Grocery Prices-Are they really that much higher??

[BeachKitten]

I've been 'lurking' and reading up for our first trip in July to STJ, and found a photo-copied grocery list, and although the prices were higher, not as much as I had originally thought that I would see.

We will do breakfast/lunch out of the villa, and probably quite a few dinners on the grill...hey I like to create/cook! It relaxes me, and I don't consider it work on vacation for just the 2 of us.

But I'm trying to understand what I'm looking at price-wise before we go.

Can any of the regulars give me some specifics of how much higher the prices are in STJ?

Thanks ahead of time for your help and advice.

BK

[cptnkirk]

BeachKitten I think it depends alot where your from. Our neck of the woods food is pretty cheap. If you are from an area that has higher food cost it might not seem as bad. I find for alot of things just times by 2 what we pay at home and that seems about right. One money saving tip use rum instead of milk on your cereal in the morning cause thats the only food item you will find a deal on Wait I don't think rum is a food item but it is an island staple. Pine Peace has the best food prices but least selection, it's a local kind of place.

[loria]

it also depends on the item--i found things like produce NOT so bad (in fact apples were cheaper than in NY!)
but other items , like crackers (triscuits, etc) were much more expensive.
so it really is a mix--really i would say plan on a 25% -45% more budget than your regular grocery (depending on where you live) also count on the fact that you want to live a bit 'higher' on vaca....so you have to pony up.

[BeachKitten]

Hmmm....rum and raisin bran, bet I could make it into a rum pancake!!! With kaluha syrup. Even better!

So seriously, 2 times US prices, heh?

[Teresa_Rae]

I count on grocery prices being a minimum of twice what I'm used to paying, but it is often more...not counting rum, which is half the price

For example:
http://www.on-stjohn.com/2008/05/24/island-inflation/

Prices are slightly less on STT so we load up on groceries there.

[flip-flop]

Yes, yes they are...



Breyers Ice Cream $7.99 and this picture is from 2003! Not everything is that inflated but its pretty expensive. RickG has a grocery receipt floating around here somewhere.

[esan]

Hi BK,

It does depend on where you are from. Meat and chicken is about 10% higher than in northern NJ. Milk and eggs aren't terrible either. Cereal, crackers, and coffee you can bring with you. Spices are very expensive so if there's something you have to have in order to cook, bring it. Rum is definitely cheap. If you are a Mt Gay drinker, get it at the airport. THey usually have two 750 ml bottles for $15. Dolphin Market in town has decent produce and cheaper staples. Starfish has better meats and chicken, and a better selection of cheese and wine, especially at their gourmet liquor store, but it isn't cheap. Depends on your vacation budget.

Have a great trip.

[philbetm]

Hey FlipFlop...See those little
round containers of ice cream at
the top left side? If not mistaken
that is the local made stuff...on STT.

It is not nearly as expensive and we
tried several different flavors last
trip. IT WAS PRETTY DARN GOOD !!!

We agreed that is what we are going to
eat from now on...when we are there.

Sherry in SC

[cptnkirk]

Yep 2x seems about right on alot of stuff, Milk, lunchmeats, icecream, cereal stuff like that. Things really seem high to me also cause we typically buy most our stuff on sale at home. You won't find anything on sale much in St John. If ya really want to save $$$ bring stuff with ya, but thats a whole new thread, thats what we do. Hey I like your breakfast ideas Rum pancakes YUM

[PA Girl]

How you eat also will influence your feelings on grocery prices.

My mom's idea of a beach lunch on STJ is half an apple, ice tea she brewed herself and a couple of peices of cheese.

My husband's idea of lunch is the entire bag of chips, a jar of salsa, two huge cold cut sandwiches with cheese, lettuce, mayo, 1/3 package of chips ahoy cookies, and so on. Becuse of the amount of food being consumed, I notice the price.

I remember chips being $7 a bag, cold cuts $10 or $12 per pound. Produce was similar or less expensive than at home.

Snack foods gave me the most sticker shock.

[BeachKitten]

I saw a grocery receipt posted on another thread, and wasn't frightened away, but kept reading about how expensive everything was, so I wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something.

I've agreed that I will only carry on, and I'm looking at that TINY bag, and thinking....what will really fit in it?

I guess I could wear layers of suits, shorts and tees and my robe, oh yeah and my snorkel/fins, camera, and binoculars for the travel down and use my bag for spices, coffee and snacks!

Then to heck with a budget, we'll buy the rest....LOL.

[sailorgirl]

My suggetsion is also to go with more local or store brands. If you are not very attached to your favorite brands you will do better. Kellogs Raisin Bran was something like $8 but the store brand was only $4.

Lunch meats were pretty high, frankly we just stopped by Deli Grotto each morningto get sandwiches for the beach. The sandwiches were plenty big enough to split.

[BeachKitten]

Thanks Sailorgirl, yhat's actually an excellent idea. We really will go simple.

This whole question was to make sure and prepare myself for sticker shock.

I'm still laughing at the thought of walking through airport security, and 7 hours of fly time wearing all my clothes and packing food so I can save a few bucks.

NOT.

[Steve S]

Shipping is a much bigger component of cost than stateside. You'll find that price variance is pretty much inversely proportional to product density.

Put simply - All that air in the cereal boxes and chip bags takes up space in a container that has to be paid for.

Bottled water is what amazes me... I've seen it at over $20 a case on STJ compared to the $3.99 I often pick it up for here. Last year we grabbed a couple $12 cases on STT before coming over.

[RickG]

I think if you look across all the groceries, the myth of 100%/2X is easily shown to be false. That's why I posted the grocery list. You can do very nicely on $100 per person for a week for all breakfasts, half of the lunches and most dinners - 14 trips don't lie.

Of course, that doesn't change how people feel about prices, which is the point of conversation. Sticker shock on a $7+ gallon of milk emotionally shades an entire trip.

Some things are very expensive, these are prepared foods that have to be shipped refrigerated or frozen or are high bulk:
- Milk is a prepared food in the USVI as its reconstituted.
- Chips
- Ice Cream
- Veggie burgers
- Juice boxes
- Stouffers mac & cheese
- Bottled water

Somethings are cheaper than the mainland.
- Apples and oranges!
- Canned juices
- Many staples such as dried beans
- St. John water in gallons

There are some real surveys out there with real data that compare prices across islands and across those stores. Where you shop makes a difference. Many of you are paying for convenience. Dolphin Market and Pine Peace have better pricing than my local Giant Food and Safeway.

http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/i ... d=17631134

"While many of the prices are separated by less than a dollar, St. John's stores show some of the largest differences in prices. According to the survey, for a 48-ounce bottle of Wesson vegetable oil, Starfish Market charges $9.05. Dolphin Market sells the same bottle for $5.65. The cost for oranges also is very different, with the fruit costing $2.39 a pound at Starfish Market and 95 cents a pound at Dolphin Market."

The Federal Government gives employees a 25% cost of living adjustment - includes food, housing and medical care.

The USVI legislature quotes a 33% cost of living adjustment - includes food, housing and medical care.

Facts are good, but your mileage may vary.

Groceries and drinks for 8 for one full week:





Cheers. RickG