right in your earlier post, the exchange rate does make a huge difference to most British people living in Spain as the majority derive their income from pensions or savings in sterling, or income earned in the UK.

johnnyone

I think this means you agree with me.

Lynn R

I do on that particular point, absolutely!

cricketman

If you include like-for-like than I would bet that food in Spain is much cheaper

You cant compare on fresh milk prices because it isnt common in Spain hence it has a premium price. It costs 3 euros for a litre in Hipercor, although our market sells it at 1 euro for a litre

Anyway, food only makes up 11% of a household expenditure on average, so it doesnt matter so much at the end of the day

Domino

not sure of an answer to that question, I put it to my Philipino maid after she gave me all the shopping receipts this morning and she didnt really give me an answer. Seemed to think Spain was dearer than back home, but then that again is only one person's perspective.

although the chauffeur does say the petrol is cheaper back in Guatemala and that the Spanish are being ripped off - but then he isnt paying for it.

one of the problems is that although there seem to be plenty of other supermarkets around the only one IMHO is rife throughout Southern Spain is Coviran, and they are not cheap.
also some people shop for full cream milk and wouldnt touch semi or fully skimmed.

cricketman

I've never seen a Coviran in my life

On the CDS the supermarkets are Hipercor, Eroski, Al Campo, Carrefour, Supersol, Mercadona, Lidl and Aldi (in order of expense/quality). Which are the big players in Spain as a whole

Fredbargate

When Aldi opened their first store near my Mum inlaw's in the North East, in the October when The Royal British Legion were selling Poppies they were forced off Aldi's property. Therefore I have never been in an Aldi and will never do so.

Domino

Neither would I.
And I would make sure the world knew about it

Domino

try
http://www.coviran.es/Paginas/localizador.aspx

and you will see how far you are away from your nearest.
probably never seen one because they are usually located in the back streets and poorer parts of town, smaller shops, limited stocks.
there are 13 within a 10km radius of the centre of Malaga - so firmly on the CDS.

We have a large office building here in Granada, which is where they started in 1961.

Dick Dasterdly

Well Aldi UK seem to be doing very well without your business thank you.
Apart from being classed best value supermarket by Independant "Which" twice in the last 4yrs,they seem jam packed with customers every time I go in.

I have to say that the UK Aldis that I know seem much bigger and far better stocked than the pokey ones I know in Spain and all round much better organised.

As for the comparisons of odd items they seem silly.
Naturally long life milk is cheaper in Spain due to quantities sold as likewise fresh milk is cheaper in the UK.

Overall I see little diffence between the two countries other than that Spanish prices are rising much faster than those in the UK.

On a side note,how many are aware that the UK has the cheapest petrol in Europe ?



Before tax of course.

Domino

Bob - thanks for pointing that out - I thought everyone who has a bbq had burnt food - unless it is undercooked

I really don't know what to say about variety - isnt that in the hands of the chef, or the person who is cooking the meal if that is different? If you feel you aren't getting the variety then what do the many bars and restaurants here do that is so successful.
Perhaps a "perceived" better variety in UK is that with places like Tesco, Sainsburys, Morrisons, you are getting more "variety" by stuff being brought in out of season. Think of the cost to the planet, the extra out of your pocket for the air ticket for that box of variety.

All I can say is, I don't have any difficulty in getting a variety of foods here, and I am 100miles inland from the CDS, biggest problem I have is when shopping at the weekly market they want to sell everything in multiples of 2kilo just to shift the stuff.

(not that I would want anyone to think I am sad enough to do menial and womanly tasks like Shopping and Cooking - that is what the maid and chef are here for, I just pay the bills!)

searcher48

Think this has got rather off topic as OP stated he never cooks and always eats out! Should be a discussion on menu del dia prices in different areas!

Domino

well the maid says on her day off in Granada she used to go to a place thats €6.50 where you have a choice from about 10 dishes until she found a very nice place round the corner thats €3.50 - starter of soup or similar followed by a plate of escolope & chips or similar and a banana, apple or similar to finish along with a jug of water. Just that you have to have what they are doing that day. But its quite busy, there are regulars who are there every day.

Lynn R

The tax point is an interesting one. As food is zero-rated for VAT in the UK, and even the most basic items in Spain are subject to 4% IVA, shouldn't the difference in prices be less than it is?

I haven't found a single like for like item yet that isn't at least 25% more expensive in the UK, BTW. That could change tomorrow if the exchange rate plummeted back to near parity as it was around 18 months ago, of course.