Food prices in Australia
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381779)
Rockingham, Australia
December 16, 2019 6:07am CST
Those myLotters who live in the US and Canada sometimes give the prices of food they buy and I thought it might be interesting to tell you about some of ours. We seem to pay a lot more here, especially for meat but it’s hard to say really when there are so many variables between our countries.
Here is a quote from a website: https://employsure.com.au/guides/wage-and-pay/minimum-wage-australia/ - The current minimum wage in Australia is $740.80 per week, which equates to a minimum hourly rate of $19.49. The minimum wage is the absolute lowest that an employee can be paid. This minimum wage was set on May 30, 2019 and must be adhered to by all businesses operating in Australia. – unquote. So that’s a starting point.
The exchange rate goes up and down like a mad woman’s …. Oops sorry. 
I mean like a yo-yo. At the moment 1 US dollar is worth 1.45 Australian dollars so the minimum hourly rate of $A19.49 equates to $US13.45.
The prices I’m giving are taken from our local supermarket catalogue and terms might be different but again it’s a starting point.
Scotch fillet (our most expensive beef cut) = $30 kg (a kilogram = 2.2 lbs)
Blade steak (stewing/casserole steak) = $15 kg.
Extra lean beef mince = $16 kg
Chicken breast fillet = $10 (on special) to $18 kg
Avocados = $2.30 each
Loose potatoes = $2 kg
Tomatoes = $4 kg
Salmon = $13 to $25 kg
Photo is of a steamed pudding I made for our guests recently.
I mean like a yo-yo. At the moment 1 US dollar is worth 1.45 Australian dollars so the minimum hourly rate of $A19.49 equates to $US13.45.
The prices I’m giving are taken from our local supermarket catalogue and terms might be different but again it’s a starting point.
Scotch fillet (our most expensive beef cut) = $30 kg (a kilogram = 2.2 lbs)
Blade steak (stewing/casserole steak) = $15 kg.
Extra lean beef mince = $16 kg
Chicken breast fillet = $10 (on special) to $18 kg
Avocados = $2.30 each
Loose potatoes = $2 kg
Tomatoes = $4 kg
Salmon = $13 to $25 kg
Photo is of a steamed pudding I made for our guests recently.28 people like this
27 responses
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
16 Dec 19
folks don't seem to comprehend that if'n wages go'p, so do the prices 'f goods 'n services. 'tis like a cat chasin' 'ts tail, so's to speak. nearly fell out'ta my chair o'er the "mad woman's..." yup, my mind went racin' all o'er the map, lol.
makes ya wonder how folks can provide fer their families, 'n prolly why the food banks'n these parts 're 'lways needin' donations 'n so many're gettin' government 'ssistance fer food 'n other necessities.
yer taters'n salmon 'tis cheaper than here, lol. i'd not thought the price 'f beef 'd be so high there? then 'gain, i live 'bout 50 miles from the purported 'beef capitol 'f the u.s.' 'n such's ridiculous here, too. 'tis that supply'n demand thingy more'n the cost 'f production i'm thinkin'.
oh my! that steamed puddin' looks most yummy! 'n beautiful, too :) what lucky guests!
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
17 Dec 19
@JudyEv yer welcome. used to be able to do such here, much better produce fer certain. costs way more'n the grocery stores these days, but sometimes worth 't jest fer quality?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381779)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Dec 19
@crazyhorseladycx Sometimes the fresh produce is dearer rather than cheaper. There is no telling.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
16 Dec 19
I am guessing the price would balance out due to the income, seems when the income goes up here so do the prices. I have to up the rent every couple years.
2 people like this
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
16 Dec 19
Lamb prices are usually the telltale for US/Oz pricing.
interesting your hourly minimum is very close to what they pay in the US now...
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381779)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Dec 19
@DocAndersen I've noticed that 'turkey' features in food posts a lot.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
17 Dec 19
@JudyEv in the US lamb is very expensive as well. We mostly get chicken and ground turkey!
1 person likes this
@Butterfingers (66603)
• India
16 Dec 19
Yes it's incredible to look at the difference in rates and even the exchange dear
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (208746)
• United States
16 Dec 19
They seem quite high to me. However, the same is with Japan and alot of Pacific areas. Even in Hawaii, the prices of things were noticeably higher. I just got a 4 pack of avocados for 3.49.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (208746)
• United States
17 Dec 19
@JudyEv 6564vwindham I hope do four sale. They really are pretty good for you.
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50970)
• Holiday, Florida
16 Dec 19
I guess it is quite the same except our lowest wages here.
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50970)
• Holiday, Florida
17 Dec 19
@JudyEv I used to hear there was but the last few years our food prices have gotten more and more outrageous
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (49753)
• India
17 Dec 19
Avocado prices look fine. Here we have the imported Avocados which are costly.
Tomatoes sound a bit costly.
Here, we have potatoes on an average : 0.30 USD (for 1 USD= 70 INR).
And onions are currently expensive - around 1.5 USD (100 INR) and has become a potential political issue.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (49753)
• India
18 Dec 19
@JudyEv
Yes so many things are linked.
Last year, onion prices dropped due to record harvests and jumped sky high this year!
1 person likes this
@Aquitaine24 (12000)
• San Jose, California
8 Jan 20
@JudyEv What kind of jam is that?
1 person likes this
@dfollin (27267)
• United States
16 Dec 19
LOL! A mad woman!
Are those food prices american dollars?
I wish our wages were higher. Our apparently goes by each state. In Virginia,USA it is $7.25 an hour which does not pay much in this area at all. Some food prices are high , yes. But mostly rent!
Are those food prices american dollars?
I wish our wages were higher. Our apparently goes by each state. In Virginia,USA it is $7.25 an hour which does not pay much in this area at all. Some food prices are high , yes. But mostly rent!1 person likes this
@flapiz (23530)
• United Kingdom
16 Dec 19
You are right about the weird exchange rates. It would really be interesting to know if the businesses earn a lot more or a lot less for that.
I would say food prices there are actually more reasonable than here in the UK specially if considering the income.
1 person likes this
@Aquitaine24 (12000)
• San Jose, California
8 Jan 20
THat steamed pudding looks very good.Did everyone like it?
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (56195)
• Canada
17 Dec 19
I believe that our minimum wage here in Ontario is $15 per hour. I'm not totally sure since I am above that.
But, when I look at your costs of living for the foods mentioned, your minimum wage earners would not be eating very well, which is an issue that a lot of our min. wage earners suffer from as well.
I had a niece who attended teachers college in Australia, and she always recalls how expensive things were. Of course that isn't uncommon for a 'starving student' to complain about.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
16 Dec 19
We don't have a fixed minimum wage here. We have population that really lives in dark poverty.
And mad woman is apt for the exchange rates.
Your pudding looks delicious. 
Your pudding looks delicious. 1 person likes this
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
17 Dec 19
@JudyEv Yes. It is a more structured and organized system in developed countries. Our country lacks that and too much of population and lack of awareness makes it even though.
1 person likes this
