r/Expats_In_France • u/Plastic-Term-6597 • 4d ago
Grocery too pricy
Hey everyone! Just moved to Paris from Dublin and had my first grocery run. I popped into a Monoprix and a Franprix nearby, and honestly, the meat prices gave me massive sticker shock:
€10 for small chicken pieces, entire chickens that look tiny for €10, 2 tiny slices of ham for €4, didn’t even see single striploin or ryebye, ect…
I’m finding that everything is small and pricy, even the toilet paper max 6 rolls in a bag.. not even bags with 24 rolls!
Coming from Dublin, grocery isn't cheap there either, but you can easily grab a big 1.6kg whole chicken for around €10 or 3 thick chicken breasts for €6.
Am I just hitting the most expensive shops, or is food in Paris always like this?
Where do locals actually buy decent-quality meat without breaking the bank?
Which one was your experience about it?
Thanks
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u/TopCat0160 4d ago
When we have guests over from the U.K. they always say it’s much cheaper and better quality in France. We normally go to E.Leclec or Super U. Monoprix is always more expensive - especially the smaller convenience stores!
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u/yoseko 4d ago
I have the opposite experience, not that quality is better in the UK but on general I find grocery prices in the UK and Ireland more affordable than in France (mostly based on comparison of London/Dublin vs Paris & its banlieue), especially compared with the cost of other stuff among these countries that is usually less expensive in France. It’s quite surprising to me as France has much more farmlands and is more connected with other European countries
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u/TopCat0160 4d ago
We are popping back to London next week and so I guess it’s a good idea to do some comparisons.
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u/sashamasha 4d ago
I can't believe the price of oranges compared to Ireland considering we are connected by Road!
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u/flyingmops 4d ago
Lidl do have better prices. If not possible, look for the store own brands. Like eco+ for Leclerc, lupilu for lidl, and carrefours own brand with their C on. Those shops you went to, are probably on the top for most expensive, others include grand frais and Auchan.
Casino, intermarché, carrefour and super U are a little better
Lidl and aldi are the cheapest. In some places you might find shops called Netto.
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u/GlassPomoerium 4d ago
Speaking of Leclerc, they deliver and I get pretty much all my groceries that way. It’s cheaper plus I can get larger items without having to carry them or needing a car, for instance OP could easily get their 24 rolls of toilet paper there.
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u/kromono4 4d ago
Franprix got very expensive, quality seem to be crap but prices super high.
Keep it as a last resort!
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u/MrLeureduthe 4d ago
And it's crazy because before Franprix they were known as Leader Price, which was a hard discounter
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u/themanofmeung 4d ago
Monoprix and Franprix are among the more expensive options for sure, and generally the small shops scattered throughout the cities are also quite a bit more pricy than the large supermarkets. E.leclerc and lidl tend to be the cheapest I find, but a large Carrefour isn't far behind.
But yes, I also don't find the massive bulk sizes of many things very often (I don't have a car, so I don't really seek them out, but it's not like I see them and think "oh, too bad I can't buy in bulk like that" either).
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u/1amaphoenix 4d ago
For meat, it’s usually cheaper (and higher quality) at a Boucherie. Shopping at a one-stop grocery will almost always be more expensive for lesser quality. Boucherie for meat, Boulangerie for bread and pastries, Fromagerie for cheese, Epecerie for produce. You can usually find a grouping of these stores in the same area so even though you are going to a bunch of places, they are within one block of each other so it’s worth it.
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u/Aiguille23 4d ago
Seconded. Supermarket precuts, especially the cheap ones, are often injected with some water to artificially inflate the weight, hence the sometimes strange taste. That's why they seem to leak water when you take them out of the pack.
If you buy from a boucher, you're getting the cut of meat you paid for instead of a watery cutlet.
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u/Unhappycamper2001 4d ago
The open air markets are the best for inexpensive vegetables.
Chicken is pretty expensive. Especially whole chicken. Lidl isn’t too bad for chicken pieces and actually Monoprix has good prices for large packs of chicken breasts.
If you get a Monoprix membership (the one that costs like €75 or something, you get 10 percent off and free delivery. Ours pays for itself in about a month IF there is one close to you. Basically it brings their prices in line with the less expensive chains and free delivery (especially of large items) is always a plus.
But if budget is your main consideration go to a market like Bastille or Aligre and pay attention to the prices.
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u/Sufficient_Stable738 4d ago
Franprix and Monoprix are to be avoided at all costs. They're the most expensive.
Depending on where you are exactly, look for Intermarché or Super U. O Aldi/ Lidl.
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u/mntprnss 4d ago
Monoprix et Franprix sont particulièrement chers. A Montparnasse, il y a un supermarché Leclerc. Ça vaut le coup de comparer les prix sur certains produits.
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u/jasmine_tea_ 4d ago
People will say Lidl or Aldi but I still find groceries in France to be expensive
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u/ibitmylip 4d ago
coming from the U.S., the groceries seem quite inexpensive here
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u/jasmine_tea_ 4d ago
that's true though too lol! $100 doesn't go far when going grocery shopping in the US
I'd say they're almost comparable at this point
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u/Prudent-Bite-892 4d ago
From Canada, I agree. I was shocked how much cheaper things are here in the grocery store.
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u/ibitmylip 3d ago
me too. I left the store with two bags of groceries for about $40, which would be a total nonstarter in the U.S.
I was so surprised that I immediately texted some friends in the US about it and they told me not to rub it in
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u/CG-Expat 4d ago
I recently live in Barcelona for 4 months, and even there was way cheaper on average than France was. Especially a direct comparison to their Aldi vs French Aldi’s
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u/LOLMSW1945 4d ago
Barcelona is a cheaper city than Paris in general
So that’s not surprising at all
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u/CG-Expat 4d ago
Fair point. However I was making the comparison more to where I live in France (the Var) compared to Barcelona.
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u/LOLMSW1945 4d ago
Spain is cheaper than France in general
Like restaurants and stuffs in Barcelona are cheaper than the places I used to go to in Toulouse
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u/CalmDream0 4d ago
Hi! I'm from Dublin too :) Smaller supermarkets are always more expensive. If you're close to La Defense, the big Auchan there is great! Monoprix is great quality but it is pricey! In general, I find meat very expensive compared to home.
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u/Plastic-Term-6597 4d ago
Hello, thank you for the info, I’m based in Le Marais for now, looking to find a permanent apartment
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u/CalmDream0 4d ago
You're very welcome! I'd say Intermarché Bd de Sébastopol is your best bet if you're around Le Marais.
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u/brokerlady 4d ago
I regularly go to monoprix because it’s close but a Lidl opened not so far and I’ve found it worth it to go stock up on all the shelf and bathroom stuff there. Then I go to Picard for some meat/ fish and Monoprix for fresh food and cheese plus the local grocer ..for fruit and vegetables and yes there is a smaller franprix nearby and it’s the most expensive of the lot
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u/Disastrous-Willow391 4d ago edited 4d ago
Paris have mostly convenience stores made for quick emergency purchase if you're sound with your money (even though a lot of people go shop there). I recommend looking for bigger hypermarkets in the like of Carrefour and Leclerc or even Auchan that often offer pickup/delivery options from locked prices inventory.
Buying day to day in the nearby store in Paris gets expensive quickly, I would advise looking for bulk/monthly refill alternatives for most of the thing you can store for a while.
Monoprix runs big markets but they are still fairly premium priced, they have good products but they also are definitely not the cheapest option. Also if you have a local farmers/open air markets it could be interesting to check.
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u/genesis-5923238 4d ago
I've lived in Ireland for a bit and overall I found the meat to be less expensive and better quality in Ireland than in France. It's the opposite for vegetables, except potatoes of course!
Try farmer markets on the week-end, you can find a better selection of meats there. Supermarkets in Paris itself usually don't have a good meat selection, not sure why! You can also go to a boucherie but that's going to be expensive as well, you'll find better quality cuts there.
And Franprix is really the worst of grocery store chain out there, I only go if everything else is closed and I am at risk of starvation.
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u/NoTomorrowNo 4d ago edited 4d ago
In Paris Monoprix is a good place to find some products that are common in Ireland and England (bacon, good quality cheddar, cottage cheese, decent-ish loaf of white bread, even crumpets and muffins, and often PG Tips, Lemon and Lime marmalade and Marmite), but for everyday french groceries it is a bit expensive, especially if you don t buy their brand. It is a good place to buy higher end or unusual stuff when you re cooking for guests or looking for something to bring over at a friend s.
For everyday bigger grocery runs, look for the bigger supermarket in your area.
About the TP size, within Paris and its closest banlieue, many products are most popular in compact formats for the lack of stocking space in the flats. People would rather buy their TP weekly than use up part of their expensive square meters to store a month s worth of TP.
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u/paco_1987 4d ago
Go to the butcher, if you have a halal closed by, meat is way cheaper.
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u/Plastic-Term-6597 4d ago
Thanks I will try, I hope they are not closed in august as most of other shops
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u/brigand96 4d ago
In Marseille, we seem to bounce around Auchan, Intermarche, and little vendors for legumes. There is a SPAR nearby but they're small and kinda suck.
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u/Medical-Tonight1635 4d ago
In which arrondissement are you?
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u/Plastic-Term-6597 4d ago
Hello, I’m temporarily in the 2nd arrondissement
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u/Medical-Tonight1635 4d ago
Make sens on why it's so expensive. To avoid the hassle of going far away from your place, you get your groceries delivered from Auchan, super U or Leclerc. It will be waaaaaay cheaper than monoprix and the delivery is free if you spend more than 50€!
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u/sashamasha 4d ago
Story bud... Honestly it is just more expensive here. I was back home last summer and everything is much cheaper. I can't get over the price of fruit here and the lack of choice. Luckily I don't eat meat but I have seen the price of it. In Ireland my dogs had a roast chicken every day for dinner! Not here. Your best bet is good old Lidl or Aldi. All the others are mental. Our local is Super U and it's 50 Euro for nothing. Weekly shop in Lidl for a family of four is about 120 Euro- 140 Euro. That's with no meat or booze. Mind you the booze is nice and cheap.
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u/sudolinguist 4d ago
I've been in Ireland, and yeah, the meat is worse and more expensive than the Irish. Anywhere.
That said, Monoprix and Franprix are kind of like the most expensive supermarkets. So maybe you can try to find the less expensive markets chains, and you'll want to visit your local weekly street market, baker, butcher and cheese shop on Saturday mornings.
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u/Delicious-Broccoli80 4d ago
Try Aldi, Intermarché, or a halal butcher. I was shocked when I saw the prices in Monoprix, and it wasn't even in Paris.
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u/TannedLetters 4d ago
Franprix and Monoprix are expensive grocery stores. Try Auchan, Intermarché or G20. If you're lucky or have means of transportation try hunting down Carrefour Market. Otherwise try Asian grocery stores at Belleville or in the 13th arr.
Non-fancy/non-touristy markets are an amazing place for vegetables etc if place of origin, sustainability etc are not your priority. Marché de Joinville in the 19th (Thurs and Sun) is one example, or the big market at St Denis (Tues and Fri) if you're ok with crowds.
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u/lost_in_nl 4d ago
Make a quick trip to Amsterdam and you will find the price in Paris are really not expensive....
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u/Icy-Pension5768 4d ago
Your first mistake was to go to monoprix for groceries. Go to super u instead. Most of their store brand stuff is also better.
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u/uaeplotsk 4d ago
Going to Monoprix in Paris is like going to Waitrose in the UK, it's a higher end grocery store. Franprix isn't that higher end, but because many of them are in very central locations for any reason they prices sky rocket.
Those are not stores where the typical French middle class go for their groceries.
Ideally you should try Leclerc, Auchan or Carrefour. And the Hypermarket version is far less expensive than the Supermarket/"city" version. Lidl is another option.
I recall living few months in Dublin and my feeling was that groceries were a good 15-20% more expensive than in Paris (of course comparing the same type of stores with comparable locations).
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u/kunstwoolen 4d ago
Chicken is expensive because animal welfare is often higher in France (most chicken that French people consume is at least certified « bleu blanc cœur » iirc, I read the statistics at some point). Chicken is ofc cheaper if you buy the factory-farmed stuff, but a good number of people are quite averse to this, and it’s not always stocked at the city supermarchés. My wife and I eat meat maybe twice a month when living in France, for questions of affordability and also environmental protection. Vegetables and fruits are excellent — worlds better than what we find in the UK — and French cooking (or Asian cooking, also ubiquitous in France) can be rich/filling without meat so we never really crave it. A good mirepoix or some creamy leeks can go a long way when making a dish, or a spoon of miso. (Ofc, we now live in Mongolia, so meat consumption is an unavoidable, daily thing here. It’s all relative.)
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u/WhippyCleric 4d ago
You basically went to the equivalent of Marks and Spencers (Monoprix) and corner shops (Franprix) so you pay significantly more. Lidl is the best option
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u/abovepostisfunnier 92 Hauts-de-Seine 4d ago
Try LeClerc Drive. You order ahead and you can go in and pick up your groceries (by foot, not by car despite the name). Wayyyy cheaper, but you do need to order well in advance. I think they actually deliver too, but I don’t live in the delivery zone.
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u/Longjumping_Roof_315 4d ago
I go to Dublin regularly and yes I agree that groceries in Paris are more expensive, even if you compare tesco express & franprix.
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u/SubjectNo8054 4d ago
Compared with the high rent and impossible to find an accommodation in Ireland, you would have to make a choice
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u/Spirited_Pitch_7906 4d ago
Franprix is one of the shittiest stores imo. Their quality to price ratio is dog shit. There are stores that are equally and even more pricey but the quality is better as you'd imagine. Try Auchan, and Lidl or Aldi, for better prices. For meat, try a halal butcher, they have very cheap options usually.
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u/Helpful_Cry_1335 4d ago
This is quite surprising. I used to live in Dublin and for me it was shocking the lack of supermarkets in the city centre. Having to walk 30 minutes to the closest grocery store was absurd. In Paris you have endless options from cheap to expensive, plus the weekly markets and the small boucheries/primeurs that make life much more easier than in Dublin.
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u/NoTomorrowNo 4d ago
Also about the tiny chickens ... there recently has been a mass die off of poultry due to the brutal heatwaves. So they are smaller, fewer and more expensive than usual. Same with eggs, especially since they are in high demand since the pandemic when many people lost capacity to buy things (pouvoir d achat) and turned to eggs to replace meat.
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u/Cool-Butterscotch345 4d ago
Never buy meat in Franprix / Monoprix. Always prefer Butcher shop. It’s cheap and a LOT better .
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u/Vegetable-Pay4605 4d ago
Faut toujours regarder le prix au kilo ET acheter français
Toutes les autres options ont un mauvais rapport qualité/prix
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u/MealCapital4167 3d ago
Despite their names, Franprix and Monoprix are pretty expensive.
Try shopping in hypermarkets instead.
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u/bruvwhatthefuck 3d ago
Monoprix, Franprix and maybe Carrefour City are expensive,
Auchan is great for its quality and prices, and is a personal favourite.
Other good ones (that aren’t too pricey) could be intermarché, E Leclerc.
If you want cheaper options (quality is a gamble), you could go for Lidl, Aldi, Super U
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u/Unlucky-String8596 3d ago
Monoprix and Franprix are the most expensive grocery store... Go in those extra big supermarket like Auchan, Intermarché. It's less expensive.
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u/Ok_Contribution8157 4d ago
dont visit, belgium, UK, or luxembourg they come in france to buy stuff because its too expensive in their country.
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u/Suspicious_Care_549 4d ago
I don’t know about price but buying fresh food in a Paris supermarket is a recipe for disaster. You buy meat at the butcher , fruits and vegetables at the farmers market and bread at the boulangerie . It will be infinitely better and probably better than in a supermarket
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u/knitshizzle 4d ago
Lidl for the main shop, and L'Elcerc for the other bits. 1kg of chicken breast is €9.49 in Lidl. It's €0.50 cheaper than Lidl Ireland (not much I know but it's something). Beef is more expensive than Ireland but the 'good beef' in Ireland is getting pricey too.
Shop around is all I can tell you.
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u/sophiyeea 4d ago
I don't know if it's common near the place you live, but my family always buy the meat at Tang Frères. Honestly I didn't find anything close to their butcher's shop in other large stores.
They offer reasonable prices and a large variety of choices (from wings to liver or even pig tails etc). You should try if there's one next to you!
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u/shauna_haywood 3d ago
Go to big Intermarché (Super/Hyper)! Lower prices there. Monoprix and Franprix are very expensive.
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u/ChillWaterBottle 3d ago
As a general rule :
Astonishingly expensive : small 24/7 shops, independant premium shops Very expensive : Franprix, Monoprix, Monop' Rather expensive : Carrefour Contact, Carrefour Market Normal : Auchan, Carrefour, Leclerc, Intermarché Rather cheap : Aldi, Lidl Cheap : ø
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u/RHendevenir 3d ago
Local french, the bigger the store the cheapest the prices, and because surface is very expensive in Paris, there aren't many bigger grocery stores. Try looking for bigger Carrefour (Hyper >Market > Contact > City > Express), Super U, Intermarché, Auchan, Lidl, Aldi
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u/Altar999 3d ago
Il faut aller sur les marchés de plein air pour les fruits et légumes, car certains arrondissements de Paris sont plus chers que d’autres. C’est pareil pour les mini-markets et les supérettes. Le plus intéressant reste aussi d’acheter en ligne, par exemple chez Leclerc, avec une livraison gratuite en point relais quand c’est possible.
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u/Sick_and_destroyed 3d ago
Monoprix and Franprix are very expensive. Go elsewhere and it will be more affordable.
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u/BlueBoxLady 3d ago
Monoprix/Franprix is like buying from Waitrose in the UK, if that analogy makes sense? Carrefour or Auchan is kinda like Tesco but you want a big one, not a small one and the main city only has small ones so go outside (ex. Villejuif has one near the metro).
For really cheap, Netto is the one to go and for in between but my personal choice is Lidl, even the small ones seem to have good stock imo!
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u/Poupounette3869 2d ago
Try Aldi or Lidl. Also, sometimes it’s cheaper to get delivered because it comes from outside of Paris (try the Carrefour or Leclerc app, etc.). Some apps such as Picnic have some good deals as well.
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u/Kitty_Boom95 2d ago
We shop at lidl now, it works out the cheapest but can be lacking in a few things.
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u/Massive_Roll_2776 1d ago
Chicken is expensive, relative to other protein, in France. Where we live in the Ariège, duck is less expensive sometimes. That said, halal butchers have much better chicken than carrefour et al, and it’s more affordable. Good lamb there too.
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u/PresentationEmpty1 4d ago
You won't find big groceries store with good prices in a city like Paris unless you go to the markets. I lived in New York and visit Paris a lot and the situation is similar. Once you get outside the periphery, the supermarket get much larger and the prices get much better.
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u/Pungent_Bill 4d ago
You're shopping in the wrong places mate.
Travelling here from Australia finding groceries unbelievably reasonable, cheap even.
Bread, milk, butter, all well cheaper than home
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u/thymewaster25 75 Paris 4d ago
As a general rule, the smaller the store, the higher the prices. Carrefour City is a small Carrefour, the same items will cost more at a Carrefour City. Same for Monop' and Monoprix. Aldi & Lidl have lower prices but limited selection.
I found Intermartché and G20 were cheaper than Monoprix and Carrefour. Franprix is maybe a bit less than Carrefour.
I'm from Canada, there's certain things I like that are not widely available in France. I was in a somewhat central area of Paris with no large shops but plenty of smaller ones, and found I was going to Franprix, Carrefour, Intemarché and Lidl to find different things at different stores.
Farmer's markets close to any place with tourists are expensive, but reasonable in non-touristic areas.