Supermarket prices

Prices have indeed shot up! 

Carrefour prices are always high.

Lidl/ Aldi & Mercadona are always better value.

Stay in Spain prices are a lot worse in the UK !!

Thank you for the info. I need to put a bit more effort understanding the bus time table. I’m here for at least next 2 months, in spite of prices, I would always prefer to stay in Spain 

Adios

We are currently in the UK for family reasons, and would say that just like in Spain you have to be a wise shopper. Choice of "Pub Classic" meals @ 2 for £10.99, though any drink puts this up a bit! Soups for c.65p a tin, plenty ready meals for a fiver or less...

Prices have gone up - as they have worldwide.

However, it's worth shopping around. I find that Carrefour has a wide selection, but is more expensive than Mercadona - however, Mercadona meat is much better quality. 

Looking at your examples - I pay €1.02 or €1.04 for a litre of milk at either Mercadona or Carrefour; two tomatoes would be 60 cents, tomato frito, varies by quality, but starts at just over €1 for a large jar.

Yeah I think in some ways it’s cheaper to eat out, trouble is Ihardley drink so pubs seam bit pointless. As you say I need to be bit more savvy.Already found out where nearest Aldi/Lidle and Mercedona are

Cheers

I have never known a UK pub that does not like you having a cuppa, soft drink, or a glass of tap water. They make their money from the food with alcoholic drink being a bonus. In a Wetherspoons you can get a pint of ale for £1.75 or less and we find the meals too large for our bellies!

Sadly in Spain the days of a menu del dia with a fresh salad and bread, and a bottle of drinkable wine left for you to have a glass or two for €7 pp have gone.

The thing is you have to weigh up everything, not just the cost of food and beer/wine.

Council tax/IBI - we pay €195/year, back in the UK, it was nearly that per month.

Electricity - our February winter fuel bill (all our fuel usage is electricity), using electricity to power inverter AC units for heating was €80 - I suspect in the UK it would be a fraction higher!

Shopping - you can shop around and some food products are more expensive here and some are cheaper. I think supermarket quality here tends to be better than in the UK, obviously depends on what you buy. If you must buy the brands you use in the UK then you are going to get stung. Our average bill for 2 people is €80-85 per week. That is buying everything from either Mercadona, Aldi or Lidl including alcohol (sometimes lol). Alcohol - beer is cheap, wine is dirt cheap, bottled water is very cheap.

You can still get a menu del dia for under €12pp including beer/soft drink or a bottle of wine - so it is a pretty good deal still.

Then of course, you have that orange ball in the sky - that is free of charge and in plentiful supply - something you cannot say of UK (most of the time). We live on the coast and have a wonderful sea view from our balcony. What price for that?

People - you have missed out DIA supermarkets. - I have found them to be the allround cheapest for staples.They also have fresh meat, and fresh fish counters, so you can control the amount you have to buy . The downside - not a great choice of brands, but basics are basic in any shop. Buy yourself a 30 min. cookbook, and make some quick nutricious meals you'll like.