Cost of Living Indicator for Cruisers

[sww914]

The way I shop, mostly store brands rather than the name brands, $22.50.
I'm in Central California, Morro Bay, adjacent to the world's most productive agricultural area.

[s/v Jedi]

Besides the fuel, this list is hard to compare for some countries. I see a price of about $27 in Panama and I'm sure that is correct... when bought in a supermarket where only the elite go shopping. If you get this from a local market, it will go for a fraction of the price, especially patatoes, bread, eggs etc.

Edit: you guys saw that "food" documentary, about US food, meat and produce? That will redefine the way one thinks about the "cost" of food. A hamburger cheaper than a head of broccoli for example... how does that work...

cheers,
Nick.

[SteveT]

In the UK the total would be about $40.00, mainly for the fuels. If you were buying from a big superstore it would be less but if you were to cruise the UK the most interesting bits are far from superstores so you'd be lucky to get the list for less than $40.00. Note - in remote parts of the UK diesel and gasoline are already over £2.00 a litre; somewhat depressing thought.

[Lagoon4us]

Holland and UK are leading the most expensive list so far, Malaysia sounds the go, a lovely place as well, intersting costs but would like to see Brazil/Mexico. Merry xmas everyone. Hope you bought your chook cheap wherever you are.....

[cat man do]

Originally Posted by Lagoon4us

Malaysia sounds the go, a lovely place as well,

Beer and spirits can be quite expensive

Beer is as expensive as Australia around $35 a carton
Spirits are similar at around $35 a bottle, BUT we drank Malaysian Vodka for about $7-00 a bottle mixed with pink guava juice.

Over at the top of Sabah @ Kota Kinnabalu, they get cheaper beer brands in from the Phillipines, so san miguel will cost around 60c a can, but the best spots to load up are on the duty free island conveniently placed along the peninsular and over on Sabah, duty free prices 24/7

[Lagoon4us]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

Besides the fuel, this list is hard to compare for some countries. I see a price of about $27 in Panama and I'm sure that is correct... when bought in a supermarket where only the elite go shopping. If you get this from a local market, it will go for a fraction of the price, especially patatoes, bread, eggs etc.

Edit: you guys saw that "food" documentary, about US food, meat and produce? That will redefine the way one thinks about the "cost" of food. A hamburger cheaper than a head of broccoli for example... how does that work...

cheers,
Nick.

I tried to make it simple and easily comparable, basic in the way of the Macca's index but more relevent. I may have erred by including mince rather than say a whole uncooked chicken which is really the most basic meat product.
Shopping should be by local market in the true spirit of a liveaboard.

I believe once we have a handle worldwide i'm sure the indicators would show us if we chose even to 'dine out' the cost would be relevent ie if you can buy these essentials in Malaysia for a third of the local price to your home town it then follows the dining out meal would be at one third as well.

I realise its basic but iv'e picked up useful bits already. The more input we get the better the info will serve..
Merry Xmas Nick..

[FSMike]

I like Bruce Van Sant's economic theory: "Beeronomy" - The cost of a beer in a working mans bar. Bruce developed this in the Caribbean, and it's probably fairly accurate and a lot more fun to research.

[Lagoon4us]

Originally Posted by FSMike

I like Bruce Van Sant's economic theory: "Beeronomy" - The cost of a beer in a working mans bar. Bruce developed this in the Caribbean, and it's probably fairly accurate and a lot more fun to research.

Ha ha ha yer, i was just thinking on Rum but boy the islands, both Pacific and Caribbean are so unbalanced comparing food costs as against staples like rum and beer.... Merry Xmas Mike.

[cat man do]

Originally Posted by Lagoon4us

Shopping should be by local market in the true spirit of a liveaboard.

And this would be the thing
If going local, you wouldn't buy or eat the things you get at home that would attract a premium price, you would go the local version that would be a fraction of the price.

So often in other lands I see the struggling expat wanting to eat German, Italian, Australian etc etc type foods at 10, 20, 30 times more in cost when compared to the same quantity of the local fare.

[cat man do]

Originally Posted by FSMike

I like Bruce Van Sant's economic theory: "Beeronomy" - The cost of a beer in a working mans bar. Bruce developed this in the Caribbean, and it's probably fairly accurate and a lot more fun to research.

Large glass of beer in Australian blue collar working mans bar is about $4-50
Large glass of beer in Vietnamese blue collar working mans bar is about 0.20c

Heres a site with pricing
Pintprice, compare beer prices from around the world

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by cat man do

And this would be the thing
If going local, you wouldn't buy or eat the things you get at home that would attract a premium price, you would go the local version that would be a fraction of the price.

So often in other lands I see the struggling expat wanting to eat German, Italian, Australian etc etc type foods at 10, 20, 30 times more in cost when compared to the same quantity of the local fare.

+1 and it's not so much about simply swapping like for like (i.e. swapping "Kellogs Frosties" for "Mama Noi's frosted corn flakes") but instead eating what the locals eat for breakfast. Likely involves rice .

Annoyingly me never really got the hang of Thai Food, so spent a lot more on Western style food than I could have.....including in Indian Restaurants! But even for the westerner who has gone hardcore native the odd taste of "home" still goes down well .

[NornaBiron]

Originally Posted by Lagoon4us

To get a handle on what it actually costs in US dollars to live anywhere in the world, let cruisers worldwide contribute in the following way if they wish...

Where are you at present?

What is the sum total to purchase the following goods:-
1) 4 litres of diesel.
2) 4 litres petrol.
3) 4 litres milk.
4) A loaf of bread around 700 grams.
5) A kilo of minced beef.
6) A kilo of potatoes.
7) A dozen eggs.

So here in Gladstone Australia, which is adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef, it would cost us $32:38 to purchase those items.

A basic indicator but i think might give an idea for us all.

Here in Greece:

diesel: €6.20
Petrol: €7.44
milk: €7.44
Bread: €1.60
Mince: €8.20 (but always prime steak minced in front of you)
Potatoes: €1
Eggs: €2.40

So €34.28 which equates to about $44.76

[sww914]

Honestly I thought this place was expensive but this thread is a real eye-opener. We are more expensive on most of the items than Los Angeles, for instance, but I really didn't have the perspective that I thought I had.

[Lagoon4us]

Originally Posted by sww914

Honestly I thought this place was expensive but this thread is a real eye-opener. We are more expensive on most of the items than Los Angeles, for instance, but I really didn't have the perspective that I thought I had.

For sure, the items i've listed were chosen only as fair indicators to a westerner, third world countries are always going to be cheaper that's a given however we are only trying to compare apples with apples or close enough.
It hits home when you look at the European costs, i'm looking forward to Carribean, Mexican, Pacific and Sth American input. Cheers Frank

[Ashura]

Euro prices seems almost 2x US. And i'm not even talking about oil product. How does folks in europe afford to eat? Its not like the mean salary is any higher then US.