Cost of food in Grenada...SHOCKER !!!!

[yoman]

How can the locals afford such expensive food in Grenada??????? Food stamps??? I didn’t see any… Please someone tell me why the food is SOOOO expensive??? I know that most of them, if not all of them, are imported. But, GDP per capita of Grenada is less than US$6000 !! Considering ~60% of the population is economically vital and active, the average income of so-called upper middle class can not be more than US$40,000….
Or St. George or Grand Anse area is very upscale area where most of the locals are making a huge money??? US$70k or above? That’s better than where I live in the U.S… I will be eating $4 pasta or $2 ***** noodle, I guess. No more veggies for me. US$10 for Roman lettuce anyone? or how about $5 for a fist-size cabbage? I am in trouble. :confused: :eek: :cry:

[HoosierMD]

All depends where you put your priorities. I have to have milk and tend to go through two gallons/week (when they have it) and each gal is like $7 USD! Steep, ya, but I gotta have it, so oh well.

I doubt the avg local income around grand anse is much more than $15000/year, if that. The other grocery stores besides Spiceland are alittle cheaper, so you might want to check those out. Thats where more of the locals do their shopping(Foodfair...etc).

My advice, is just get used to spending around $60-80 USD/week on groceries b/c it beats the hell out of spending $6US for eating out every meal.

[Saora1]

Most locals don't eat what you i.e. most N. Americans do.

They eat a lot of root vegetables and other starches, canned goods like corned beef, sardines, etc. and fish or chicken as protein supplies. Meat is expensive and not usually eaten. I assure you that most don't shop for Romaine lettuce either.

Many people get "supplemental income" from family abroad as well. Minimum wage in Gnd is EC $550/month and many people probably make between 800-1500/month.

As well, certain positions make money in other ways. I won't report any illegal activities (think if you work on the port/customs you can get VERY nice bonuses) but, for example, we wanted our phone reconnected after the hurricane when we moved back into our house and a long wait was avoided by offering the first road crew we saw $100 to do it after hours.

Real Value is also ridiculously expensive and most locals do not shop there. Food Fair and Foodland which are not as convenient to students can be significantly cheaper. Real Value has a better selection of "American products" however.

[Andrew21]

IGA is a glorified convenience store. It has *tons* of choices, A/C, and an extensive frozen foods section. These terms are relative to the other choices. Foodfair tends to be less expensive, Foodland is much less expensive, and there is no other full line grocery store in the entire country. There are a couple of foodfair/foodlands, but they are all in St. George. The people have gardens which they use, milk comes from a box on the shelf, and most sundries and small grocery items are bought at the little counter service stores scattered throughout the island. Produce is dirt cheap at the market, as is fish. Remember, most students would never go down there b/c of the time and sheer lack of interest in seeing the country in which they are living. Students are a major driving force of IGA, as are the upscale business people and apartment landlords...

Andy

[Saora1]

IGA is a glorified convenience store. It has *tons* of choices, A/C, and an extensive frozen foods section. These terms are relative to the other choices. Foodfair tends to be less expensive, Foodland is much less expensive, and there is no other full line grocery store in the entire country. There are a couple of foodfair/foodlands, but they are all in St. George. The people have gardens which they use, milk comes from a box on the shelf, and most sundries and small grocery items are bought at the little counter service stores scattered throughout the island. Produce is dirt cheap at the market, as is fish. Remember, most students would never go down there b/c of the time and sheer lack of interest in seeing the country in which they are living. Students are a major driving force of IGA, as are the upscale business people and apartment landlords...

Andy
That pretty much sums it up except that I disagree about produce being dirt cheap at the market. It can be sometimes but not really. Produce in Grenada can actually be quite expensive for something that isn't imported.

As well milk is also probably powdered more than from boxes. I myself drink powdered milk. Even when I was in Canada, I did because I drink so much damned milk that constantly going to the grocery for a gallon jug (4 L) was a pain despite there being a Safeway 3 blocks walking distance from my apartment. Doesn't taste the same for drinking but not a big deal when using it as a base or in cereal.

[Toddaa1]

[quote=yoman]
How can the locals afford such expensive food in Grenada??????? Food stamps??? I didn’t see any… Please someone tell me why the food is SOOOO expensive??? I know that most of them, if not all of them, are imported. But, GDP per capita of Grenada is less than US$6000 !! Considering ~60% of the population is economically vital and active, the average income of so-called upper middle class can not be more than US$40,000….
Or St. George or Grand Anse area is very upscale area where most of the locals are making a huge money??? US$70k or above? That’s better than where I live in the U.S… I will be eating $4 pasta or $2 ***** noodle, I guess. No more veggies for me. US$10 for Roman lettuce anyone? or how about $5 for a fist-size cabbage? I am in trouble. :confused: :eek: :cry: [quote\]

Like anywhere else in the world, some things are very expensive (especially US/British imports) and certain things are cheap.

I guarantee the typical grenadian house isnt stocked with 2L diet cokes, fresh milk, beef steak, cereal with cute cartoon characters etc...
Local chicken, rice, fish fruits and veggies (apples and pears are indigenous to the US, not grenada, and therefore expensive) and stuff made in trinidad is more reasonably priced. Grenada is also a good place to take up smoking and drinking as they are not heavilly taxed. Just got to figure out what you can live without (or substitute with a local made product)

Another thing youll notice is that we are charged more than grenadians in some places, so they may no neccesarily be paying as much as non-local people.

-T-

[IndianBabu]

Have you seen the prices of the frozen samosas lately? Outrageous!!

Seriously folks, bring as many masala packets as you can, it helps save costs and time.

Babu without quality indian dishes?

Sigh.

IndianBabu

[dunsoon]

Listen up guys - check out the fish market in St. George's. Some of the most fantastic stuff, all caught that day, and dirt cheap. I mean it - DIRT cheap. Big fresh tuna steaks for US $3 a pound. Whole snapper for a couple of bucks. We made almost weekly trips - doesn't take long on a reggae bus - and it was worth it. Plus it's fun to just look around at all the stuff.

The St. George's produce market was more hit-or-miss, kind of like shopping at Real Value. Sometimes everyone's got green peppers and no lettuce but then sometimes no green peppers but all lettuce, etc. But in generaly it's a lot cheaper than Real Value.

The best way to save money on food in Grenada is to learn to cook - frozen prepackaged foods are really expensive and not that great. Or have your parents/friends send you luxury items in the mail

[dunsoon]

Have you seen the prices of the frozen samosas lately? Outrageous!!

Seriously folks, bring as many masala packets as you can, it helps save costs and time.

Babu without quality indian dishes?

Sigh.

IndianBabu

Cook your own Babu - I swear, you Indian men... Seriously, it isn't called Spice Island for no reason. ;)

[yoman]

I visited the fish market in St.G, but, i don't know...may be I went on a wrong day, but, fish didn't look so good. There is a reason why no one was eating at CaribSushi by the roundhouse...!?!? Yes, I did see a nice chunk of tuna. But, I am with the FDA; mercury level must be pretty high. I need all the neurons in my tiny brain to live as a physician!

Anyway, I did see some locals negotiating prices even in a food mart in St.G, where prices were labeled on every item. I didn't want to say this out loud here… that there was some shady deal under the table...but after witnessing it, I couldn't help but to think I am being charged differently. The guy just grabbed a water bottle, told he wasn’t going to pay $2 for it and walked out with it. A lady also paid few EC for some veggie and a clerk didn't ring the register. Just because I don't look or speak like locals? um...

The whole point of visiting St.G was to find out if I can survive with locally produced food. I didn't see much that were from Grenada even in St. G.

May be I have to get a Grenadian cooking book (wish me luck) and find out how to cook those big leafy things...

Multivitamin pills will be my best friend.


Babu, I went to The Oriental Restaurant by the Rex. It was really good Indian food !! of course, it will be my monthly treat...

[CarribbeanPirate06]

I am a big chicken freak and its is almost the only meat I eat. What's the availablity of it down there?

[ndndevil2x]

my roomate cooks awesome desi dishes for us , she's the best!!!..i haven't missed home cooked meal this term....

[ModernDayGilligan]

I am a big chicken freak and its is almost the only meat I eat. What's the availablity of it down there?
Ha ha ha ha!
You're funny.
H-e-l-l-l-o-o-o-o Street Meat!

[IndianBabu]

I am a big chicken freak and its is almost the only meat I eat. What's the availablity of it down there?

A ton of chicken here, albeit a little expensive, but still here. That's all Babu and his suitemates eat, along with protein shakes. You'll be fine.

Now chicken tikka masala? That's a whole new level.

IndianBabu

[IndianBabu]

Babu, I went to The Oriental Restaurant by the Rex. It was really good Indian food !! of course, it will be my monthly treat...

This restaurant is definately Babu-approved. Some great Indian dishes, indian cooks, and oriental-type feel.

This is where Babu brings the ladies, at times.

IndianBabu

[seagoddess]

i would insist on the fish market. you can really good fish and cheap compared to the prices you'll pay in the states.

as far as locals they don't shop at the stores that we do... and it is true things are placed differently for locals vs. nonlocals but that happens anywhere you go and look like a foreigner...

[Saora1]

The Oriental is quite nice. I've only been once over Christmas with my g/f, my sister and her friend.

I thought the service was the usual crap you get here in Grenada but the food was very tasty. We all ordered something different and tasted from each other. It was a bit pricey in my opinion but I'd go again on a special occasion.

The decor was also quite nice, but I thought it had too much of an enclosed, "boxey" feel.

Aside from the poor service by the wait staff, a very nice touch that contributed to my enjoyement of my meal was the fact the the chef came out to inquire if everything was to our liking. He was very modest and humble and I was extremely impressed. Also, my sister's friend wanted yogurt to eat with her meal which wasn't offered on the menu and he went inside and made it specially for her. A+

[dunsoon]

I visited the fish market in St.G, but, i don't know...may be I went on a wrong day, but, fish didn't look so good. There is a reason why no one was eating at CaribSushi by the roundhouse...!?!? Yes, I did see a nice chunk of tuna. But, I am with the FDA; mercury level must be pretty high. I need all the neurons in my tiny brain to live as a physician!


:confused: You mean my neurons might be dying right now as we speak cuz of mercury I consumed in Grenada??? I better take my Step III ASAP.

When I was in Grenada, we didn' have a sushi place and even if we did I probably wouldn't eat there, and not cuz of any mercury neither. But seriously, did the US FDA actually come down to Grenada and determine the local tuna to be loaded with mercury (more than tuna anywhere else)??

[yoman]

:confused: You mean my neurons might be dying right now as we speak cuz of mercury I consumed in Grenada??? I better take my Step III ASAP.

When I was in Grenada, we didn' have a sushi place and even if we did I probably wouldn't eat there, and not cuz of any mercury neither. But seriously, did the US FDA actually come down to Grenada and determine the local tuna to be loaded with mercury (more than tuna anywhere else)??

No, I was being sarcastic…FDA has not gone there.

But, yes, mental retardation caused by high tuna consumption (more than 5 cans of tuna per week) among young kids hit the front page of a newspaper about 2 months ago. FDA recommends no more than 1 can of tuna per week. As for adult, I think it was 2…

Don't ask me "what about the people in Japan? and the highest life expectancy implicated by consuming fish?" I don't know!

U got to watch out for those deep-sea creatures; that's for sure.

but I love sushi !!

[dunsoon]

No, I was being sarcastic…FDA has not gone there.

But, yes, mental retardation caused by high tuna consumption (more than 5 cans of tuna per week) among young kids hit the front page of a newspaper about 2 months ago. FDA recommends no more than 1 can of tuna per week. As for adult, I think it was 2…

Don't ask me "what about the people in Japan? and the highest life expectancy implicated by consuming fish?" I don't know!

U got to watch out for those deep-sea creatures; that's for sure.

but I love sushi !!


Yah, I was being sarcastic too.

The only thing I avoided eating in Grenada was crab, because you could never convince me that I wouldn't be eating "Ditch Crab", if you know what I mean. :-tongue

[Flounder]

No, I was being sarcastic…FDA has not gone there.

But, yes, mental retardation caused by high tuna consumption (more than 5 cans of tuna per week) among young kids hit the front page of a newspaper about 2 months ago. FDA recommends no more than 1 can of tuna per week. As for adult, I think it was 2…

Don't ask me "what about the people in Japan? and the highest life expectancy implicated by consuming fish?" I don't know!

U got to watch out for those deep-sea creatures; that's for sure.

but I love sushi !!

crap.... last semester I was hitting the can about 4-5 times a week... guess that explains allot

[yoman]

crap.... last semester I was hitting the can about 4-5 times a week... guess that explains allot


Drink CaribBeer and you will be fine !

The beer was the only thing that I like about...$0.80 for a bottle?! And it wasn't that bad.

[Toddaa1]

Drink CaribBeer and you will be fine !

The beer was the only thing that I like about...$0.80 for a bottle?! And it wasn't that bad.

Do yourself a favor and shell out the extra 20 cents for the Piton, and save yourself from that nasty "Carib hangover" the next morning.

-T-

[Saora1]

Beer schmeer.

Scotch on the rocks - a real man's drink! :p No hangover ever. Which might also be because I don't mix drinks and don't drink to get retardedly drunk like many seem to do (which is great for my entertainment). Nice buzz and I'm good to go.

PS I kid people, drink what you like. :)

[micoyeh]

Hello, I'm an incoming student for 01/2007. Do you guys eat out most of the time, or you cook for yourself? I am trying to figure out each way is more convenient and cost effective. Is it convenient to shop for food around SGU? What kind of food do you guy usually eat? Do they have American fast food around SGU? According to this thread food on Grenada seems very expensive. How much do you spend on food each month?

[micoyeh]

One more thing, I'm Asian so I need my rice and soy sauce. Do they have those on the island? I spent eight year in South America, and they didn't have good soy sauce. I had to ask people to ship it to me from the US.

[drturtle]

It's more convenient to cook for yourself as it saves the travel + wait time at a restaurant. Service in Grenada is notoriously slow (with a few exceptions) and it's pretty pricey to eat out so it's not too practical to keep going out and eat. The only Am. fast food available is KFC and Subway. There is Kikkoman sauce available on the island and there is Jasmine (although it's not always available). Plenty of parboiled rice.

If you want to take a look at restaurants available, check out:
http://www.valuemd.com/st-georges-university-school-medicine/55460-dining-grenada.html

[vtrain]

Another option is to contract someone to make food for you. I'm not sure if the Ladies are still around at Grand Anse, but there was this guy with a red station wagon who would come around every lunch hour and sell food out of the back of his car. I know it sounds kinda shady but actually the food was REALLY good and cheap ($10EC give you a huge serving of rice, veggies and either fish, chicken, pork, etc). Everyday we'd meet him outside Bell (there would usually be a line) and he'd sell food as well as take orders for the next day. He even delivered on the weekends and sold fruity drink as well.

I can't remember his name ---- what was it dr. turtle? Ahhhh good memories....and good eats too!

[Andrew21]

I don't know if the guy with red car comes around, but you can find guys doing this just about anywhere where construction is going on. There are at least 2 places b/t campus and the first roundabout where you can find these guys around lunch time. fyi

andy

[Uschi]

Well, I agree with you when it comes to the cost of living in Grenada and that frozen food is not the ideal way of saving.
If you like you can attend cooking lessons, in German cooking, low budget cooking, baking and how to use local vegetable and fruits.

[WannaBdoc25]

does salmon have high mercury?

[Kongakut]

Try PubMed.

[orthonut]

Locking. Please refrain from digging up old threads unless you have something extremely relevant to add.

Also, remain on topic