General Costs

[confetti]

What is the cheapest way to buy provisions? (Food, alcohol, water, toiletries etc) Is it a larger place like Tesco Lotus in Market Village or 'local stores' in and around town?

Thanks in advance

[Big Boy]

I think your question is too broad based for a meaningful response. You need to be more specific in what you're after. As an example, what food are you after? If you want a kilo of chili peppers, you'd probably get the best deal at the local market. If you want a box of Corn Flakes, then Tesco will be competitive.

[PeteC]

Don't forget Macro. In one swoop you're set for a month or more, and any typhoons which may come along. Just don't buy more toilet paper than is reasonable. Really depressing to be out of food but have reams of TP. Pete

[hhfarang]

At the beginning of each month... when I get my pension payment... I make a trip to Old Hua Hin Shopping Mall market and get most of the regular household goods. For the things I can't get there, I then make a trip to Tesco. For the things I can't get there, I then make a trip to Villa Market. Somewhere in between I make a trip to the Cathay Liquor Wholesaler.

I used to go to "G" market as well for some items and I even go to Cha-Am now for one important item I cannot get in Hua Hin!

Each place has items the others don't stock, plus each place is cheaper than the others on some items, so... you really need to visit multiple stores to get everything you want and you need to pay attention to prices to see from which places you should what!

And yes, Makro is a good choice too about once a month for items you use a lot of...

[Farang]

Cheapest places for kitchen goods, packed goods and chemicals are the old shopping mall next to Satukarn and the
Ang Nam supermarket just across the railway on Chomsin road.

Also the Chinese Market on Chomsin (between Neab Kehard and Petshakasem) is very cheap on some foodstuffs.
I do not think Makro is any cheaper than, say, Tesco, but they have very good selection of meats and spices.

However, YMMV

[margaretcarnes]

Agreed - the old Shopping Mall, and 'Gee' on Chomsin, although the Mall probably has the biggest range of goods.
Villa is always useful for hard to find farang essentials food wise.
HHHam and Bacon for cooked/prepared meat and pies. Euro Bakery for pastries. Any of the shops at the fresh market end of SraSong Rd for pots/pans/pestles. And definitely the fresh market for fruit, vegetables, fresh meat and fish.
Tesco as a last resort! (I'm not a great fan of Tesco anywhere - so thats biased.)
But try to find alternatives to your usual farang brand goods. Toothpaste for example - Darlie is much cheaper than Colgate. Half litre bottles of Sunnydrop shampoo are good value. Protex soap is fine.
Happy shopping!

[PeteC]

...... Protex soap is fine.
Happy shopping!

More than fine. Does the trick in this climate better than imported Dial, Zest etc., and doesn't have the strong smell of Detol(sp) and others. Only problem is that it melts fast, faster than other bars of soap IMO. Pete