2011 Baja Food Price Survey - Compare to Your Hometown
We compared prices of 21 standard items in the major groceries in Baja California Sur. The difference wasn't huge, but could add up through the year. Move to Baja and you may save as much as 32% on your food bill!
On March 28, 2011 we took our shopping list of 21 staple food items to the major grocery chain stores in La Paz, Baja California Sur. In our experience the Cabo and San Jose prices are the same as the La Paz locations of the same chain. Managers of three stores assured me that Cabo and La Paz pricing at these markets was the same.
Since I am not a loyal brand shopper, I have frequented each of these chains many times over the years. I tend to shop the store closest to where I call home or where my path takes me for that given day. I consider myself a moderately price conscious shopper, so I did have a feeling for the results of this price comparison, but did not enter the test with any preconceived notions.
We selected our items almost at random, from staple items that nearly everyone buys. It is a semi-scientific list and does not include comparisons of dry goods and household products, just food staples. We made it a short list to make this a simpler effort, it may not reflect your shopping habits, but it does reflect the pricing of these stores on staple items.
Most folks shop the store closest to home, regardless of price, and in most cases the time and gas more than covers the difference in prices, unless of course the most expensive store is the one closest to you. Our various supermarkets in La Paz vary in price almost as much as they vary in presentation and what additional products they carry. The summation of the stores is the only editorial part of this article, based on my experience.
There is the additional Mega Store chain in San Jose del Cabo, which we did not include in this price survey.
We also did not include the Aramburo Markets. The oldest market in La Paz was established in the 1920's when silver began to run out in El Triunfo and Sr Aramburo moved his family to La Paz. The original location is on Madero, and is affectionately known as 'The Cow Store" for the huge Angus hanging over the entry. The Cabo store in downtown Cabo varies dramatically from the prices in La Paz. Duh!
On the way home from our survey we discovered street vendors in the La Paz Market selling many vegitables for about half the price of the chain stores. Next we will compare the arduous task of street shopping to that of the major markets, where you can save even more if you have the time.
2011 Grocery Price Survey Winners & Losers
For the Price Comparison Chart click here
Chedraui - Low Price Winner
The new comer to town, replacing the Old CCC chain. the stores were gutted and renovated during the summer and this fall these stores now share the look of the most progressive stores in the states. Local gringos were afraid when CCC sold out we would see fewer 'gringo brands'. Quite the contrary, Chedraui has probably increased not only the gringo brands but the premium quality products. They have the best cheese selection but for a chef, their fruits and vegetable selection is pitiful.
Leys - Low Price Honorable Mention 1.2% higher
Locals refer to Leys as 'the poor peoples store'. Honestly I have no idea why, except for maybe their location in the city. The stores were just as clean and well stocked. Wine selections were very limited and the focus in the alcohol section were on beer. Produce was the best of the markets on the day we walked the isles. These are more grocery stores with some dry goods. All the other stores in our survey had more 'other' products. They have the fewest 'gringo brands'. Ley was also the first market chain store in Baja Californian Sur about 10 years ago.
Soriana #3, almost 6% higher, but if you use your card...
The 'anchor' store in both the La Paz and Cabo locations, it represented the first huge multi-store in both cities. The last store with an effective points program, you do have to know how to use the points to benefit. When we applied the discounts from my points card they moved much closer to 2nd place in our low price survey. They have a 
wide selection of dry goods, however I have found many of their products below my standards, particularly clothing. Often it is the cheapest crap the buyer could find.
I also have the reoccurring problem of never finding the same product on different visits. Again, a buyer issue.
I also hate their bags. Dropping one $90 peso jar of honey or bottle of wine offsets any saving the store might offer me in a month. But bravo, the bags are solar degradable. I just wish they would make it home before degrading!
Soriana also offers online shopping with home delivery within a specified radius of their stores. Most of La Paz is covered, here in CostaBaja we are not. The prices on some items was less than that in the stores. In some items only premium choices were available.
Walmart - The Baja Price Gouger at nearly 8% higher.
The most expensive of our entries, they also have the best selection of dry good. They have a good selection of gringo brands. The store layout will be familiar to most north Americans and the Walmart de branded products are money savers. They had a broad selection of produce, perhaps the best, but I was not impressed with the quality.
On the dry goods, they have the largest selection. It is sad to say, that in the states Walmart isn't a known as a "Nordstroms", but here in Baja they are usually the highest quality products you can find. It is important to remember that Chinese imports are heavily taxed when entering Mexico. The focus of Walmart's supply chain is China and you will find some products quite pricey because of this.
I must admit I was pleased to find Walmart the most expensive and expose them. I find Walmart 'evil mega-corporation" When I dealt with them as a supplier, they actively encouraged us to move our well paying US jobs to off-shore work in China while at the same time waving the flag in their commercials. I know all companies look for the lowest price, but to be so two faced?
Ralph's, San Diego - 32% more expensive than the best La Paz prices on staples
Just for relative comparison I included prices provided to us from Ralph's in San Diego. Our last pricing survey 3 years ago found La Paz prices to be very close to that of San Diego, the most expensive in the US. It was cheaper to shop in Boston than La Paz. (although the commute is a bear and buying ice cream is out of the question) As you can see, San Diego remains the high price King. To make the comparison even worse, almost all of the items Ralph's provided for us were selected from a sales flyer for that week.
So what does it mean?
Let us presume that the price comparison is across the board on all grocery products. This is a flawed assumption, but on your $1000 peso bill, that is only 80 pesos or about $6.50 in difference between the most expensive and least espensive stores. So, in reality, it probably is just fine to shop the store closest to you. 
Tomas
Now you can play... How do these prices compare to your home town?
Now we want to hear from you in your local store. Download our PDF shopping list , take it shopping next time and send us your price survey. I have converted all amounts to pounds, ounces and dollars. If the product you price check is in a different quantity or money, please note it for us. I'll do all the conversions.
When complete, email your results to shopsurvey@bajainsider.com
Product |
Chedraui |
Leys |
Soriana |
Soriana Online |
Walmart |
Ralph's San Diego |
1 gallon Whole Milk |
$4.05 |
$4.16 |
$3.67 |
$3.87 |
$4.16 |
$4.00 |
1 pound Salted Butter |
$3.73 |
$3.99 |
$4.86 |
$4.92 |
$4.16 |
$3.89 |
1 pound Mozzarella Cheese |
$3.91 |
$3.82 |
$3.87 |
$3.97 |
$3.09 |
$4.00 |
1 Dozen Grade A White Eggs |
$1.71 |
$1.71 |
$1.75 |
$1.97 |
$1.97 |
$1.66 |
18oz Gatorade |
$0.99 |
$0.82 |
$0.99 |
$0.99 |
$0.91 |
$0.99 |
6 Pk Domestic Beer |
$5.25 |
$5.25 |
$5.58 |
$5.58 |
$6.07 |
$4.66 |
2lt Bottle of Coke |
$1.41 |
$1.33 |
$1.41 |
$1.41 |
$1.57 |
$0.95 |
1 pound Carrots (fresh) |
$0.53 |
$0.45 |
$0.43 |
$0.48 |
$0.62 |
$1.50 |
1 Hd of Lettuce |
$0.51 |
$0.51 |
$0.66 |
$0.66 |
$0.99 |
$1.49 |
1 pound White Onions |
$0.25 |
$0.15 |
$0.30 |
$0.30 |
$0.99 |
$0.99 |
1pound Tomato |
$0.98 |
$1.02 |
$0.64 |
$0.64 |
$1.00 |
$1.88 |
1 pound White Potato |
$0.54 |
$0.54 |
$0.42 |
$0.45 |
$0.73 |
$1.19 |
1 pound Bag Frozen Peas |
$2.41 |
$1.62 |
$2.24 |
$2.24 |
$2.41 |
$3.29 |
30oz Jar Best Foods Mayonnaise |
$4.66 |
$4.58 |
$4.66 |
$4.66 |
$4.41 |
$5.49 |
1 pound White Sugar |
$0.64 |
$0.72 |
$0.87 |
$0.87 |
$0.56 |
$1.79 |
1Lt Bottle Corn Oil |
$1.91 |
$2.33 |
$1.91 |
$1.91 |
$1.83 |
$3.89 |
1 Loaf Wonder Bread |
$1.95 |
$1.93 |
$1.60 |
$1.95 |
$1.99 |
$2.49 |
1 pound Chicken Breasts w/ bone |
$2.12 |
$2.49 |
$2.60 |
$1.55 |
$2.38 |
$1.27 |
1 pound Virginia Sandwich Ham (FUD) |
$2.10 |
$2.15 |
$2.55 |
$3.03 |
$2.63 |
$4.69 |
1 90-10 Hamburger |
$2.24 |
$2.79 |
$3.31 |
$3.03 |
$2.72 |
$4.99 |
$41.89 |
$42.36 |
$44.32 |
$44.48 |
$45.19 |
$55.10 |
|
Percentage Higher |
|
1.12% |
5.80% |
6.18% |
7.88% |
31.53% |
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Email your results to shopsurvey@BajaInsider.com and we will select those results most compatable from the most popular cities and provide the results in April. Deadline for results is March 30, 2011.
As a side note; we began comparing our shopping list to NetGrocer.com. NetGrocer's prices were so outragous we discontinued our comparison.
We thank you for your participation and as always, thanks for reading!
Download Shopping List in printable PDF
Download Shopping List in workable Word 2003 format
Look for the complete results of our Price Survey in April!
Thank you for your participation.