WJS

I thought I would start a new thread on this because I was very surprised to read on the Costco thread that someone thinks that groceries in the US are more expensive than the UK. Does anyone else think this to be true?

I know the dollar has increased in value quite a lot recently but I have always believed that food in grocery stores as well as restaurants was a LOT cheaper in the US than the UK.

kins

A loaf of bread that would cost at most 75p in the UK costs $1.50 plus here. That's the main difference I've seen. I buy the equivalent of Hovis and I pay $4 a loaf for it.

kins

Also food in restaurants is cheap but alcohol is very expensive IME.

I'm coming across as a lush mother who feeds my children nothing but sandwiches while downing cocktails aren't I?

scrubbedexpat091

Does Maine have a lot of government control over alcohol? Prices can vary a lot by state, out west it's pretty cheap, but I can't compare to UK prices.

GeoffM

Milk and bread are the two most expensive things here that I can think of. Chicken *wings* are often the priciest portions after breasts. Bacon too, as the same streaky stuff in the UK is cheap because most prefer back bacon.

scrubbedexpat091

How much does a gallon of milk run in the UK out of curiosity?

Milk to us in Canada is dirt cheap in WA state, less then 3 dollars for a gallon vs almost 5 dollars in Canada.

GeoffM

About $4 around here, maybe $3.30 for supermarket brand in some places.

hungryhorace

Yes. By a mile from what I can make out. Take Whole Foods - absolute rip off compared to Waitrose. Take the bottom of the rung, Market Basket (here in New England), still miles away from LIDL etc in pricing.

robin1234

Here in New York State, wine is definitely more expensive than Britain. I put that down to decent UK supermarkets, Tesco, Waitrose, whatever, selecting good wines for their "everyday" ranges whereas in NY, because of the antediluvian licensing laws, all you can get is overpriced dismal wines from old school importers. Easy to get something drinkable in England for 4.25, in NYS you'd pay $10 for a worse wine.

Sometimes you have to eat solid food though. Cheese is much more expensive in the US, maybe twice the price for comparable quality. As others mentioned, bread is more expensive. Also, good quality basic vegetables are significantly cheaper in Tesco than I've seen them over here. A kilo of really nice carrots in Tesco, 65p. Crappy carrots from California, over here, not sure how much, but more expensive.

I have to concede, in England I'm looking in decent supermarkets, while over here, I'm looking in Walmart or Pricechopper.... I have to drive 150 miles to go to a decent market comparable to Sainsburys, Tesco or Waitrose.

GeoffM

I noticed that Whole Foods sell imported UK beer which ought to be good... except the same pre-packaged bottles are 20% cheaper in Bevmo and even the gas stations here that sell British beer.

robin1234

Milk is an annoyance here, I only use it in tea so I only use a little. In UK, a pint is 48p. In US, I have to buy a quart, $1.39.

scrubbedexpat091

The trend seems to be UK is cheaper then US and US is cheaper then Canada....

Cheese for example up this was is double the price as the US, what would cost 7 or 8 in the US is 14-20 up this way.

Milk is around 5 dollars for 4 liters, 1 liter is 2.39, 2 liters runs about 3.40.

Bread can be anywhere from 1 to 7 per loaf depending on brand and type. Store made bread is cheaper but only lasts 1-3 days and is a dollar, wonder bread is 2 ish, then it goes up from there.

Vegetable and fruits cost more, but most comes from the US and Mexico and need to be paid for in USD.

Booze except in Quebec is a boat load more, 750ml of Vodka runs 25+ dollars, Beer for a 6 pack of something like Coor's is 10-12 dollars, 20-30 for a 12 pack.

Canadian beer is generally cheaper pretty much everywhere else in the world compared to what it costs here. But the government taxes and controls booze in most provinces so prices are artificially inflated.

username.exe

I find it to be a fair bit more expensive on the same items that other posters have mentioned.

I get my produce at a local Mexican grocery store to keep prices down, but I find that it spoils VERY quickly.

Ash UK/US

It depends on how you shop too... If you buy the same brands regardless or only buy an item when you run out you will pay more than buying ahead when something is on sale or buying seasonal fruits and veg. Also taking the extra time to clip coupons etc.

mikelincs

Not sure how a conversion would be, but currently, in the UK, milk is 89p for 4 pints.