$1.50 for a lunch is very cheap. People there only make very little to survive. East Timor is a small country with very little produce and most goods are imported from Indonesia and neighboring countries. If you look at the cost of basic necessitiies like eggs and meat, you'll know the little girl running the food stand only makes enough to cover her costs with very little left. Only few people can afford to buy things like soap, shampoo and toilet paper from the supermarket.