Cost of German Groceries?

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Bernd

in January 2008 the EC yearly costs overlook for 2007 says that groceries where the cheapest to buy in Germany (from all EC members).
one reason is the strong competition and the other is that ALDI and Lidl really got the cheapest prices overall.
I'm travelling to the US 4 to 6 times a year and I found out that the groceries in the US are more expansive and lots of things don't have a high standard like bread. The only thing I found the same price or even cheaper was meet but most likely it was beef.
There are supermarket chains in germany too that are more expansive like Edeka, Famila, Extra, Rewe but lots of cheap markets, Aldi,Lidl,Plus and many more.
compare the prices, in your newspaper and some local papers are always flyers from supermarkets, at least twice a week.

If you're not able to work and got no income than you got to see some social authorities at the majors house and they evetually provide you with food stamps. We also have "Die Tafel" in lots of cities. These people give food to poor people (you need a sort of stamp as well) and they will give you a whole bag full for just 1 â‚¬.

blue_daffodil2005

No grocries aren't much expensive. Here in Germany are some cheap supermarkets such as ALDI , LIDL, NORMA, PENNY, PLUS. You can find them everywhere in Germany and most poeple buy their groceries there.

t_maia2000

Around 35 EUR per week for one person, including other stuff like detergent and so. More if you shop in an expensive area like downtown Munich and or don't watch what you buy. But even then you should be able to live on 50 EUR per week for food.

There aren't any food stamps in Germany. Germans recieve social welfare benefits in the shape of money in their accounts. This money is just enough to pay for basic necessities. It is currently 347 EUR per month for a single person plus the rent this person pays for hir appartment.

The AuslÃ¤nderbehÃ¶rde (foreigner's office) will require you to have enough money in your savings account to live on that level, or they will not give you a residency permit. You are also not allowed to apply for any sort of social benefits from the German government, if you do you'll loose your residency permit and will be deported from Germany.

If you pay 250 EUR rent for a room in a shared flat you'll therefore need around 7200 EUR in your savings account to stay for a year in Germany. If you are a student there is a bit of leeway, since as a student you are entitled to a limited work permit (a few hours a week or full-time during semester holidays) and thus might be able to earn enough to make up the difference.

Rick

If you're alone you can live on 5 Euro a day...this is just enough so you don't go hungry. My wife and I spend about 50 - 70 Euro a week not including dog food, gas and tobacco. This buys us enough meat, potatoes, vegetables, fruit, munchies, etc. We shop at Kaufland...big supermarket in Germany. Like others mentioned, there's discount grocery stores: Aldi, Plus, Norma, Lidl (owned by Kaufland), Penny, Kondi and Netto Markt (good selection)...the prices are a little cheaper but the selection isn't that great.

There is no such thing as food stamps in Germany...'poor' people receive welfare and can go to a food bank (must have proof you're a Hartz Four recipient). I think churches help out as well if you pay church tax (yes you pay taxes right of your pay cheque for churches, but only if you fill in you're religious)

HiddenBarb

My daughter live in Germany. She says groceries are not expensive at all - unless it's Mexican ingredients. She said a can of black beans is $6. I'm taking her several bags of dried beans.

passat_hobby

cheaper - food stamps are only for poor people

liebekatz2

Groceries are on average much cheaper than they are in the US. I haven't been back to the US for a while, but every time I go back, it's always a shock to see how much higher the prices are over there compared to here in Germany.

Antonio

at the moment groceries are cheaper than anywhere else in Europe and the US ( if u dn't buy bio products), but over the last month the got more and more expensive. so at the time u'll live in germany the price might be at the same level as in the US.

spongebina

Hi,

the groceries are sometimes a little more expansive then in the US but grocerie stores are more personal... not as big as US stores.
Here are some stores where groceries are more expansive then in other. If you would like to buy as cheap as possible go to Aldi, Lidl, Penny, Plus

and dont go th Edeka, Kaisers, Rewe

Greetings from Germany

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