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Grocery Prices

Ive been keeping a bit of a record of prices from where we do our weekly shopping here in the north of Bogota. And here are some observations from the last couple of months.

For fruit and vegetables it is almost always better to get them in Surtifruver (Calle 134) than in Exito (Calle 134). Even when Exito has their 20% discount Wednesday, Surtifruver is almost always cheaper. Another thing is that Exito seems to be getting slacker and slacker with what they provide.

For meat, chicken and fish. So far it seems better to get these on the 20% discount Wednesday at Exito. Havent as yet compared the meat at Surtifruver. Also would like to try at the Carrefour (Calle 110). But couldnt be stuffed paying for parking.

Anyone else with some good info. Please share.

By Bunyipcatcher on Jan 20, 2009, 08:33 in Friendly Talkzone.

Loggi says on Jan 20, 2009, 09:17:

The market in Septima and 180 has the best prices for meat and veggies

Live for the moments you can't put into words

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JGD (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jan 20, 2009, 09:22:

Funny thing I`ve noticed at Exito (and Carrefour at least) is that is more expensive per Kg to buy 2.5 Kg of, say rice, than the 1 Kg bag...
I guess they know people assume the bigger the cheaper therefore they take advantage of it.

You are worried the US is going to invade and take the Venezuelan oil?... you are selling everything to them !!Peruvian Pres. Alan Garcia to Chavez

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Bill Turley (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jan 20, 2009, 09:41:

No one has mentioned the various large markets such as Subastos, North and South, and the regional markets like Seventh of August. I have found them to be the best in Bogota. I don't rquire plastic with my meat, or my butter in a sealed package. That is up to your preferences.

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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sloopskipper says on Jan 20, 2009, 09:53:

jorgegdiaz (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jan 20, 2009, 09:22 (today): flag

"Funny thing I`ve noticed at Exito (and Carrefour at least) is that is more expensive per Kg to buy 2.5 Kg of, say rice, than the 1 Kg bag.
I guess they know people assume the bigger the cheaper therefore they take advantage of it."

I first noticed that when buying whole bean coffee in the U.S. many years ago at the old A&P, and the difference in price per pound was not trivial. But sometimes, with odd package weights, it's not so easy to do the math in your head.

Do they have unit pricing in Colombia?

Seems that some people think "everybody's outa step but me".

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Bunyipcatcher says on Jan 20, 2009, 10:02:

at Loggi and at Bill is that Corabastos? I have been to the one in the south. This was before I put together this list of prices for produce. I might head up to the one in the North and see how it compares. Cheers for the reminder.

at casa_de_norte No worries Ill have to go check them out and see how the prices are. Ive always considered them expensive, but will go and check them out as well and just see.

Another option is the small fruit and vege market that they put up between the Spanish school and the Country Club on Thursdays. I have a couple of prices from them Ill have to add.

The list I have is on Zoho. So if anyone is interested I can probably share it. Or send you a PDF copy.

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Bunyipcatcher says on Jan 20, 2009, 10:07:

at Sloopskipper and at Jorgediaz Yup its better to look at the unit prices than anything else. I know they have unit prices at Exito. Sometimes you find that the sale isnt really a sale after all.

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sloopskipper says on Jan 20, 2009, 10:25:

I think it was before unit pricing that I first noticed that, and we don't have it here in Panamá, but the items are often priced, like the old days, even though they are scanned, and some stores have courtesy scanners in the aisles to check prices.

Seems that some people think "everybody's outa step but me".

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lampltr says on Jan 20, 2009, 11:26:

casa_de_norte....I agree with you...Why no one shops where the locals go for food & veggies?

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pavo says on Jan 20, 2009, 13:28:

Codabas on the 7a with 175 is the best in Bogota for meats and veggies. Unbelievable selection and half the price of supermarkets.

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shazam (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jan 20, 2009, 16:24:

Hands down, the freshest and cheapest meat and produce is at Paloquemao, the giant market downtown. (I don't get too far north much, but several chef friends tell me they also buy at Paloquemao). I've gotten an entire salmon fillet for $10.000 - the WHOLE fish! An arm's length of lomo fino runs about $30.000. I usually buy three or four chicken breasts (the whole breast, both sides), have remove the skin and bones (they then give me the bones to make consume) and that too runs me about $12.000-15.000 pesos.

For the absolute best fish in town, where the sushi restaurants buy, you can go to call 69 no 20-49. There are two shops there and both are where the sushi restaurants in zona G, T, 93, etc buy. (This is information from my chef friends as well...Calela, Mariano Moreno, etc)

For packaged products, if you're affiliated with Cafam, they're quite good if you use your card for the 5% discount. Olympica and Exito are up and down as to which is the cheapest, but the consistency of product availability, especially imported items, isn't so great. Pomona and Carulla have an excellent selection, but their prices reflect it.

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dbldareu says on Jan 22, 2009, 00:50:

Small thing...Not sure what kind of avocados casa de norte had...but the big local bright green varieties I've had suck compared to haas. They have a watery texture in comparison and and a quarter the rich taste. Haas rules in that department for a reason. Wie'll give colombia lulos...

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