5 Food Products Cheaper in New Zealand than in the Philippines

Yes, for the most part, it is expensive to eat in New Zealand. A typical Big Mac value meal at Mcdonald's will set you back around NZ$11 (or PhP 400). At the grocery and supermarket, fruits and vegetables are likewise expensive. So does that mean students receiving modest stipends will starve in New Zealand? Not necessarily. Because from my experience I know there are at least 5 food products cheaper in NZ than in the Philippines. In no particular order, they are:

Image from shop.countdown.co.nz

1. Steak

Given that there are more cows in NZ than there are people, one can expect for meat products to be cheaper than in the Philippines. I buy 2 pcs. of Countdown Angus beef sirloin steak for about NZ$10 (or only PhP 175 each). That's pretty cheap for Angus beef. So for my entire stay in Auckland I ended up eating steak at least once a week!

Image from chocablog.com

2. Chocolate

If steak is cheap, it follows that dairy products are cheap as well. This is true for chocolate. One big bar of Cadbury chocolate (220 g) can go as low as NZ$2 (or PhP 70). That's super cheap compared to how much they cost at Rustans or SM supermarket. Not only does New Zealand produce their own milk for the chocolate, they have a Cadbury manufacturing facility right in the South Island! 

Here's another thing about Cadbury. It's not even the high quality chocolate here. I feel they treat Cadbury like it was Goya. A better tasting chocolate brand is local favorite Whittaker's.

Image from mainland.com.au

3. Cheese

Let's go full circle with the cow thing. So I said that steak is cheap, and so is chocolate. Well whad'ya know, cheese is also cheap here in New Zealand. A block of Mainland brand Edam or Colby cheese (250 g), which could last you 2 weeks, is just NZ$4 (or PhP 140). That's cheap!

Image from thedailyspud.com

4. Wine

If you include cheese in your Kiwi diet, then you have to have wine. And luckily, wine is pretty cheap in New Zealand. I'm not a wine drinker, but if you're in New Zealand, you might as well start to be one. A bottle of Whale Point Sauvignon Blanc (750 g) is only NZ$7 (or PhP 245). And there's so much to choose from (unlike the very limited selection at our local supermarkets). In my time in NZ, I've tasted Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Rose, Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet, Moscato, Brut, and Chardonnay. Now I'm still no expert, but once you drink New Zealand or Australian wine, you'll never go back to Novelino.

PS: New Zealand is more famous for its white wines (Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris and Riesling) than its red wines. 

Image from shopnewzealand.co.nz

5. Potato Chips

And finally, in what I believe should be in every person's diet, potato chips is cheap in New Zealand. It's cheap because they grow the potatoes and manufacture the chips right here. A bag of Lays potato chips (150 g) in Rustans can set you back around PhP 110. In Auckland, a bag of Bluebird potato chips (also 150 g) can go as low as NZ$1.5 (or PhP 50). 50 Pesos! Sobrang mura, which means I ate potato chips everyday here in New Zealand!

So there. If you like steak, chocolate, cheese, wine and potato chips, like me, then you will survive here in New Zealand on your stipend. You'll get fat, yes, but you won't break the bank.

Happy eating!