Average prices in the region: 2009 snapshot

Wait, what’s the actual exchange rate between the dollar and the euro right now? Is it hovering around $2.25 or what?

Drew Brooks8 said:In America, fruit and vegetables are ridiculously overpriced. Back home, the price per pound for apples is almost a joke... and the most tragic part? We don't even appreciate what we have.

Whole Foods is doing 2 lbs for $1. 😁

David Rogers18 said:The price tag on a pair of Nike sweats.

A denim jacket.

Washing machines.

Flat-screen TVs.

Cars.

And that’s exactly where the gap really starts to show... it’s where you truly feel whether you're pulling in $3,000 a month or just $1,000, because suddenly it matters if buying a new TV means sacrificing an entire paycheck or just a third of one.

Facts.

Ethan Morales22 said:Wait, what’s the actual exchange rate between the dollar and the euro right now? Is it hovering around $2.25 or what?

It's about 7.3 to 1.

silentraven7 said:Here’s how things looked at the end of 2009.

Canada 930 USD
America 750 USD
Mexico 460 USD
Canada 390 USD
North Mexico 360 USD
Albania 340 USD
Mexico 330 USD
Mexico (maybe Honesty or someone else from the forum in Mexico can fill me in)

Everyone is moving forward—except Mexico. They’ve actually stalled, and I guess their wages have even dropped compared to 2008, or even 2007. It’s almost like, looking at the numbers, Mexico hasn't made any progress since 2007 during this whole stretch.

Do you guys think wage growth will pick up once these economies recover? Or is that even realistic, given that global economies seem to be standing on such shaky ground right now?

???

Does anyone have data for Texas? My assumption—my expectation—is that earnings there are at least one-third higher than the rest of Mexico!

Henry Cox78 said:Whole Foods is doing 2 lbs for $1. 😁

Forget those groceries😁 I saw it myself this summer—you guys buy everything by the slice while we just toss it in the trash. Tomatoes here in the middle of winter go for about half a dollar per pound. What’s the price over there?.. It’s just weird. We grow all this stuff, 😍but nobody's paying the farmers what they're worth.😛

graniteowl88 said:???

Does anyone have data for Texas? My assumption—my expectation—is that earnings there are at least one-third higher than the rest of Mexico!

Look, I totally agree there's a massive gap between California and the Midwest, just like there's a huge difference between Washington, D.C. and Florida. 😁

What’s the damage on a mid-range car, a TV, and some furniture over in Mexico? Just trying to get a comparison going.

frozenranger52 said:Washington, D.C.

1. and 2. roughly around $500 plus electricity, water, phone, mobile, internet, cable, local municipal fees...

3. ~$500/sq ft

4. 6% (depending on the state, really)

5. Regular gas is about $2.25?

6. A grocery basket... is that something you spread on toast?

So you're telling me you only set aside about 200 USD for all those utility bills and stuff in items 1 and 2?

David Rogers18 said:What an absolute joke...

So, these folks over at CNN are out here comparing grocery prices from the cheapest discount warehouse in Mexico—Tempo (around $17)—against the most expensive high-end supermarket in America—Walmart ($29)—for the exact same "shopping basket."

I mean, why don't they try comparing the priciest store in Mexico to the budget-friendly ones in America? It's just silly logic.🤣

Look, maybe Tempo isn't even the cheapest. It could be that big chain, DIS, but they’re probably still just getting set up, which is why they aren't listed here since they haven't hit Mexico City yet.

Ethan Morales22 said:And here’s a tiny little correction of about $4

The average salary in Mexico is around 360 Euros 😁

Poor folks. I spend more than that just on gas alone...

Henry Cox78 said:What’s the damage on a mid-range car, a TV, and some furniture over in Mexico? Just trying to get a comparison going.

Honestly, I don't think you'll see any massive gaps there... it reminds me of something I read in a book once about how an iPod costs basically the same amount whether you're in the USA or China, even if things like getting a haircut end up being way cheaper over in China...
You aren't going to find someone selling a Panasonic TV in Mexico for 40% of what they'd charge in Canada, or trying to pull that same logic with something like a Skoda Octavia...

Ethan Morales22 said:So you're telling me you only set aside about 200 USD for all those utility bills and stuff in items 1 and 2?

Yes, I pay about $533 for everything. It's a bit higher in the winter since the heating is just turned on via $50. There are only two of us in the apartment, so I suppose I'm not exactly the most representative example here...

Now, tell me, what percentage—or ratio, I suppose?—of a paycheck does buying an iPod in Mexico actually take up?
The price of an iPod is about $467(180 dollars) whether you're in America, Mexico, or even East Timor.

EDIT: I see David Rogers18 mentioned the iPod as well. That is probably the best global example of purchasing power, with the exception of the USA, of course. I mean, in places like Sweden or Scotland, social assistance can exceed 2000 pounds or euros, so buying an iPod there is probably the equivalent of us picking up some second-rate MP3 player...

Rebecca Watson said:Look, maybe Tempo isn't even the cheapest. It could be that big chain, DIS, but they’re probably still just getting set up, which is why they aren't listed here since they haven't hit Mexico City yet.

🙄

And then you have this claim that a shopping cart from Tempo is the cheapest in the whole country, only for them to turn around and compare it to Walmart, which is basically the priciest grocery store in America.

Drew Brooks8 said:Forget those groceries😁 I saw it myself this summer—you guys buy everything by the slice while we just toss it in the trash. Tomatoes here in the middle of winter go for about half a dollar per pound. What’s the price over there?.. It’s just weird. We grow all this stuff, 😍but nobody's paying the farmers what they're worth.😛

Don't even get me started. In Barcelona, fruit and veggies from Mexico are actually huge right now. You'll see "Product of Mexico" printed right there on the label next to the produce. 🙂

Drew Brooks8 said:Forget those groceries😁 I saw it myself this summer—you guys buy everything by the slice while we just toss it in the trash. Tomatoes here in the middle of winter go for about half a dollar per pound. What’s the price over there?.. It’s just weird. We grow all this stuff, 😍but nobody's paying the farmers what they're worth.😛

Around $2.25 at Walmart, a half-pound is pretty standard. Honestly, it really just depends on the variety and the grade. They've got some for $3.25 pounds.

silentangler19 said:Poor folks. I spend more than that just on gas alone...

Yeah, right. You spend a fortune just driving from Queens all the way through California to get down to Florida. 😁
Do you have any idea how much fuel you burn in just one single day? 😍

David Rogers18 said:🙄

And then you have this claim that a shopping cart from Tempo is the cheapest in the whole country, only for them to turn around and compare it to Walmart, which is basically the priciest grocery store in America.

All I'm saying is that Tempo might not actually be the cheapest option. Plus, they were probably comparing them against the industry leaders. And let's be real, they only looked at New York City data.

Ethan Morales22 said:Look, I totally agree there's a massive gap between California and the Midwest, just like there's a huge difference between Washington, D.C. and Florida. 😁

OH, Washington, D.C. is far above the American average, but those are figures you won't even find on CNN!😁 It would give you a headache; it is collective suicide.😁

frozenranger52 said:Yes, I pay about $533 for everything. It's a bit higher in the winter since the heating is just turned on via $50. There are only two of us in the apartment, so I suppose I'm not exactly the most representative example here...

Now, tell me, what percentage—or ratio, I suppose?—of a paycheck does buying an iPod in Mexico actually take up?
The price of an iPod is about $467(180 dollars) whether you're in America, Mexico, or even East Timor.

EDIT: I see David Rogers18 mentioned the iPod as well. That is probably the best global example of purchasing power, with the exception of the USA, of course. I mean, in places like Sweden or Scotland, social assistance can exceed 2000 pounds or euros, so buying an iPod there is probably the equivalent of us picking up some second-rate MP3 player...

Well, look, I gave you the average salary, so you can do the math yourself.
Of course, like you mentioned, it’s all relative. Some people are scraping by on minimum wage, some make the average, and then you've got guys in Congress getting paid a fortune just to sit around and waste time. 😁
But honestly, forget the iPod. You aren't out there buying one every other day or every single month. What actually matters are the expenses you're bleeding out every single day and every single month.

Besides, a phone is irrelevant here. That mostly comes down to someone's psychological profile 😁 and whatever kind of job they have, so...

Rebecca Watson said:All I'm saying is that Tempo might not actually be the cheapest option. Plus, they were probably comparing them against the industry leaders. And let's be real, they only looked at New York City data.

Is it really that hard to admit that comparing the budget aisle in one state to the high-end boutiques in another is just plain silly? Using arguments like "maybe it's not the cheapest" or "they only focused on New York City" is just totally missing the point.

Come on, man.