|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
|
 Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 4:45 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
If you look back, that's what I pretty much said on page one - that it's really hard to compare A to B.
There are tons of variables that come into the mix. And in my experience, a trip to the grocery store here is more expensive than back home. I believe I get more bang for my buck in a grocery store back home. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
alongway
Joined: 02 Jan 2012
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 4:45 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| Nope. 2000won was pretty standard at that time as well. Kimbap nara/junguk were around that price.. and still are (maybe closer to 2500). So in ten years kimbap in Korea (just one example) has gone up 500won, but by your premise of using a straight exchange, has actually gone down in price. |
For a roll of kimbap? No, not at all, even in 2008 it was still 1000 at a lot of places.
http://project365ki.blogspot.com/2011/09/2268-kimbap.html
"even before the "1,000-won kimbap" craze had briefly become the standard at most cheap restaurants during the mid-2000s,"
In 2002 you weren't paying 2000w for kimbap.
2008 they started to notice inflation
http://asiancorrespondent.com/22329/south-korea-rocked-by-kimbap-inflation/
| Quote: |
Captain, is there no end to the additional elements or variables you will throw into this discussion? Laughing
This is becoming strange....the only thing that is true is that certain things cost more in Korea and certain things cost more in Canada.
Overall, food costs are pretty comparable in my experience but that may just be my experience! |
Some people can't admit it. Some things just aren't as rosy back home as they remember. Grocery prices have been rising on a lot of things quite a bit in Canada. I was back a short while ago and was surprised at some of the prices. I can remember all kinds of incredible prices from my youth and things I used to on sale. Like when I was university the local super market used to put bacon on 2 for $5. But I wouldn't pretend that was a relevant price now. Last I checked with my parents the 4 pack of costco bacon worked out to right around the same price for a regular pound at the supermarket back home.
The one thing I will note is that in Canada they do tend to have more frequent sales on things. While I do see some sales in Korea, I don't see any of those big crazy sales like you'd sometimes see in Canada, and I find a lot of the staples don't seem to go on sale that much. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 4:54 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| alongway wrote: |
,"
In 2002 you weren't paying 2000w for kimbap. |
Yup, I was. I didn't live near a university, and that was standard price in the franchises around me. I knew of cheaper places closer to universities, but was not applicable to me.
| Quote: |
Some people can't admit it. Some things just aren't as rosy back home as they remember. Grocery prices have been rising on a lot of things quite a bit in Canada. I was back a short while ago and was surprised at some of the prices. I can remember all kinds of incredible prices from my youth and things I used to on sale. Like when I was university the local super market used to put bacon on 2 for $5. But I wouldn't pretend that was a relevant price now. Last I checked with my parents the 4 pack of costco bacon worked out to right around the same price for a regular pound at the supermarket back home.
The one thing I will note is that in Canada they do tend to have more frequent sales on things. While I do see some sales in Korea, I don't see any of those big crazy sales like you'd sometimes see in Canada, and I find a lot of the staples don't seem to go on sale that much. |
I've shown you links from prices in my hometown and compared them to ten years ago. $3.99 4L milk in 2002, $4.59 4L milk now. I'm under no dillusions about pricing. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
alongway
Joined: 02 Jan 2012
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 5:05 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| Yup, I was. I didn't live near a university, and that was standard price in the franchises around me. I knew of cheaper places closer to universities, but was not applicable to me. |
But that was by no means representative of the overall price of kimbap at the time. What's relevant now is that exchange has been fairly stable for around 3 years. I'm not cherry picking a day to do the exchange and compare prices. And as someone pointed out, korea actually has more purchasing power per dollar than Canada.
| Quote: |
| I've shown you links from prices in my hometown and compared them to ten years ago. $3.99 4L milk in 2002, $4.59 4L milk now. I'm under no dillusions about pricing. |
You certainly are considering all the ways you're trying to fudge the korean prices to make them look higher than they are. Face it. Some things are cheaper here, and some things are around the same price or very close. They may not be the things you want to eat. I'm not saying all groceries are cheaper in Korea, or even that it's identical. What I am saying is that it isn't as bad as some people make it out to be, especially people who have been here a long and/or those who never had to buy their own groceries back home. They probably don't realize how expensive things really are.
Yes some things are horribly much more expensive here, but I suspect that some of the things that Koreans eat a lot of here, might be much more expensive back home as well. Like some vegetables or other things which aren't popular in Canada. I can't check that, because the only thing you can point to is a very limited grocery shopping comparison news story. Maybe if Canada ever catches up to the 21st century we will see some online shopping information. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 8:30 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Find me a quote where I said that ALL groceries are cheaper here.
There's no way I'd say that. I know that certain things are cheaper here. You gave a picture of 'get-nip' as an example of something in your fridge. I hate the stuff and have never bought it, but wouldn't be surprised if it was cheaper here. I also believe tangerine oranges and Asian apple-pears to be cheaper here.
But my trip to the grocery store is not.
I gave kimbap as an example, but we cold choose any product. My point was that your exchange rate philosophy was flawed.
If the CDN dollar dropped to 1000:1 tomorrow, would that suddenly makes prices more affordable in Korea?
No.
I get paid in Korean won and judge affordability in Korea by my Korean income (as would most everyone else in this country). When I lived in canada I judged affordability of products by Canadian income.
A straight exchange rate does not reflect actual pricing and cost of living. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ssuprnova
Joined: 17 Dec 2010
Location: Saigon
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 8:44 pm Post subject: |
|
|
My parents were visiting last week from Vancouver and we talked about prices back home. Bear in mind that Vancouver is the most expensive city in Canada, and one of the most expensive in North America.
The conclusion was that goods in Korea are really expensive: everything from groceries to clothing and electronics. On the other hand, services in Korea are cheap: dental work, skin treatments, taxis, restaurants. Also, the quality of service in Korea is a lot better on average, while the quality of goods is about the same.
PS: OP's website is horsebollocks. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Jane
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 9:37 pm Post subject: |
|
|
After being the primary food shopper in Korea, and for the past few months now here in Southern Ontario, I can say the prices are lower in Canada for food in general. Fruit and veggies, eggs and milk are cheaper in Ontario, and tend to be better quality. In particular, organic produce is a fraction here than in Korea.
See a flyer here for some reference prices. This grocery store is not a budget one, but an average one.
http://www.metro.ca/en/on/flyer.html?idFlyer=1185&flyerPage=0&imgSize=0
Lest us not forget the variety available in Canada. It's a flavour party here everyday! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
alongway
Joined: 02 Jan 2012
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 10:24 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Jane wrote: |
After being the primary food shopper in Korea, and for the past few months now here in Southern Ontario, I can say the prices are lower in Canada for food in general. Fruit and veggies, eggs and milk are cheaper in Ontario, and tend to be better quality. In particular, organic produce is a fraction here than in Korea.
See a flyer here for some reference prices. This grocery store is not a budget one, but an average one.
http://www.metro.ca/en/on/flyer.html?idFlyer=1185&flyerPage=0&imgSize=0
Lest us not forget the variety available in Canada. It's a flavour party here everyday! |
What you can actually see from that flyer, which is nice is what the real prices are.
For example fresh boneless skinless chicken breasts are regular 8.79/lb, or 19.38/kg. Regular price at emart, GS mart, etc is cheaper than that, around 15,800/kg
500g of cheese (aged is usually the highest price) 9.59. 600g of aged cheese at costco here is 10,500.
Ground beef is $11.64/kg at costco, around 14,900
The canned corn price confirms that the corn is actually about the same price between both. Those cans look to be about the same size as the ones I bought yesterday and they worked out to be 99 cents a can as well.
and a white bread price, thanks for that. 675g loaf regular $3.19 vs an 800g loaf for 1500w at emart.
Stewing beef prices at 10.98 vs about 14,900 per kg at costco.
The fruit prices look great though. There is much greater variety and quality of the fruit, so if you're buying a lot of fruit, I could see you saving a large amount of money.
I just got australian chuck steak for around $7.91/lb at the local GS mart (1980/100g) little higher than last time, but still a decent price. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 11:12 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I find it quite odd that you are comparing a wholesaler here in Korea to retailers in Canada. Would it not make more sense to compare retailer to retailer?
Also, I find it disconcerting that you are accusing me of trying to fudge the Korean prices, and lump me in with all of the people you feel don't know what they are talking about. This is after you post up quotes on Calgary prices that are so out to lunch, yet you don't even notice how badly wrong they are.
Could it be that it is YOU who is trying to "fudge" the numbers?
I went looking through my pantry today and noticed a price on the loaf of white bread. 300-350gram. 2300won.
Yeah, Prices are great here.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
alongway
Joined: 02 Jan 2012
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 11:36 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Captain Corea wrote: |
| I find it quite odd that you are comparing a wholesaler here in Korea to retailers in Canada. Would it not make more sense to compare retailer to retailer? |
I'm comparing products at places that you can buy them. you can't buy a 600g block of cheese anywhere else usually.
Not to mention that a lot of the canadian grocery stores sell what are known as "club packs" which are often larger packs with a wholesale price. For example that chicken breast is a club pack, if I compared it to the costco chicken breast price you'd see an even larger price disparity.
But only 3 of those prices were from costco, the rest not
I find it odd that you'd try to focus on those as if the other 5 were utterly meaningless or the fact that 3 came from costco that it some how made the other 5 irrelevant.
I know the costco prices on those because I don't buy them elsewhere.
As for ground beef at emart right now 15800 instead of 14900 at costco, per KG not a huge difference.
http://www.emartmall.com/display/item.do?method=getItemInfoViewDtl&item_id=1225550000000&ctg_id=3001347&shop_id=&from1=&from2=&emid=search |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 11:43 pm Post subject: |
|
|
You can also buy them at wholesale farmers markets. Are you going to include those too? Sure, you'd have to be up at 3:00 and take a drive, but you could buy them.
Face it, a Costco to Costco comparison makes much more sense.
For you to say Canadian stores sell club packs, while forgetting that you quoted a multiple pack of corn on a page ago from Emart, well, that seems odd too.
------------------
So, you never answered my question .... If the KRW/CDN$ exchange changes dramatically tomorrow, does the cost of living automatically follow? If it goes to 1000:1 again, which it was a few years back, did prices suddenly drop in Canada? Rise in Korea?
As a tourist, your logic makes sense. You are earning money in one country, and shopping in another. But as far as I know, nobody around here regularly travels between Korea and Canada to buy their groceries. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 11:50 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| As wel, take a look waaaaaaayyyyy back to page one. Look at the prices in the OP's link again. Compare them to the prices I've linked to in Canada. Can you see why I said they were skewed? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
alongway
Joined: 02 Jan 2012
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 11:51 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| For you to say Canadian stores sell club packs, while forgetting that you quoted a multiple pack of corn on a page ago from Emart, well, that seems odd too. |
The single can price is only 34 won more
http://www.emartmall.com/display/item.do?method=getItemInfoViewDtl&item_id=8801045363479&ctg_id=3001569&shop_id=&from1=&from2=&emid=search
On the other hand the club packs of meat are usually $2+/kg of price difference.
the numbers are there, you can dance around all day, trying to make up various reason after reason as to why the cheaper/equal price that exists in Korea for a non-trivial amount of goods is false, or you can go out and fill your cart a little more smartly.
The exchange isn't going to take a nose dive like you suggest and that's precisely why it's an acceptable comparison. When exchange rates are volatile, you can't make direct comparisons like that, but when they've been fairly steady for a very long time you certainly can.
| Quote: |
| As wel, take a look waaaaaaayyyyy back to page one. Look at the prices in the OP's link again. Compare them to the prices I've linked to in Canada. Can you see why I said they were skewed? |
I already agreed that site was a joke. I'm now talking about the general attitude that a lot of foreigners take in claiming that everything is much more expensive in Korea when the reality is, that it is not.
In fact a great deal of what we eat on a day to day basis is right around the same price. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 11:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Where do you work and get paid? What's the average salary in that country? Per year, month, or hour?
Now, how long would the average worker have to work to buy 4 liters of milk?
Now do the same for Canada.
See any difference?
-------------------
I see it as you who is dancing around the numbers here. You posted inaccurate and ignorant prices of goods in Calgary, tried to compare a wholesaler to a retailer, and continue to look at the issue as a tourist rather than a local.
Edit:
| alongway wrote: |
I already agreed that site was a joke. I'm now talking about the general attitude that a lot of foreigners take in claiming that everything is much more expensive in Korea when the reality is, that it is not. |
Is there a quote of someone saying that in this thread. I know I certainly didn't say that. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
alongway
Joined: 02 Jan 2012
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2012 12:32 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Captain Corea wrote: |
Where do you work and get paid? What's the average salary in that country? Per year, month, or hour?
Now, how long would the average worker have to work to buy 4 liters of milk?
Now do the same for Canada.
See any difference?
-------------------
I see it as you who is dancing around the numbers here. You posted inaccurate and ignorant prices of goods in Calgary, tried to compare a wholesaler to a retailer, and continue to look at the issue as a tourist rather than a local. |
and yet even when you posted the accurate numbers, I happily provided lots of comparisons, mostly to emart prices. Yes, a couple of costco ones tossed in for things I regularly buy there so I know the prices, but I've provided you dozens of links to emarts prices.
So far you've tried to throw every single factor you can in to it to try and excuse away the low prices of Korea including trying to use obvious sale prices to increase price disparity in otherwise reasonably closely priced goods. I'm also not the only person who pointed that out.
I only included cheese, because expats seem to be obsessed with the price of cheese and we even have/had a thread on the price of just recently.
Chicken
Bread
Canned corn
ground beef
Chuck steak
lettuce
broccoli
eggs
bananas
All of these prices were provided from Emart, Homeplus or GS Mart, and I found them all to be cheaper, the same or within a reasonable margin.
From costco I provided prices for:
Stewing beef
cheese
Let's see you be so transparent with your argument, so far you've:
1)tried to claim an obvious sale price as a regular price
2)falsely tried to imply that the emart eggs were of a smaller inferior grade when actually checked they'd (75%) be of a larger more expensive grade in Canada, didn't see you acknowledge that
3)tried to imply your high-end kimbap was the standard price when it simply wasn't
4)tried to use completely unrealistic hyperbole to make a pointless point
5)basically spent every other post trying to come up with an excuse as to why something which is cheaper really isn't cheaper
face it, you've been here a long time and you're obviously not that in touch with the grocery prices back home. You're now trying to throwing everything you can think of at it in some desperate attempt to justify your original assertion, despite the fact that more than one person has come here and said they found their groceries to be similarly priced or even a little cheaper here.
If you'd normally buy a huge amount of fruit, yes you'll spend much much more here.
If you want to even factor in more things, lets factor in that I found it rather difficult to buy groceries in Canada without owning a car or taking a much higher priced taxi to cart it all home.
Or if you'd like to really consider things, how about considering that in Calgary, someone teaching entry level ESL is only worth about $15/hour (hagwon style place) which puts them on par or less than what an E2 makes here. After taxes, and factoring in no included housing would actually make their buying power much less, for the same job.
Which would put them just below what the average income for a single male would be in Canada
http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/famil21a-eng.htm
(unfortunately they don't do past 2009, but for a couple more years it seemed to be going up about $500/year)
So then let's take someone in Korea working entry level ESL (which 50% of all E2s are at a minimum) and someone working Entry level ESL in Calgary and see how that works out. I think you'll find that the person in Korea has more disposable income than in Canada.
They'll probably also make more on an hourly basis, and thus it will take them less time units to buy these things if you really want to get into that.
but you know if you want to spin your wheels and but but but until the cows come home, be my guest.
I'm going to go cook myself an inexpensive steak. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
