I am traumatized every time I go to the supermarket

[Utopos]

Prices vary so much here that trying to squeeze out every last peso could easily be a full-time job. I opt for an approach that hopes to average out with minimal aggravation.

The ferias that Reis mentions are great if there's one in your area --- fun, fresh, and cheap. There are none in my area, but there is a verduleria that is substantially less expensive that the others. I'm talking 50-75% cheaper than the local place on the corner, with a great variety of very fresh goods. It is always so crowded that it's difficult to navigate, but the 4 check-outs get everyone out fast. Look around for a similar place in your area and stick with it.

We rarely visit supermercados, instead ordering deliveries online several times per month (I find Coto to cheapest overall, delivery about $3k). Become a "Community Member", check for promos, then stock up when. Wines are often '3 for 2', beer 35% off, and many rotating deals. When there is something non.-perishable that you use often, grab a few month's worth.

Some things I don't order online, like meats, cheese and fiambres, fresh fish for example. For these I frequent local shops that are more personal. and some offer a discount if paying in cash. Perhaps a bit more expensive, but always the best quality.

 

[FrankPintor]

The price of the basket coming out about the same is still not reassuring: the salary gap between the two countries...

My real point / complaint is not just "how much does this cost in Europe" but more importantly, "how affordable is this basket relative to my income and local incomes?".

You hit the nail on the head. This is what Numbeo says:

Indices Difference
Cost of Living in Buenos Aires is 34.4% lower than in Paris (excluding rent)
Cost of Living Including Rent in Buenos Aires is 39.6% lower than in Paris
Rent Prices in Buenos Aires are 51.6% lower than in Paris
Restaurant Prices in Buenos Aires are 12.7% lower than in Paris
Groceries Prices in Buenos Aires are 40.0% lower than in Paris
Local Purchasing Power in Buenos Aires is 64.6% lower than in Paris

Everything is cheaper in Buenos Aires.... but the purchasing power (I don't know how it's calculated, but Numbeo is fairly reputable and used by a lot of people). Expats may be fine with the prices here, though they do seem to have increased sharply, but locals are not doing well. My project here depends on locals doing well enough to afford mobile phone service, so I have skin in that game.

I don't know if it makes too much sense to compare Carrefour here (neighbourhood corner shops, basically), with Carrefour in France (upmarket hipermarchés). If we want to directly compare supermarket prices, maybe Aldi or Lidl in Europe would be more appropriate.

And it's nice if the pendulum has swung back for the neighbourhood "ferias", we used to go every week in Recoleta, when we had just arrived, but for the last few years we spent in CABA in Villa Urquiza, the ferias were were quite expensive compared to Carrefour, Dia, or Coto.

I'll just add a data point here, since a new "frigorífico" has opened out our way, next to Ruta 6 in Los Cardales. I have no idea whether this is cheap or expensive:

Carne vacuna
- Asado especial — $15,700
- Bife ancho — $15,500
- Bife angosto — $15,700
- Lomo — $27,500
- Milanesa de nalga — $17,200
- Milanesa de peceto — $17,500
- Milanesa de cuadrada — $15,900
- Milanesa de bola — $15,900
- Colita de cuadril — $19,500
- Bife de chorizo — $26,500
- Paleta — $14,650
- Roast beef — $14,650
- Entraña — $27,500
- Matambre — $13,950
- Vacío — $19,200
- Tapa de asado — $15,500
- Tapa de nalga — $15,500
- Picada especial — $14,650
- Osobuco — $8,900
- Espinazo — $4,500
- Paty caseros — $25,500
- Cuadril — $16,750

Pollo fresco
- Supremas — $8,900
- Pollo entero — $4,500
- Alita — $2,500
- Promo alitas 3 kg — $6,000
- Menudo — $700
- Pata y muslo — $4,500
- Promo pata y muslo 3 kg — $12,000
- Milanesa de pollo — $6,000 / 2 kg x $11,000

Achuras
- Chinchulín — $5,200
- Riñón — $5,500
- Centro — $7,950
- Molleja — $24,000
- Corazón — $5,200
- Rabo — $7,500
- Lengua — $9,950
- Mondongo — $8,600
- Hígado — $3,100

Embutidos
- Chorizo de cerdo — $9,450
- Chorizo BB — $9,450
- Chorizo mezcla — $9,450
- Salchicha parrillera — $10,800
- Morcilla — $7,500
- Morcilla BB — $7,500

Cerdo
- Pechito — $8,350
- Carré — $7,000
- Bondiola — $6,600
- Matambrito — $14,500
- Jamón — $5,200
- Paleta de cerdo — $4,600
- Patitas de cerdo — $2,000

 

[Rich One]

The supermarket is the worst place to shop. 18 dollars buys you two huge bags of produce at the travelling feria de ciudad vendors. And its fresher and better tha supermarket produce. Mine has two gigantic produce stands, a baker, an egg dealer, a salumeria, a fish monger,and a general provisions stand with raisans or rice crackers or spices or oils.
Usually two mornings a week- mine is Sunday and Wednesday.
164 locations across the city. https://buenosaires.gob.ar/gcaba_hi...aciones-y-horarios-de-las-ferias-de-la-ciudad

Hi @Ries can you help me how to find Ferias in Recoleta in a map. It's tedious to go through each day where numerous Ferias are operating . Tks
I have been to the Feria next to the Facultad de Ingeniería on Las Heras and Larrea, the prices where sort of average.

 

[nikad]

Hi @Ries can you help me how to find Ferias in Recoleta in a map. It's tedious to go through each day where numerous Ferias are operating . Tks
I have been to the Feria next to the Facultad de Ingeniería on Las Heras and Larrea, the prices where sort of average.

They have it there and also at Plaza Vicente Lopez.

Tuesday:
FIAB 28 - Recoleta. Pacheco de Melo 2200 al 2392 entre Larrea y Azcuénaga. Comuna 2. Horario de 8 a 14 h.

Thrusday:
FIAB 28 - Recoleta. Paraná 1200 entre Arenales y Juncal. Comuna 2 - Plaza Vicente López. Horario de 8 a 16 h

Saturday:
FIAB 1 - Recoleta. Anchorena 900 entre Córdoba y Cabrera y Cabrera 2800 – Plaza Monseñor de Andrea. Comuna 2. Horario de 8 a 14 h
FIAB 25 - Recoleta. Dr. Ricardo Levene 900 entre Agote y Av. Pueyrredon. Comuna 2. Horario de 8 a 14h. 2
FIAB 28 - Recoleta. Pacheco de Melo 2200 al 2392 entre Larrea y Azcuénaga - Plaza Emilio Mitre. Comuna 2. Horario de 8 a 14 h.
FIAB 29 - Recoleta. Paraguay 2100 entre Junín y José Evaristo Uriburu - Plaza Houssay. Comuna 2. Horario de 8 a 14 h

 

[FrankPintor]

Hi @Ries can you help me how to find Ferias in Recoleta in a map. It's tedious to go through each day where numerous Ferias are operating . Tks
I have been to the Feria next to the Facultad de Ingeniería on Las Heras and Larrea, the prices where sort of average.

The official link is here:

Ubicaciones y horarios | Buenos Aires Ciudad - Gobierno de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires

buenosaires.gob.ar

We used to go to this one on Saturdays:

• FIAB 1 - Recoleta. Anchorena 900 entre Córdoba y Cabrera y Cabrera 2800 – Plaza Monseñor de Andrea. Comuna 2. Horario de 8 a 14 h.

Unofficially known as “Parque de los Perros”. Get there before 1pm.

 

[nikad]

In my experience, to get the most out of your money (I mean basic groceries, decent quality not highest):

DIA supermarkets for pantry
Neighborhood Verduleria for fresh produce (Palermo, Recoleta, Puerto Madero, Belgrano will not have neighborhood prices so go to any other neighboring neighborhood)
Coto for meats, dairy, cheese, etc.

Get Comunidad Coto card and DIA card if you can as they give you access to other promos. If you have Mercadopago see if you have discount days. If you have any bank credit or debit card see if you have discount days as well. If you go with white label brands, they are usually cheaper and decent in most cases.

Worst day for meats and fresh produce is Monday. Less discounts towards the end of the month.

Hope this helps some.

 

[SlowWalker]

In my experience, to get the most out of your money (I mean basic groceries, decent quality not highest):

DIA supermarkets for pantry
Neighborhood Verduleria for fresh produce (Palermo, Recoleta, Puerto Madero, Belgrano will not have neighborhood prices so go to any other neighboring neighborhood)
Coto for meats, dairy, cheese, etc.

Get Comunidad Coto card and DIA card if you can as they give you access to other promos. If you have Mercadopago see if you have discount days. If you have any bank credit or debit card see if you have discount days as well. If you go with white label brands, they are usually cheaper and decent in most cases.

Worst day for meats and fresh produce is Monday. Less discounts towards the end of the month.

Hope this helps some.

Great info.

I don't live in BA, but 4 or 5 other points that may be available out there:
1) Herboristas - In the city I live in that is what they are called at least. They have jars or sacks of spices, snacks, teas, baking ingredients, cereals, nuts, beans, maybe dog/pet foods, etc. You buy how much you want of stuff typically minimum 50 or 100g for most things. The prices are much much lower maybe 50% or more off somethings and the spices are soo much fresher. I also find that they tend to have international stuff there as well, hot sauces, soy sauces, teriyaki, mirin, etc. I'm not sure why but it seem to be more asian stuff. In the city there are a few sushi restaurants and 1 ramen shop in terms of asian cuisine. So maybe people cook it at home. If for some reason you are into larger quantities, when you are in the shops you might be able to see who the supplier is. In Cuyo region there is a vendor called Indias. You can buy directly from them, some things come in 500g or 1kg and they will deliver as well. In BA there is surely similar companies. I think they will issue factura A (business to business) so you will need to give them your CUIT/CUIL.
2) I can't remember where, but I saw different wallet apps like Mercado Pago and others provide up to 8 or 10k a month in rebates or credits for transit when you pay using their app. I see people using it, but I still use the SUBE card. Maybe that is just to get you started using the apps, but I thought its renewed every month.
3) There are places in this city that are either completely or have sections that are like restaurant or bulk suppliers. If you want to buy a full block of cheese, not sure how many kg, it can be much cheaper than buying the small packages or deli counter. (mozzarella, tybo etc, 8-9k/kg sometimes less). I was looking for cheddar for trying to make sausages and maybe a Mac and Cheese and if you bought the entire log it was about 40% of the price of buying it from the deli counter if I remember. I just don't know how well cheese freezes because I don't really eat that much and I don't have space to store it.
4) For cleaning supplies there are separate stores where I am that have everything in bulk and either you take your bottle for them to refill, or they have old coke bottles or what not that they fill up for you. I have gotten a degreaser there before, but they have all types of soaps, detergents, laundry and floor, etc. Again, not sure if its the same in BA

The prices Frank shared are really good. Hopefully those are normal prices and not just an opening special. They are inline with what I see here, and way cheaper than what I've seen in BA or what others have posted. Even in the city I live in, there is a wide range of pricing on meats depending on where you go, the capital vs different suburbs can be much cheaper. There was one, but on instagram I am also seeing more popup meat sellers. They are selling vacuum packed cuts at pretty reasonable prices. If you have a chest freezer it might be worth it. I just went to one this morning to see what their stuff was like.
If you are big chicken eaters, then you can also speak to them about buying boxes. They typically come in 10kg boxes for breasts (65k) or pata muslo (~35k), and alitas (i think its either 1500 or 2500 pesos/kg). For whole Chickens I think they are in 20kg boxes and they come in different sizes 10,7 etc which indicated the number of chickens in the box so inversely proportionaly to the weight of the chicken, for example 10 means 2kg chickens and 7 is around 3kg chickens. I think these are around 2600-3500/kg.

 

[Rich One]

In my experience, to get the most out of your money (I mean basic groceries, decent quality not highest):

DIA supermarkets for pantry
Neighborhood Verduleria for fresh produce (Palermo, Recoleta, Puerto Madero, Belgrano will not have neighborhood prices so go to any other neighboring neighborhood)
Coto for meats, dairy, cheese, etc.

Get Comunidad Coto card and DIA card if you can as they give you access to other promos. If you have Mercadopago see if you have discount days. If you have any bank credit or debit card see if you have discount days as well. If you go with white label brands, they are usually cheaper and decent in most cases.

Worst day for meats and fresh produce is Monday. Less discounts towards the end of the month.

Hope this helps some.

Most Accurate review, agree 100 % some Ferias have offers for 5 kilos, etc. not practical for singles.
Coto has the best prices/quality for most products like canned tuna. Like now when Capucina lettuce is at $7000 in verdulerias/greengrocers, Coto sells at $3900. Lettuce prices can go up 100 % in one day.

Coto has discounts Thursdays 15% for members and 25% on Fri/Sat with Mercadopago payment. Hint go to Coto in the early AM, to avoid crowds. Can also shop online with free delivery in the Area

 

[Rich One]

If you are concerned about meat/chicken/pork prices, remember the all time classic Liver and Onions. Liver is full of vitamins good to eat once a week. Liver sells for less than $5000 per kilo. A good size steak is like $1500 pesos, can't beat that. Also "Riñones al Jerez" was a classic Kidneys in Sherry Sauce. Forget Cholesterol

 

[Lanick]

Did anybody look at the receipt? Honestly, I don't see anything particularly shocking. Most of this basket of goods here isn't even raw produce.

We hear this all the time on this forum, "Europe is so much cheaper". Well let's put this trite statement to the test, here's a perfect scenario. Carrefour has digital stores in both France and Argentina. So let's tackle the non-produce items (since you can actually find produce much cheaper around the corner). We want this to be a real nice, apples to apples comparison here. Here's Carrefour France prices for the same items:

Sunflower Oil: 1.99 EU
Can of Tuna in Oil: 2.49 EU
Yogurt Natural: 2.29 EU / kg = 0.57 EU
Les Tablettes: 1.25 EU
Can of Lentils: 1.35 EU
Trash bags: 2.09 EU x 2 = 4.18 EU

Total: 11.83 EU
ARS Exchange rate: 1688 (Ambito.com)
Total ARS: $19,969

Based on your receipt, my math shows you paid at Carrefour Argentina this amount for the above items: $20,753

There you have it my friends. Europe is SOOOO much cheaper by a whopping 784 pesos. Can we please move on from this comparison?

How about the income in AR and in France. When you factor that in then it’s at least double in Argentina.