American Reacts to Groceries In Britain and America!

This is Evan Edinger's comparison of grocery prices between Britain and America! We'll see to the surprising differences, the jaw-dropping prices, and the unique products available in each country. Let's see how the cost of living stacks up when it comes to our everyday shopping!
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[@amajinjams6966]

Just to point out he's also in London (or area around) where the prices are more expensive than lets say the north of england.

[@alistairbolden6340]

Much more expensive.

[@Jamie_D]

Supermarkets don't usually charge more by area, it's just based on store type, with the little stores scamming you and the big stores keeping the same prices from what i've seen.

[@WookieWarriorz]

@@Jamie_D in the 'tesco extra' stores i think thats true but some of those tesco express or tesco local stores in london get wacky with the prices.

[@annamae859]

And he shopped at Sainsbury's local, and its well known they raise their prices in no smaller stores compared to the large supermarkets. It it's not just a couple of pence either, it can be as much as 30p on some items.

[@Jamie_D]

@@annamae859 yes almost all the stores now have little scammy ones and big semi reasonable ones

[@paulncott4587]

Cheese may be similar in price, but it definitely isn't similar in quality and taste 🤣

[@johnfurey3593]

True that. The uk is much better quality.

[@bexbugoutsurvivor]

@@johnfurey3593 Agreed. Give me a big slab of British Brie or Camembert any day...

[@davidmellish3295]

​@@bexbugoutsurvivor😅😅 yeah but I think cause France is next to us we get these French cheeses much cheaper as it costs so much more for the usa to import quality French cheese

[@helenwood8482]

The worst part is that food standards are so low in the US that you are paying a lot ,ore for food nobody here would want to eat. Even your milk and butter is not from grassfed herds.

[@Enhancedlies]

i watch YT chef guy and he compared US and UK butter for making puff pastry, and the butter doesn't smear or smoothly blend to form a thin sheet of butter, it crumbles and cracks making the pastry less puffy

[@Gazzxy]

the milk is so bad they dont drink it. always putting creamer in stuff.. whatever that is

[@OrontesRM]

I have the impression that a few US companies have 'eaten up' (pun intended) most of the US market / production; so that's a few people deciding the prices.

[@JHicks-kt9jv]

I have a very hard time finding decent food in the US. Their Grade A meat is terrible, not sure if it can even be sold where I am from

[@TwoBassed]

Not forgetting all those chemicals that America allows in their food that U.K and Europe banned for being harmful to the human race!

[@stevemercer5769]

It’s also worth pointing out that a great many everyday shopping items can be found more cheaply in Aldi or Lidl in UK🤷‍♂️

[@Spiklething]

This video is from Oct 2022, so over 18 months ago. However, Evan posted an update last October, a year after this video to compare prices after food price increases both in the US and UK He also did a follow up video because so many people in the comments claimed he had bought expensive brands, lived in London and went to a small Sainsburys so wasn't doing a fair comparisson. He explains what he did to mitigate those differences as much as possible And he has done an Aldi US vs Aldi UK video too

[@R00kTruth]

yeah express/local is always more expensive then the standard "Sainsbury"/"Tesco"

[@marydavis5234]

He said multiple times, he is comparing UK prices with his home state of NJ prices, not all 50 US states.

[@RushfanUK]

@@marydavis5234 There's an American lady who splits her year between the UK and Texas, she did a similar comparison video earlier this year and it is still considerably cheaper to grocery shop in the UK.

[@marydavis5234]

@@RushfanUK Texas is actually one of the most expensive US states to live in.

[@hellcurve]

Worth also mentioning that US gallons and pints are smaller than UK imperial ones. So American milk is even more expensive. UK pint: 568ml. US punt: 473ml UK gallon: 4.54 litres US gallon: 3.78 litres.

[@MADTago]

I think you missed, when he showed his figures at the begining he showed a conversion from US gallons to litres and then worked out the price per litre, but I wondered before that came up if he would remember!

[@ersatz-feign]

"$10 a breast... that's more than my sister charges" is exactly my type of humour and a joke that I would have also used. Risque banter = new life-long subscriber!

[@24magiccarrot]

What I like about you as a youtube is if somebody says something that you don't understand, instead of acting all dumb and begging for comments to clear it up, you actually do a google search. It's like you are genuinely interested in learning rather than just seeking views.

[@philhemstock]

Completely agree, one of the reasons I keep coming back

[@andyendean4060]

Right with you on that! JJ is one of the best at reaction videos for that exact reason.

[@Louis16261]

He also watches peoples adverts and often likes/subscribes to their channel. Most other "reactors" skip the advert for the person they are reacting to and then plug their own adds or Patreon.

[@MarkDonnison]

Anything we grow a lot of in the UK, like potatoes, is cheap to buy. In the US everything you can sell seems to be viewed as a get-rich-quick scheme, regardless of how plentiful it might be.

[@Rachel_M_]

It's the yoga mats that make American bread expensive

[@avancalledrupert5130]

American bread truly is disgusting.

[@gerardflynn7382]

​@@avancalledrupert5130Bread?? I thought it was cake especially with the amount of sugar in it.

[@educatednumpty71]

If you are going to buy so-called Grass Fed Beef, check if it's actually been fed grass its whole life. Beef can be classed as Grass Fed if it was given Grass for a minimum of two months out of the eighteen months to two years of life. Most of the time Cows are fed grains and corn. Then let's not forget the growth hormones that are pumped into cattle in the US but banned everywhere else in the world.

[@ness-ee]

You can’t keep your cows out all year round. In the winter they eat silage in the barn.

[@educatednumpty71]

@@ness-ee That's in the UK not the US. In America, they are mainly fed Grain and Corn for most of their life.

[@garryellis3085]

In Australia it's all grass fed beef, completely free range. No chemicals, growth hormones or gm modified grain. Best meat in the world!

[@Racernumbersix]

Sainsbury’s local stores are more expensive than regular supermarkets, because they are usually in city/town center locations.

[@Lilly8Listens]

I agree, my Sainsbury's local is 100 yards from my house, but unless I know they have a promotion on what I want, I'm way better off driving the half mile or so to Tesco's

[@taniaaustin6433]

​@@Lilly8ListensThe prices in supermarkets also depends the amount of thefts from a particular store.

[@ness-ee]

He should have gone to a supermarket not a convenience store

[@yesihavereadit]

Sainsbury tesco Morrisons locals are much more expensive compared to actual supermarkets

[@ukbigjon]

Even in terms of the general supermarkets, Sainsbury's are slightly more expensive than the likes of Tesco, significantly more expensive than the likes of Aldi.

[@MrRjhyt]

Even with the basic, the composition of Bread between the US and the UK, is quite spectacular for sugar content, too.

[@jacobreisser8034]

American bread has so much sugar in it that it's classified as cake here in the UK. 😊

[@johnnyrandom100]

Raisins are more expensive in the states is mental cos in the UK you mainly buy California Raisens

[@ben-tendo]

There is also the logic of what foods in America are actual foods... as in , is cheese actually cheese, for example.

[@acarriere8534]

As a Canadian, I can say American cheese is processed oil, as opposed to Canadian Cheese and in Quebec, Canadian Cheese is still not up to par with Quebec Cheeses that are the same as French Cheeses. i would say the same for meat and dairy.

[@bradc6199]

​@@acarriere8534😂you're gullible. Why make statements about something that you are obviously ignorant about?

[@yvonnejamieson2499]

I live in Scotland and recently travelled to Florida. We went to Walnart to stock up on essentials and snacks. The prices nearly brought a tear to my eye. 😢 What would cost me 40 pounds here cost neatly 90 dollars. X

[@WookieWarriorz]

yup, we dont know how good we have it man. I earn about 30k a year and work 32 hours for full time and my american friends used to always be confused how i can afford to travel all the time, they seriously wouldnt believe we get 6 weeks paid time off, unlimited sick time, extra unpaid time off for travel, and that you can go on weekend breaks anywhere in europe so cheap.

[@yvonnejamieson2499]

@WookieWarriorz yeah. I explained to american friends how a weekend trip to Mallorca was not an issue, they're minds were blown when I explained 28 days minimum paid holidays. In the last 18 months I've bn to Florida, Salou and Tenerife twice all paid.

[@yvonnejamieson2499]

@irene3196 trust me it was. I'm going back to flotida in November and I'm packing the snacks before travelling this time. X

[@thefiestaguy8831]

@@WookieWarriorz I earn £54k living in London. For someone my age (under 30) it's quite good. I looked at a trip to the USA - specifically New York - last time I went to the USA was 2005, I was 10, the time before was 2003. I wanted to go back, we went to Florida back then but I fancied going to the big apple, so recently I've been looking at flights. I also considered "Business class" flights as I get unwell on flights quite easily, being cramped into a small seat with no leg room, a day flight (I get headaches which turn into migraines easily - and have been known to make me vomit), with the hot sun beating down on the aircraft, is a recipe for me to be unwell. So I considered business class just to be able to relax, and lie flat, and actually be able to sleep (I can't sleep unless I'm comfortable). The prices are absurd. anywhere from £2,400-£3,200 on a return trip with either BA or Virgin. Let's suppose I take the cheaper option, £2,400. I looked at hotels in New York - 11 nights in a 4 star hotel including breakfast, was priced at £3,400. Even the cheapest hotel was another £2,600. Many were between £3,500 and £6,000 for 11 nights. So let's do the maths... £2,400 on a business class flight. £3,400 on 11 nights in a hotel rated 4 stars in New York. 11 nights in one of the most expensive cities in the world.... being frugal... another $500 spending money at least I would say, which is still less than $50 per day. That's about £410. Healthcare insurance with up to $10 million cover - £120 The total so far is £6,330. £6,330 for 11 nights in New York. That's over £550 a night. Even if I ditched business class and flew premium economy with a low cost carrier like Norse, flights are still easily £500-£600 round trip, the trip would still cost me £4,400 odd, without a hire car... not that you'd hire a car in New York. Meanwhile I've been to Spain many times, our whole family of 4 went for 3 weeks most years and we spent in TOTAL no more than £3,000 for FOUR people, and that included £1,000 spending money. I could probably fly to Australia and back TWICE for less than the cost of that. Australia is 2.5x as far as New York is.

[@letsrock1729]

@@thefiestaguy8831 If you genuinely believe that 54k is only "quite good", then you have no idea about the financial realities for most people in this country.

[@chazM6116]

When comparing prices, it is important to note that local stores tend to be pricier than larger supermarket chains. This results in a significant price difference between the two options.

[@klaxoncow]

In the interests of completeness, the UK does also, of course, have a sales tax - called "Value added tax" or VAT - which is 20%. BUT this is NOT applied to what are considered "necessities". And that basically means that cold food has no VAT. Warm food does get taxed, though. So if you go to a restaurant and they're cooking a meal for you, that does have 20% VAT charged on it. Some petrol stations had a work-around. You'd buy a cold sausage roll - so no VAT on cold food - but they'd have a free-to-use microwave in the shop. So you could buy it cold without the sales tax, then warm it up in the microwave before leaving. Which is not exactly "the spirit of the law", but it did comply with the letter to dodge that VAT.

[@charlestaylor9424]

@klaxoncow if you go to a real bakers and buy a pie there is no VAT unless it's been heated but if it's hot from the first baking the vat free.

[@ericstreif2374]

I will also point out that Sainsbury's is one of the more expensive grocery stores, Tesco is usually ok-ish (especially with the tesco card). Aldi, and Lidl are usually quite a bit cheaper

[@AlBarzUK]

“That’s more than my sister charges!” 😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣

[@alexrafe2590]

And I would add that a typical loaf of bread (having lived in both countries for decades - each) is so much nicer in texture and taste in the UK. That's also true of basics like cheese, tomatoes, apples, etc.

[@letsrock1729]

In his late teens, my son went to New York for a week with the school and said that almost everything he ate there tasted of nothing...he specifically mentioned the (ridiculously huge) apples in relation to this.

[@slytheringingerwitch]

US bread equals cake...

[@MrsBrit1]

As an akin the uk, I absolutely agree. Wonder bread isn't even brezd. I don't even know what the closest equivalent would be to a loaf of Warburton's stateside....I don't think there is one because it's actually BREAD!

[@annamae859]

The thing about the 4 pints of milk is that the imperial pint is about 20% larger by volume than the US standard pint. So not only is the UK 4 pints cheaper we are getting way more milk.

[@Spiklething]

Evan did a follow up video because of all the comments saying it wasn't a fair comparison. In that video he explained that he had done the proper conversion because he was aware that US and UK pints are not the same thing

[@DazzaKin]

JJ. Get yourself on a plane and come visit. You would love the UK. We would look after ya’ll 👍🏻

[@OnlyKaerius]

Mistake #1: Believing official inflation figures. Cost of food in the US has gone up about 300% in 4 years.

[@enemde3025]

1. This is an old video !! Prices have risen a lot since then !! 2. Sainsbury's is NOT a " bog standard" supermarket !! It's one o the most expensive !! ALDI are the up and coming supermarket in the UK. They are cheaper than the other stores and other stores " price match " their prices to match ALDI. I shop at ALDI every week and the prices shown here at Sainsbury/ Tesco are a lot dearer and they are for named brands.

[@afischer8327]

I am from the UK. Mm, a pint. 568 millilitres of pure loveliness. Of course, I'm talking about milk here. I don't know what you were thinking ;-) When I was growing up, everyone had pints of milk in glass bottles, with a foil top (no barrier to craftily-beaked little birds, but efficient at preventing broken glass in freezing weather), delivered to their doorstep by the milkman, who travelled your neighbourhood in a small electric van at about 5.30am. It was electric so that it didn't disturb anyone. The milk always had a layer of creaminess on top. There was always a family battle over whether the milk should be shaken, to mix it evenly, or if not, various evil mastermind tactics were deployed to snaffle the creamy bit on top. Your comment on the $10 for one, yes one, chicken breast, cracked me up. $10 for a breast? "That's more than my sister charges." I hope she doesn't watch this video. Hell hath no fury...

[@slytheringingerwitch]

It's only recently the past few months that my parents' milkman has retired so they now buy milk from the supermarket.

[@67chrisg]

Also us pints are 16 floz whereas in the UK they are 20 floz or as you say 568ml

[@robertjohnsontaylor3187]

@@afischer8327 your talking about pasteurised milk. Some of us are old enough to remember sterilised milk, an acquired taste.

[@edwardtrickett1983]

I live in the North West of the UK, I live alone, but I bulk buy on purpose to take advantage of offers and therefore currently have 2 fridge freezers (combined freezer capacity of 140 litres) and a large freezer (capacity 177 litres), I also buy tinned tomatoes, tinned chick peas, baked beans, kidney beans, I also have instant noodles, dried pasta, rice and jars of store branded sauces (for convenience) Bearing in mind I rarely let my food run down too a very low level I spend about £250 every 6 to 8 weeks or so, depending on what I need to buy when that time comes around So my weekly shopping equivalence is about £31.25 to about £42 and that is for EVERYTHING including toiletries and laundry detergent etc.., the only things additional to that is tobacco (I really should quit smoking) and beer (I like a beer lol) Otherwise, people are shocked at how little my spending is

[@jamesbowring9528]

Just realised, I could buy potatoes, onions, carrots and cube stock for soup, which will last me days for the price of onions in the US. Perhaps I should stop moaning about prices over here

[@PaulineGaulton]

And also remember that Sainsbury’s is more expensive than most of the big Stores! The likes of Morrisons, Asda and Tesco are more normal prices compared to the expensive ones which are Sainsbury’s and Waitrose. But there are even cheaper ones Aldi & Lidl. All of these are more expensive down south around London.

[@Jackalos1]

I think Waitrose is arguably a tier above Sainsbury's (at least in cost) but the fresh fruit/meat/bakery items in Sainsbury's is definitely better than Asda for example. Not sure how the US chains compare.

[@karstenbursak8083]

Fun fact: Trader Joe’s is actually owned by German grocer ALDI Nord since 1979

[@3_character_minimum]

What's cool for me in Germany. There is a handful of trader Joe products get our way. The pistachios are dynamite.

[@qualitytraders5333]

Cost of living in the country where I live is roughly 60% less than the US and 70% less than the EU. And I rarely shop at supermarkets because I have my local baker, my butcher, my greengrocer, etc. We've known each other for years and we talk. Try to do that at Walmart.

[@Joyce-Barker]

Sainsburys..sorry not in my price range..and London…I shopped at the local Asia/morrisons..

[@SilentPetra]

Keep in mind that American's generally get paid vastly more than their UK counterparts and US taxation is lower. US living costs are higher whilst the UK's are lower. I'd also like to mention one thing, he's buying branded products. A lot of these things are 50% cheaper if you buy supermarket brands!

[@charlestaylor9424]

Once you take off health insurance American pay is the same..

[@robert-antoinedenault5901]

Fyi USA has an overall higher taxation per citizens than the vast majority of countries. Taxation is not limited to state, federal, municipal but also on purchases of goods and services. As of 2023, the national average in the USA is an insane 54.7%🤯 based on the national average salary of 63,795$🧐🤨🧐. Whereas in the UK it is 32.8% on 35,724£ (45710.61$usd) Keep in mind that medical services are taxed in USA (and are quite expensive) this also why the avg of citizens there only seek medical services 3,2 times per year vs the UK at 5.2 times - very close to international avg at 5.8 visits per person per year 😮 The cost of living is not that different as they differ by 7.75% but as the £ keeps loosing value that difference will equalize cost of livelihood.

[@gohumberto]

Not pro-rata they don't get paid more. You need to look at Health Care and Vacation days, to name just 2 things. Property Tax in some States/Cities is exorbitant in the US. I worked for IBM and AT&T. Plenty of my former colleagues felt guilty about taking ANY vacation and couldn't afford to retire due to loss of Health Care and their property tax (New Jersey mainly). What price do you put on 6 weeks vacation every year? Our UK overall tax burden includes Health Care, for any illness, regardless of pre-existing conditions, regardless of income or credit rating. So Salary is one thing, what you have left in your bank on December 31st is another.

[@britsticher8889]

​@robert-antoinedenault5901 I don't think you can be factoring in UK council tax, VAT of 20%, fuel duty, cigarette and alcohol duty, inheritance tax, capital gains tax, etc.

[@sharnadixon-scott710]

Americans pay more tax overall

[@MazzaEliLi7406]

In the UK value added tax (VAT) is included in the marked price so the discrepancy in prices will in some cases be even more marked.

[@farmerned6]

there is no VAT on Food - and some necessities

[@britsticher8889]

There is only VAT on luxury foods and not on essentials. Look into why jaffa cakes are cakes and not biscuits if you want to know more.

[@MazzaEliLi7406]

@@farmerned6 Check your sources.

[@MazzaEliLi7406]

@@britsticher8889 Check your sources.

[@britsticher8889]

@MazzaEliLi7406 Food and drink, animals, animal feed, plants and seeds Food and drink for human consumption is usually zero-rated but some items are always standard-rated. These include catering, alcoholic drinks, confectionery, crisps and savoury snacks, hot food, sports drinks, hot takeaways, ice cream, soft drinks and mineral water.

[@xanx1234]

It would also be interesting to see the cost of energy (gas & electricity) and water/sewage together with council/property tax to give an overall view of living costs between our two countries.

[@philiprice7875]

but the major killer for US, health insurance and student loan debt

[@keithwebster5161]

I think the Italians would have something to say about USA tomatoes being the best in the world.

[@gerghghherb880]

No because America has Italians as well and they think they're the best Italians despite being born in America and being 100% American

[@Mrhullsie2]

Acme! Is he shopping for materials to catch a Roadrunner?

[@malc568]

Loving the self depricating vibe in this video. Subbed 😊

[@jimjacobs2817]

Cornflakes in Woolworths in NSW, Australia is USD $5.07 The 4 pints (1.89271L) of UHL* milk to go with it costs USD $1.43 Now for some eggs. A dozen extra large (1.88128 oz) barn-laid eggs cost USD $3.41 -------- * UHL milk is heat treated to pasteurise it. It lasts for a really long time without souring.

[@andyendean4060]

Milk is measured in pints in the UK primarily as a hang over from when it was standard practice for milk to be delivered direct to your doorstep by the milkman. It would come in individual one pint glass bottles with foil lids, and when you finished the bottle you’d put the empty out for the milkman to collect and recycle the next morning. Milkmen (and ladies) still exist- and in some areas are making a resurgence- but the standard these days is to buy from a supermarket… in pints!

[@janolaful]

I shop between tesco and aldi, we have farmfoods which is brilliant .

[@sebastianjensen7556]

16:33 That is exactly how to spell musician in Danish

[@Kexlar]

Its one of the most expensive supermarkets given they sell the exact same foods as cheaper places. And most suppliers of food actually supply the same food you buy in cheap places like Aldi as they do for Sainsburys, its just the supermarkets charging different amounts. I saw a TV show about that, and they even took you round the food suppliers and how they box up the same food in different boxes for different supermarkets.

[@TheHarleyEvans]

the thing with the farms "not adding up" is that those farms are feeding ALL of the US, not every state has a great amount of arable land, or it's not being used for farmland (Nevada for example, although there IS some farmland there still), each state that's producing food will also be more specialised to certain foods rather than everything as a whole (idaho potatoes for example, kansas sunflowers etc.) and then those goods need to be shipped across the US which raises the price to cover transport costs. you'll notice that mostly imported goods (rice for example) are comparable in price as they being shipped across the globe anyway.

[@GFSTaylor]

Most of the raisins sold in the UK are grown in California. Still much cheaper in the UK than America.

[@auldfouter8661]

The weird thing is that the USA grow maize for the cornflakes and also grows rice. Neither of these can be grown in the UK. Any crops of maize you see here will be forage for cattle using the whole plant in October , not just the grain which won't fully ripen in the UK.

[@brucejackman3446]

We don’t grow raisins either

[@ruthmeb]

Maize can be grown in the uk.

[@auldfouter8661]

@@ruthmeb Where is it being grown as a cereal crop? I grew sweetcorn in my garden 2 years ago and there used to be forage maize crops in coastal Ayrshire but it has dropped out of fashion.

[@geekehUK]

We have VAT (Value Added Tax) at 20%, although it is already included in the displayed price, so you don't get charged more at checkout than you thought it was. Most food items and basic household staples are exempt, but we have some weird rules about what things are essentials vs luxury items. Like for some insane reason, toilet paper is considered a luxury (and so is taxed), biscuits (cookies) on the other hand, don't have VAT, except for chocolate biscuits, which are a luxury, so do. That is apart from a rather famously contested chocolate coated biscuit, called Jaffa Cakes, in which the makers went to court against the government to prove that they are actually, technically a miniature cake, which are exempt.

[@Jeni10]

In Australia, it’s the opposite. Our fresh produce is cheaper than fast food and at least ten times healthier. It depends on what you buy and what you intend to make, but we have a wide variety of options.

[@distracted5097]

I dont understand how people can calculate the total amount of their groceries before they get to the till, in some states in the us where certain foods are taxed. Unless the tax is included in the writen price bellow the food? Does the price tag lable show how much food is taxed?

[@letsrock1729]

Yes, I wouldn't be able to stand it!! Sounds like nightmare when you're on a budget

[@MikeSmith-ye9ho]

The other benefit of British foods. Pesticides that are legal to use in the US are illegal in this country because they’re dangerous to health. Preservatives, that’s put into your products to prolong shelflife, or make it cheaper for the manufacturers are illegal here in Britain, but commonly used in America. Bread, being one of them. Just go to a McDonald’s fries in America. Have 17 different ingredients here in Britain three ingredients. It’s all down to the bottom line money profit for the shareholders which normally means profit for the rich

[@katieknight8147]

When you looked at inflation my first thought was that we don't pay attention to that, we worry about how much a universal item has increased/decreased it could be milk but it's often freddos (small chocolate frog) since everyone remembers them being cheaper

[@thefiestaguy8831]

I remember a Freddo being 5 pence when I was growing up, then went up to 10p, then when I was in secondary school (2006-2011) it was 15p. Last time I saw a Freddo probably 1-2 years ago it was 30 pence!

[@stephenlee5929]

Its strange, I'm some what older and our inflation marker was Mars Bars, the problem is they have changed sizes significantly. Not sure if that's a problem for Freddos too

[@katieknight8147]

@@stephenlee5929 no, they're so small I'm not sure they could reduce their size, they haven't as yet reduced them

[@Jackalos1]

@@thefiestaguy8831 Ah yes, the 5p Freddos, a fond memory from a different era

[@shonagriffiths8907]

Does anybody know why American produce is so expensive? The States has so much prime farming land if you'd asked me, I would have guessed at American supermarkets and produce being considerably cheaper than in U.K. It is really baffling.

[@nicksykes4575]

Partly due to the crazy way their supply chain works, Florida and California are both citrus growing areas, but at one stage my brother, who is a truck driver in the US, was taking oranges from Cali to Florida, and returning with orange juice.

[@mojojojo11811]

Transport costs to move food nationally.

[@samstevens7888]

Because they are used to being price gouged. They don't know any difference. Yes they felt it more after covid because their prices shot up so fast. But real food is expensive in the USA. I know alot of people that grow a good portion of their own food, I know alot of farmers and homesteaders because when I lived there I had a small farm.

[@shonagriffiths8907]

In Britain, if you don't have a gardon, lots of people have allotments to grow fruit and veg for the family. You rent them from the council. The other major resources are grampas and grandmas. People who can bottle and pickle and preserve, and if you're lucky, make first-rate home brew and will pass these skills on.We seem to be going backwards. We will all be keeping a pig in the back garden soon like we used to during WW11.

[@samstevens7888]

@@shonagriffiths8907 I'm from Britain and still live here. I've lived in the States at times too. I have a allotment in the UK I've had this one for about 5 years. I had one before in a different part of my town. I just like growing my own food lol but when I was in the States I grew my own food because I didn't trust most of the food there. I have a few medical issues that can become worse if I don't eat right most of the time.

[@richardventus1875]

My son lives and works in Atlanta, Georgia and every time we visit him we are amazed at how expensive everything has become there. It's really shocking for people in the UK.

[@stevehartley7504]

Fresh orange juice not from concentrate £2:45 for litre only lasts about 5 days as fresh squeezed

[@JamieBarton1984]

them are Tesco finest tomatoes...

[@naturaldreamer]

My thoughts exactly....fancy!

[@m0501040]

I thought that! Why do for the most expensive?? 😂

[@piercecowley255]

Thays like comparing lidl to waitrose, smh

[@ukguy]

And that Tilda rice for £5... you can just get store brand basmatti for less than £2 for the same amount.

[@KeeleyDe-M]

Dude, I have 22 chickens… I’d happily ship you a bucket load of eggs over but I think they’d arrive already scrambled… 😂

[@letsrock1729]

I once sent a friend in Paris some packets of Walkers Salt and Vinegar (as she loved them so much) and they arrived smashed into tiny pieces 😆

[@dcallan812]

Its not just the cost to the old wallet, in the UK food is 99% of the time edible. Where as in the USA the food company's can throw any old crap into it and get away with it. From colours to additives and chemical to keep thing "fresh" to the amount of actual mouse-rat poop thats allowed in some products people eat. 🤮

[@davidhines7592]

is it possible that american transport costs (larger country) are the reason for price differences?

[@effinjamieTT]

Bare in mind, we're paying about 30% more on our grocery shop than a few years ago. Also the "Local" variants of superstores cost more than the big out of town versions.

[@TheSmudgeFamily]

We have just got back from a holiday in The States and we couldn't believe how expensive things were over there. for example Broccoli, over here in Tescos = 82p. US Price (for the same size, in Publix) = $4 (approx £3!!)

[@lottie2525]

While the comparison of Evan's chosen items was pretty fair, you can find food a lot cheaper in the UK if you shop outside of London and get shop brands instead of the expensive branded items he chose. Also US salaries are much higher on average that those in the UK, so that comes into the calculations too.

[@Timbothruster-fh3cw]

Plus, Evan is from New Jersey, one of the most expensive states, that's why it was so high.

[@foordy-family3123]

My standard shop for a family of 5 is £170 weekly. That includes mostly fresh foods, snacks for the children, pull ups for the toddler, cleaning supplies and some little treat bits. The reason he is dealing with high prices is because he is going branded and finest for everything!

[@anitaherbert1037]

Plus all that rain we have alot of great grass. Grass fed beef is normal here. You expect your normal beef to be grass fed not a premium product. Though Irish beef does taste better .... even more rain and green grass( emerald Isles)

[@JustMe-ks8qc]

Most of Evan's pre-packaged shopping seems to be branded stuff. If he bought the supermarket own brand options he would have saved around 20% more (although I'm sure there are similar, cheaper options in US stores). My own experience of grocery shopping in both countries was less about price than it was the quality. The fruit and veg were HUGE, but had little flavour, the bread was almost cake and lasted 3 weeks (bread should not last 3 weeks), and the meat was questionable (had there been a butcher, I would have gone there. Apparently butchers are not so common in the US as they are here). Here, if the use by date is the 6th, it is inedible on the 7th: What are you really eating in the US if the something there lasts days or weeks longer than the same thing here?

[@stephenlee5929]

Its difficult to know quality of Unbranded, Branded is a fair comparison, specially if you can get the same brand in both countries. UK has 2 or 3 variants of Own brand for some stores, not sure its a fair/good comparison to just get the cheapest available.

[@letsrock1729]

Agree with your comment but just want to point out that most things aren't inedible only one day after the 'use by' date. And there is far too much food waste because people think they have to rigidly stick to the dates, rather than using their own eyes, noses and common sense.

[@JustMe-ks8qc]

@@letsrock1729 True, but since covid, my taste and smell hasn't recovered enough to trust it. I don't want to find out the hard way if the yoghurt has gone over, so I am grateful for the dates and err on the side of caution

[@letsrock1729]

@@JustMe-ks8qc That makes complete sense for someone in your situation. But most people could probably still be a bit more relaxed about the dates. And some items will be visibly inedible, such as when there is mould on bread. My parents once had a neighbour who would throw away every single food item the minute it hit the 'use by date', apparently without even checking them over. My parents hated waste so asked her to give the items to them instead, which she did...and they were always able to eat all of it, as it was completely fine.

[@colinbirks5403]

Standard Brit measures had to be changed to Metric when in the E.U., BUT, we stuck to what people were used to. Result? Odd metric sizes, Plus, many construction materials were imperial sizes. Replacement parts, had to be matched, to fit in. i.e. Plasterboard, or plywood were 8 feet by 4 feet, the results? Odd metric sizes. Floor joists? 6x4 inches(?) Find a metric size to replace one.

[@joshtherahrah]

He had some premium brands in there like with the rice. Tilda is pretty premium, there are much cheaper brands, and the stores own brands are a fraction of the cost.

[@chickane5586]

I love your voice - so easy to listen to!

[@neilfleming2787]

When I worked in Dallas I shopped at an Albertsons, that's in Dallas, I think I've seen those in a few other locations around the US, but nothing like what they have in the UK or here in Australia where it's usually either Coles or Woolworths, with ALDI and IGA being the main ones

[@melanierhianna]

We don't talk about quarts. Its pints or gallons and our gallons are larger because our pints are larger. Also comparing that UK mature cheddar with "American cheddar" is literally cheese and chalk :-D

[@jamiemacdonald5203]

Theres one of those american candy stores just opened where i am in Scotland and there selling american cereal for £9.95 for a standard sized box. The shops been open for 3 months and other than kids no ones interested.

[@patriarch7237]

That's cos they aren't there to sell anything...

[@giteausuperstar]

A Sainsbury’s “local” is not at all the cheapest place to buy groceries btw. The local versions are smaller satellite stores with higher prices than the large supermarket version.

[@timsyoutube6051]

One thing to keep in mind is farmer's reportedly struggle to make ends meet quite a lot in the UK at the moment. Not sure if that is the case in the states.

[@JHicks-kt9jv]

are the UK prices VAT included? That makes the cost per item less if we remove that

[@johnsimmons5951]

I’ve been to Switzerland as a tourist, prices in Zurich were similar to London, but Geneva was horrendously expensive.

[@teogothberg2291]

I live in Sweden and like to check what for example milk cost in other nations. In sweden 1 liter 3%fat standard milk is 14SEK (1.23€ or 1.04£ and 1.33$) And yes thats including salestax 12% What is your price?

[@Lunabracco]

If you haven't already done so please do a video on the ingredients comparison in McDonald's Vs UK and US please .... Love your reactions ❤🇬🇧

[@chrisellis3797]

Our prices seem insanely high and are still cheaper than the US. My Floridian friends were here 3 weeks ago and thought we had it so good........ meanwhile I'm moaning about it😂

[@Kieran_P100]

There is just something about your whole personae that’s just relaxing

[@mikeythehat6693]

The U.K. prices were also super cheap compared to here in Australia. Grocery prices have skyrocketed here as well. I couldn't believe the U.K. prices, almost made me want to move there....... almost.

[@garethwilkins6744]

Even worse when you see what certain places in the US pay their staff. (eg. the hospitality sector)

[@thegambler8019]

It currently costs £5.14 for a gallon of fuel in the UK ($6.72 United States Dollar), and earlier last year it was £6.05 ($7.90 United States Dollar)

[@HankD13]

Would also point out the my family does not shop at Sainsbury or Tesco (we think they are too expensive) and use our local Lidl - considerably cheaper, and perfectly happy with the quality! This is a nice to know - I have always assumed our shopping would be more expensive than the States.

[@daniellelois4905]

Not many people would do their food shopping at a Sainsbury's local or a Tesco express. They're like a small version of a supermarket where people go if they need milk or something and so the prices are slightly higher

[@katrinaadams2269]

When you realise the government ….takes the piss out of you….much love from the UK ❤❤❤

[@JPhillips-v4d]

Prices at smaller ’local’ branches are higher than the larger supermarkets. You pay extra for the convenience of having the equivalent of a corner shop.

[@thatcedric]

Good tomatoes in NJ but in Southern Italy those tasty red berries are off the taste chart. So good.

[@wendypeterwendywendy]

Also, Evan is using branded products e.g. Kellogs. If you go supermarket own brand, which can be better tasting, the difference will be almost twice as much.

[@p4ngolin]

One thing that makes shopping easier is that in the UK (and most EU countries) it is a norm for supermarkets to display the price per Kg or mL/L on the price label. It's not so much that the guy put his degree to use, the info is just there by law in stores already. So if you have 2 cans of carrots of different brands next to each other, diferent weight, different price, you don't have to think too hard about which one is cheaper. Just look at the price per weight (and they even are required to put the weight DRAINED on the can if there is liquids such as brine for conservation). They are also required to put percentage of ingredients on the can (so your mash potato actually tells you if it's a majority of potato or not). this is why we are VERY aware of stuff like shrinkflation, because it literally says on the label that the weight has been reduced or the price per weight went up. it's VERY obvious.

[@benredmond875]

To add to the differential, he's not buying the cheapest options available. Probably to create a like-for-like comparison, but if you to a cheaper supermarket like Aldi or Lidl or buy the basic unbranded range you can go even cheaper.

[@StephenButlerOne]

Sainsbury's local isnt a supermarket, its more a chain cornershop. Same as tesco exta, (and now asda has ome). There prices are usally more expensive than the full size stores.

[@zeideerskine3462]

I wonder if other Californians realize that you can plant onion clippings, tomato and pepper seeds and such (basically your organic waste). It will just grow back with free food thereafter.

[@inzaghigames]

Luxury and Poverty, the best description of being an American I've heard in a long time.

[@lorrainegmoore5042]

Firstly ,Sainsbury is one of the dearer supermarkets in the Uk , secondly London prices are dearer that most of the Uk ,thirdly in the Uk we use imperial measurements for pints of milk as well as metric measurements …yes we like to mix ! Petrol is sold in litres not gallons like we used to use in years gone by . Prices went up last year and haven’t gone back to the previous levels.

[@p-nh4hn]

In actuality, the cost of living may be somewhat balanced by the average salaries, which are often higher in the US than the UK. However, average home prices in comparable metropolitan areas can also be lower in the UK than the US. Furthermore, you do not pay an annual land tax for owning a home in the UK, as you do in the US. Given these factors plus free healthcare, a significantly lower cost of higher education, and leave/holiday days it may (in general) be significantly cheaper living in the UK than in the US.

[@philiprice7875]

no land tax erm you not heard of council tax?

[@24magiccarrot]

It's usually not remotely true that it's cheaper to get a really good takeaway than the ingredients to make homemade. It's peoples inability to calculate the cost per portion. For example if I were to make bread it would probably cost about £1 to buy bread in the shop but it would cost £5 to buy all the ingredients to make bread, but after I've made the bread I've still got most of the flour and yeast left over, it probably only cost me about 50p to make, and likely it's a much higher quality bread. So the cost of ingredients to buy outright is more, but the cost of ingredients actually used is less.

[@mimimusick9734]

It is in the US, apparently, which is what they were saying. Takeaways here in the UK are generally more expensive than cooking from scratch, especially if you factor in delivery charges, but some takeaways, like non-brand chicken shops, might tend to come in at equivalent or cheaper as you can get quite a lot of food for not very much.

[@24magiccarrot]

@@mimimusick9734 I betcha there isn't a takeaway anywhere in the US that are selling pizzas, burgers or Chinese food for cheaper than a per portion making it yourself. There isn't any common dish from those I mentioned that can't be made from scratch for under £2 a portion if you know what you are doing. Pizzas and burgers can easily be made for under 80p each a large serving of kung po chicken can be made for under £6 and would serve 4. Even if the prices in US are slightly higher I bet you I can get a 500g of mince plus all the seasonings and make 5 burgers for less per burger than you can buy them from almost any take-away and the quality will be ten times better. As for fried chicken places I can make fried chicken from scratch at home for less than 50p per piece I highly doubt there is anywhere in the UK that can match that I can buy a whole chicken for under £3 joint it make the seasoning and batter for practically nothing. Let me know where you can get a portion of two breasts, two legs, two thighs, two wings plus make a pot of soup with the remains for under £4 total. At the start of every month I buy several chickens joint them prepare them with the coating then freeze the joints individually specifically for making fried chicken and the best bit is you safely fry chicken joints from frozen and because they are already prepped I have fried chicken within minutes any time I want it. The problem is people don't know how to properly make things from scratch they also don't know how to shop around to get the best prices I make almost everything from scratch and save an absolute fortune on my food bill.

[@brucejackman3446]

You go in at the right time you can get a cooked chicken for £6.I won’t one now

[@acarriere8534]

Don't come to Canada, where everything is at least double the prices in the USA, so basically 3 times the prices of the UK, I went to Italy and we stopped at a local grocery store in the North because we wanted nuts, cheese, fruits and water for the road, I came out with a good amount of food and it was about 9$ Canadian, so about 6$ US, I was looking at the receipt because I was sure they made a mistake, but no, the same in Canada would have been at least 30$ Canadian and that was 5 years ago.....

[@orpheus5995]

Morrisons in the UK, own brand cornflakes which aren't bad and very similair to Kellogs are only 75p for 500g pack.

[@alejandrayalanbowman367]

Which bacon did you compare with? The normal American bacon is the same as the UK streaky bacon which is the cheapest. Here in Spain, we pay about 90-100€ every two weeks for a full shop (three adults and two dogs) and that includes delivery to our kitchen.

[@stephenlee5929]

In UK I don't think Back Bacon is more expensive than Streaky, could be wrong as I rarely buy Streaky, but I never noticed a price difference

[@niklaqs]

About the raisins. Storebrand (Tesco) is often cheaper the "brandbrand". Sun-Maid is not cheap.

[@t75044]

Here in the UK we do know what a pint is. Its 20 fluid ounces not the 16 that the US deludes itself into thinking it is

[@wessexdruid7598]

Different sized fluid ounces, also. But then the US think they use 'Imperial' measurements - when they don't. Long v short tons, anybody?

[@slashdisco]

Brit here. As much as I'd love to celebrate this video, what all of these "UK vs US prices" videos always ignore is purchasing power parity and "relative prices" (the cost of goods compared to wages). Even despite the low federal minimum wage, Americans earn around 30-50% more than Brits on average (health premia and various federal and state taxes may reduce that), so it's fruitless to compare grocery prices without also factoring that in. A straight price comparison, without accounting for wages, tells you absolutely nothing. It's the same reason we Brits marvel at how cheap stuff is in, say, India. To us, it's cheap. To Indians, it isn't.

[@williamgrenville1203]

I completely agree couldn't have said it better myself

[@adriaandeleeuw8339]

In the UK the shelf price includes all taxes. They are not added on unlike the US.

[@slashdisco]

​@@adriaandeleeuw8339 I'm aware of that, and it's a completely irrelevant observation to my comment. Indeed, Evan uses New Jersey prices for the US references - as in most US states, food/groceries are exempt from sales tax in NJ (just as food is VAT exempt in the UK). But even if tax was applied, it wouldn't make a difference to the point I was making: grocery price comparisons between countries are absolutely meaningless without also looking at wage and income differences.