La Paz - Post Report Question and Answers
How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
Groceries are cheap. There is an amazing variety of fruits, including some I had never seen before. Fruits and veggies need to be washed with bleach. You can find a fair number of speciality items - e.g. Mexican food, asian sauces, etc., but you have to pay more for those. - Jan 2024
Not bad. There are several grocery stores and local markets. If you can't get it here you can order through Amazon through DPO. - Aug 2022
Some things are much cheaper, other more or about the same. - Dec 2019
Everything is available, but not everything is good. Groceries are relatively inexpensive for non-imported items. Groceries can be purchased at stores such as Ketal or Hipermaxi, or at the open-air markets. The food in the grocery stores is less fresh than in the markets. So you have to choose between graying beef in a cellophane-wrapped, pre-weighed package, or bright red meat being handled by women who are simultaneously swatting flies and taking your cash with their bare hands. Produce is plentiful and very good, most of it imported from Peru, and always cheaper in the markets. Agriculture is irrigated with recycled water so all produce must be bleached. Good ice-cream and cheesecake are very hard to find. Most food items don't taste the way their American counterparts do, such as ketchup or dairy. A recent health report from the health unit found that over 50% of cream-filled pastries sold by bakeries and street vendors contained E.coli, so there's that. Household supplies are of very poor quality. We went through three garlic presses in a month before we gave up and had one shipped from the US. - Feb 2019
Fresh produce abounds. Ketal and Hypermaxi are the two big supermarket chains. They both offer most everything you can desire. Of course, pringles and peanut butter cost more than in the States. - Sep 2016
Depends on if it is local or American. American stuff can be really, really expensive. On the other hand, local stuff is typically good quality. Our empliada prefers to use local brands. - Jun 2015
We do most of our grocery shopping at the local market, and for specialty items go to the supermarket. Imported goods are expensive, but local products are really cheap. I feel that you can find most things you need. The one thing we love that you can't find is 100% pure maple syrup all they have is the fake Aunt Jamima syrup. And I miss almond milk, also not available. - Apr 2015
This is still a consumables post. It's hard to find some staples such as paper products (expensive and poor quality), non sugary cereals, snacks, variety of cheeses, decent toiletries... There are a lot of DPO addicts here - Nov 2014
There are a lot of acceptable local or regional products available at reasonable cost. Produce in the markets is cheap and varied. Imported American and European products are available in the larger grocery stores like Ketal and Hypermaxi and in the Achumani Market but are often double U.S. prices. Availability is inconsistent so buy lots when you see it. Paper products, laundry detergents and cosmetics are expensive and generally of lower quality. Cleaning products are cheap but so-so and tend to be highly scented and colored. There are not too many international food products here like Indian or Mexican food, although strangely there are dozens of types of soy sauce available. Italian products are here but a bit more expensive. La Paz is a consumables post so bring any foodie/gourmet items you would miss and if you have kids that will only eat certain brands of peanut butter or cereal stock up and ship, you'll save a bundle. - Jan 2014
Incredibly cheap! Quality produce at the markets. It is very easy to eat healthy. American goods are more expensive and hard to find. - Jul 2013
Groceries are very cheap. Most fruits and veggies are bought in the mercados rather than in the grocery stores. You will find them to be very cheap. American products can sometimes be found here, but they are very expensive. Utilize your consumables shipment. - Jun 2013
Imported products are expensive. Local products are inexpensive. It is a consumables post; take advantage of the 2500 pounds. - Jul 2012
Inexpensive; you can buy anything here. - Feb 2012
Non-imported grocery items and staples are cheap. Expect to pay several times more for imported goods from the U.S. and Europe. - Aug 2011
Cheap and available. You have to pay health insurance and comply with Bolivian law. Its not too bad. The quality of help varies - interview well and have potential domestic employees checked out by the RSO. - May 2011
Three or four different grocery stores and not expensive at all. - May 2011
There are good grocery stores here, but costs vary, depending what you need. Cleaning supplies are low to medium priced, but most just don't seem strong enough. Groceries are low to high priced. Many items are imported from surrounding places suchas Chile and Argentina, so they cost more. Fresh fruits and vegetables are cheap, and there are weekly local markets open in the neighborhoods to find just about anything you need. - Mar 2011
Cheap, $100/month for a couple. - Aug 2010
Except for imported items very reasonable - Jan 2010
Lots of American products are available. They are more expensive than local products and availability varies. You can find everything you need and most things you could want. - Aug 2009
