Cost of South African Groceries in America Shocks Mzansi
- A South African TikToker highlighted the eye-watering cost of local groceries in the U.S., leaving viewers shocked
- Basic items are selling for several times their Mzansi prices, turning everyday essentials into pricey treats for expats
- High import fees and the weak rand against the dollar are making it harder for South Africans overseas to enjoy the taste of home
- Briefly News spoke to Ntendi Munyai and Lilo, two South Africans living in the United Kingdom, to get their perspective on the difference in grocery prices and availability abroad
South Africans abroad were stunned by how expensive familiar groceries have become in America, after Naledi Moeti’s viral TikTok gave a glimpse into the high costs of shopping for homegrown favourites.
Source: TikTok
Living abroad often comes with surprises, especially for South Africans trying to maintain a taste of home. A TikTok video by user @naledi_moeti has gone viral after she shared the shocking prices of South African grocery items in the United States. In her video, she compared staple items like maize meal and canned beans, highlighting the significant price differences caused by exchange rates and import costs.
In South Africa, a bag of Iwisa maize meal usually costs around R22, but in the U.S., the same product can cost a staggering R90. Similarly, a can of beans that retails for R12 in Mzansi is sold for around R250 in American stores. This jaw-dropping price jump sparked conversations online about the challenges of keeping familiar food traditions while living abroad. Naledi captioned her video with a playful note to fellow expats:
"All my South African food lovers in America, @Angus Biltong is where it’s at! They carry everything from Iwisa pap to chakalaka, and yes, they DELIVER. 🛒 Wondering if they ship nationwide or just in Texas, do you know?"
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South Africans abroad pay high prices for local groceries
The high prices are largely due to import fees and currency differences. With the current exchange rate, the South African rand is much weaker than the U.S. dollar, making local staples feel like luxury goods overseas. For many South Africans who relocate for job opportunities or better living conditions, shopping for homegrown products abroad can quickly become expensive.
Her post resonated with expats who rely on speciality stores like Angus Biltong to bring a piece of home to their kitchens. While the prices may be shocking, the comfort of cooking familiar meals makes the splurge worth it for many living abroad.
Lilo and Ntendi shared their experience of navigating grocery shopping in the UK, from the high cost of South African favourites to the surprising affordability of certain local items. Ntendi Munyai said:
“Pure South African boerewors is what I miss the most. Although it exists in South African shops here, these aren’t everywhere, and it’s pricey. I miss the luxury of just walking to my local shop and buying it as part of my normal groceries."
"I have access to most of the food I used to enjoy at home, like chicken feet and pig trotters, but the catch is that they are very expensive compared to home, and they are not available everywhere. If you do a comparison, then South Africa is cheaper even for basic things. For example, I pay about £19 for a 10kg bag of Iwisa.”
Lilo shared a slightly different experience, saying:
“I wish we had Inkomazi in the UK. I love it with pap and most of my baking. The Lidl Milbona Greek-style yoghurt is a good alternative for Woolies double cream plain yoghurt. It goes well with my muesli and granola. I think groceries are cheaper in the UK than in South Africa. In SA, to get quality first-grade fruits and veggies, you have to buy from shops like Woolies and Checkers, which are a bit pricey for most citizens. In the UK, even grocery stores equivalent to Shoprite and Boxer sell very good quality fresh produce.
“We are a family of five, and I think we spend less in the UK on groceries. We spend around £80 per week. Back in SA, we used to spend around R5,000 per month, with about R1,500 in weekly top-ups.”
Source: TikTok
Mzansi reacted to the prices
RiRiSoko said:
“13 thousand ranta. 😭 Crazy business leyo USA”
User6418998678598 wrote:
“Cream of tomato soup, it’s definitely not R12. I’m guessing maybe R8.”
Ntokozo Lui commented:
“I see you haven’t been to SA in a while. 😭”
Naledi||Aupair, the creator replied:
“It’s been a very long time since I’ve been.”
Raven53 said:
“If you convert from dollars to rands, it will always be ‘expensive.’ Look at the unit of money: if you earn 700 a week in the US and 700 in SA, do the math—40.41 vs 200, 59 vs 500. Does it make sense?”
Kim wrote:
“Bile soup ke R7 samma. 😭 Aowa bowa gae ra gowisha mara go sale kaone😂”
baby_tower wrote:
“Yooh usahlaleleni lapho. 😭 Buya chommie.”
Bongani Mahlaba said:
“Lento yoku converter yiyo elimaza abantu abaningi... abanye nje ba resignile emsebenzini babuyela e South Africa ngakho ukuthanda uku converter. 😂”
Read also
A shopper’s Checkers bill of R344.49 dropped to zero after she swiped her Xtra Savings card
Check out the TikTok post below:
Source: Getty Images
3 Briefly News stories about relocations
- An American couple gained viral attention on TikTok after sharing their dream-come-true life in South Africa.
- A woman with experience living overseas took the time to compare the cost of living when she lived in a North American country versus South Africa.
- A couple from the US shared their journey to purchasing their South African luxury home at a fraction of what they sold their house for in America.
Updated by Hilary Sekgota, Human Interest HOD at Briefly News.
Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.
Source: Briefly News
