New Zealand dollar makes grocery prices unreal

THE unbelievable cost of the Kiwi dollar pushes NZ basket of goods forty percent higher than the same basket in the UK.

Updated: Friday, 31 December 2010

Butter	anchor butter salted 500g	NZD 5.29
	Anchor Butter 500G	NZD 5.61
Carrots	fresh produce carrots loose 1kg	NZD 2.47
	Loose Carrots Class 1	NZD 1.52
Sugar	home brand white sugar 3kg	NZD 5.15
	Miscellaneous Granulated Sugar 2Kg Parcels	NZD 2.71
Cheese	mainland cheese block epicure cheddar 200g	NZD 6.29
	Cathedral City Mature Cheddar 200G	NZD 3.31
Coffee	nescafe instant coffee classic 220g	NZD 11.23
	Nescafe Original Coffee 200G	NZD 8.02
Tea	twinings tea bags englsh breakfast 60pk	NZD 5.99
	Twinings English Breakfast 50 Teabags 125G	NZD 3.95
Eggs	home brand eggs dozen mixed grade 12pk	NZD 3.06
	Tesco Value Eggs Minimum Weight Box Of 6 (x2)	NZD 2.53
Bread	signature range sandwich bread wheatmeal 700g	NZD 2.54
	Bakers Soft Wholemeal Medium 800G	NZD 2.00
Tomatoes	home brand tomatoes diced 400g	NZD 0.93
	Trattoria Verdi Chopped Tomatoes 400G	NZD 0.66
Milk	meadow fresh milk trim plastic 1l	NZD 2.40
	Tesco Semi- Skimmed Milk 1.136Ltr/2 Pints	NZD 1.72
Baked Beans	watties baked beans in tomato sce 420g	NZD 1.25
	Heinz Baked Bean In Tomato Sauce 415G	NZD 1.28

UK Shopping Basket Total = UKP 16.62
NZ Shopping Basket Total = UKP 23.24
UK Shopping Basket Total = NZD 33.32
NZ Shopping Basket Total = NZD 46.60
Grocery basket is 39.86 percent higher in New Zealand

Baskets compared using today's exchange rate: 1 NZD is worth 0.4988 pence.

Comments

[Kevin Balding]

When we first came across in August of last year we thought that prices generally were more expensive. Indeed, six months later there are a few things that we still think are more expensive. What we have learnt in those six months is three things:

1) Kiwi retail is driven by constant deep (40-60%) discounting, so nobody (except new arrivals) buy at full price.

2) If you buy like a Kiwi, it is significantly cheaper. That is, do not buy out of season and buy from the roadside if you can.

3) Things that are sold in higher numbers here are cheaper (wetsuits, chilly bins, fishing gear, minks), things that are sold in lower numbers are more expensive. Some things are just very expensive for no reason (books, cheese)- so we joined a library and eat less cheese!

We also find we are spending less time watching TV and less money on the latest technology- there are so many better things to do in a country that lives to play outside.

[William Knight]

Thanks for the comment Kevin, very illuminating. I dont think we fit your model of Kiwi buyers regarding the roadside. The supermarkets are just too convenient.

But, what a lovely way to put it: A country that lives to play outside.