Price check 2011

About a year ago I posted a list of rising prices for Tete. Sine then, the dollar has risen and fallen and so have prices. We have more shops carrying more items than ever before. We have more cars driving on the same streets and parking is a problem for everyone. Here is the most recent estimate of what's available and how much we pay. I've changed my favorite shop... my new go-to guy is in an unnamed shop on the top street. The cash register print-out says, "Hassan" but we all call this "the blue-eyed man's shop." Everyone knows what we mean - there aren't many blue eyes in Tete!

I must give credit to VIP Supermarket for changing the way we do business. Though the prices are higher on many items and parking is usually difficult, some things you can only count on buying at VIP. What we DO like about VIP is that it stays open over lunch and has beef that doesn't taste like blood! Variety is amazing. You can pay with a bank card. You walk the isles and choose from shelves instead of pointing across a counter where an attendant gathers your stuff and takes it to check-out. The employees don't follow you through the shop like in some places. (I feel uncomfortable being stared at while I'm shopping though I know they are doing their job and want to be helpful.)

Item	May 2010 (30mtn/USD)	October 2010 (30mtn/USD)	October 2011 (24-40mtn/USD)
1 liter of UHT milk	52mtn	75 mtn	60mtn in one shop 90mtn in others
1.8kg milk powder	520mtn	600mtn	900mtn
1kg dried beans	35mtn	40mtn	60mtn
30 eggs	140 mtn	200mtn	150mtn
1 kg beef	110 mtn	150mtn	160mtn (better quality than before)
1 kg chicken	100 mtn	160mtn	130mtn
1kg chicken breast filets	--	--	165mtn
1 kg cheese	400 mtn	580 mtn, when available	500-600mtn
1kg onions	50 mtn	50mtn	50mtn
1 kg tomatoes	30 mtn		30-50mtn
1kg potatoes	20 mtn	30 mtn	15-50mtn depending on shop and quality
1kg rice	25 mtn	32mtn	35-40mtn
1 kg wheat flour	30 mtn	35mtn	35-50mtn
1 kg sugar	27 mtn	33mtn	35-45mtn
1 roll toilet paper	10mtn	20, when available	15mtn bad stuff, 60mtn good stuff
1 liter cooking oil	60 mtn	75mtn	80mtn
1 kg margarine	150 mtn	200mtn	170-200mtn
1 liter fruit juice	60 mtn	65mtn	65-120mtn
1 can coca cola	25 mtn	30mtn	25 mtn for bulk,      30-50mtn in cafe
4 carrots	20 mtn	20mtn	20mtn
1 cucumber	10 mtn		10-15mtn in market
1 cabbage	25 mtn	30 mtn	30-40mtn
10 bananas	20 mtn	20mtn	20mtn
1 kg coffee	1000 mtn, not available		800mtn, often available
4 oranges	50 mtn		50mtn
1 apple	12mtn		15-20mtn
1 kg laundry detergent	80mtn	100mtn	110mtn
Cheapest shampoo	45 mtn	60 mtn	75mtn
average shampoo	100mtn	140mtn	130mtn
bathroom cleaner	60mtn	70mtn	80mtn
Burger and fires at cafe	125mtn	150mtn	150mtn
Chicken dinner in restaurant	175mtn	200mtn	160-250mtn
big box of corn flakes	120mtn	160mtn	170mtn
350gm peanut butter	60mtn	80mtn	60-70mtn
1 liter plain yogurt	--	--	160-220mtn