What is a reasonable grocery bill a week for middle class family of 5?

Where?

How old are the other children?  What type of food everyone prefers to eat?  What kind of diet (soft drinks and convenient snack)?  Who does the shopping and cooking?  How many meals a day does the family eat together (do the children eat lunch in school, do parents take lunch to work)?

ho chi minh city,  3 , 5, 7 year old.

this might help. I find the numbers quite ok from my short experience. https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/i … rrency=VND

In general, food costs are low in Vietnam, but that's if you are living off mostly local rice, meat, fruit and vegetables. Some imported processed foods are also quite reasonable, such as canned goods, peanut butter from the USA, some basic packaged cheese, etc.

However, buying a lot of imported meat and luxury items can of course cause your grocery bill to quickly rise into millions of VND.

As is often mentioned on this forum, with a modest lifestyle, you don't need to worry much about money in VN.

My wife is spending 18mi a month on food , detergent, toilet paper . We have 3 young kids under 7 that don't eat that much. I just think it is  kinda high.

bizdeals wrote:

My wife is spending 18mi a month on food , detergent, toilet paper . We have 3 young kids under 7 that don't eat that much. I just think it is  kinda high.

if thats your monthly spend on groceries meaning stuff for eating, cleaning (personal & general) & general daily life I think for a family of 5 thats sort of reasonable. As said on posts previously it just depends if say your kids like chocolate, sweeties & you eat Western food bought at a Western shop or the section at a supermarket with imported Western food. As an example fruit.......at Big C you can buy apples from 49,000 kg or apples at 120,000 kg
If you are shopping at a supermarket & spending that sort of cash, you need to get a member card!
Two of us here & we would spend on average 6 million a month for that sort of stuff & thats cooking & eating in 5 days a week & keeping ourselves & the apartment clean & a bottle of Strongbow of an evening.




quarterly bonus pay out at AEON Citymart.

bizdeals wrote:

My wife is spending 18mi a month on food , detergent, toilet paper . We have 3 young kids under 7 that don't eat that much. I just think it is  kinda high.

Based on my experiences, you are getting fleeced somewhere if you are not eating caviar and prime rib daily.  Do you go to the grocery and/or see the receipt?  I am guessing not because you are asking the question here.  You are talking about $800 a month and I never spent that much on 5 people living in 1 of the most expensive cities in the USA and we even ate out every week and the food we bought was organic.

will send you a pm.

bizdeals wrote:

My wife is spending 18mi a month on food , detergent, toilet paper . We have 3 young kids under 7 that don't eat that much. I just think it is  kinda high.

You are giving your wife 18 million.

Anecdotal stories shared by other expats would suggest she is maybe possibly "saving" what she doesn't spend on you and the family.

Not that I think that there's anything wrong with that situation, IF that's what's happening.

If you are happy with that situation, I'd let a sleeping dog lie...

bizdeals wrote:

My wife is spending 18mi a month on food , detergent, toilet paper . We have 3 young kids under 7 that don't eat that much. I just think it is  kinda high.

No way. Thats a huge food bill, I think something is wrong here.

bizdeals wrote:

My wife is spending 18mi a month on food , detergent, toilet paper . We have 3 young kids under 7 that don't eat that much. I just think it is  kinda high.

Maybe she is buying expensive foreign brand milk powder. VN pump that stuff into kids, that could be chewing up some of the cost. 18 million is about 1000 aud, it would be equal to spending about 3-4 k a month in Aus.

i know, it works out to be $250 AUD a week on groceries, and i am like that is mega high. I am stuck in Australia due to the Virus, but have been trying to work out the family budget from over here. I want the kids to eat healthy, plenty of fruit and vegetables, eggs, fish, rice etc...but like when i was there buying stuff it was all relatively cheap , except for imported meat and fruits (ie. cherries). I said to the wife, do you think you can cut down anything so we can start saving , but she goes no. it is the absolutely the lowest she can go, and i am like that is B.S.

bizdeals wrote:

i know, it works out to be $250 AUD a week on groceries, and i am like that is mega high. I am stuck in Australia due to the Virus, but have been trying to work out the family budget from over here. I want the kids to eat healthy, plenty of fruit and vegetables, eggs, fish, rice etc...but like when i was there buying stuff it was all relatively cheap , except for imported meat and fruits (ie. cherries). I said to the wife, do you think you can cut down anything so we can start saving , but she goes no. it is the absolutely the lowest she can go, and i am like that is B.S.

I've only been reading posts on the forum for 3 years, but this story has been told again and again and again and...

If you really love your wife & children and you want to maintain the strongest possible relationship with them, then pay, because that's what she needs to maintain their current lifestyle.

She's drawing a line in the sand, and her relationship with the children will ALWAYS be more important than her relationship with you, especially if you cause her to lose face with her family and friends.

Learn how to "wink! wink!" when you say "money for groceries"...

bizdeals wrote:

i know, it works out to be $250 AUD a week on groceries, and i am like that is mega high. I am stuck in Australia due to the Virus, but have been trying to work out the family budget from over here. I want the kids to eat healthy, plenty of fruit and vegetables, eggs, fish, rice etc...but like when i was there buying stuff it was all relatively cheap , except for imported meat and fruits (ie. cherries). I said to the wife, do you think you can cut down anything so we can start saving , but she goes no. it is the absolutely the lowest she can go, and i am like that is B.S.

Ah, now its getting more clear........in fact your wife is spending 18mil a month not for a family of 5 but for a family of 4, 1 adult & 3 children & that makes a big difference!! Can you clarify & be more specific about what you term the weekly "groceries" actually are?

For example........I go to Aeon 2 times a month & spend on average 1.2 million each visit & that can be for general stuff to keep me going for the month like frozen veg, fish fingers, milk, coke, floor cleaner, clothes washing liquid, soap, shampoo bread, buns, chocolate & 10 bottles of Strong bow. Jut the same stuff you would buy at a supermarket in the West.

I also go to Big C 2 times a month on average & will spend on average about 600,000 vnd each visit there on like top up stuff but still "groceries"

Every day I go to the local market for fresh veg, fruit chicken, meat etc & I recon on average I will spend about 40,000vnd a day there.

I do my own shopping so there is no chance I am being screwed there. My GF is Vegan & does her own food shopping.

So an old adult male eats fruit for breakfast, 1 corn on the cob for lunch & normal Western meal for Dinner(supper for us Scots) is spending lets average it out at 5,000,000 vnd a month.

Thing is this question he makes is so open ended. What lifestyle has his wife & kids become used to here? Where do they live. Where do they shop. If she is spending 18 mil a month with him in living in OZ , how much was she spending when he was here. If it was 18 mil  with him here & its still 18 mil with him not here then there is something wrong
.
Anyways I find it sort of strange that someone that I suppose has lived here with his wife & kids would even need to ask this question on a forum!!

Sorry for rambling on but at a loss for something to do this morning & just sitting drinking coffee & relaxing for a change.

there is a live in nanny  ( that is another cost that has to go)  , so she is kind of shopping for a family of 5. In the past when i was there last year, i didn't really care how much was spent as i had a high paying job. But i got laid off due to the corona and got put on job keeper payments so i have started to take more of an interest in how money is being spent.

bizdeals wrote:

i know, it works out to be $250 AUD a week on groceries, and i am like that is mega high. I am stuck in Australia due to the Virus, but have been trying to work out the family budget from over here. I want the kids to eat healthy, plenty of fruit and vegetables, eggs, fish, rice etc...but like when i was there buying stuff it was all relatively cheap , except for imported meat and fruits (ie. cherries). I said to the wife, do you think you can cut down anything so we can start saving , but she goes no. it is the absolutely the lowest she can go, and i am like that is B.S.

I agree with you and you need to trust, BUT VERIFY.  I have seen this same story many times and when the women refuse to discuss, they are hiding something.  My wife does all the grocery shopping, but she is the complete opposite, she takes pride in keeping the bill low and she buys organic foods and we eat shrimp, crab weekly here in the USA and it is not cheap compared to VN.  I always joke with her about the spending and without hesitation, she shows me the receipt and smiles.  Of course I just joke with her, but she takes pride in showing she knows how to manage money and keep our family healthy. 

I do not know you, your wife or family, but what you have described, would never fly in my household mate.  What is more  concerning, you are not in VN so that is nothing but a recipe for disaster in this type of scenario.  It may not be your wife, but family members, but for sure, there is something a miss here.

bizdeals wrote:

My wife is spending 18mi a month on food , detergent, toilet paper . We have 3 young kids under 7 that don't eat that much. I just think it is  kinda high.

For Vietnamese norms buying mainly VN products, it is quite expensive, For western norms buying moderate to high quality products, it's reasonable.

I do my weekly shopping on average for about 3 million VND buying mostly western and imported grocery products (for 2).

It makes a huge difference if your weekly grocery shopping includes food to eat for the entire week, or having to spend additional money to eat out.

If you stick with local Vietnamese food items, it will be quite cheap, buying imported items does come at a price, although still within reason compared to supermarkets in the West.

Happy Shopping!

vndreamer wrote:

... and we eat shrimp, crab weekly here in the USA and it is not cheap compared to VN.

When my wife began shopping in the US she told me that the pork was cheaper than in VN and that it was about the only thing that was less expensive.  Mind that this is in Hawaii, which may have the highest pork prices in the country.   Of course this makes some sense, as pork raised on grain is capital intensive while vegetables are labor intensive.  She still bemoans the price of some vegetables, particularly Asian specialties which might not be available where you are.  I would be curious what your wife says about the price of pork.

THIGV wrote:

When my wife began shopping in the US she told me that the pork was cheaper than in VN and that it was about the only thing that was less expensive.  Mind that this is in Hawaii, which may have the highest pork prices in the country.   Of course this makes some sense, as pork raised on grain is capital intensive while vegetables are labor intensive.  I would be curious what your wife says about the price of pork.

It's absolutely true.  The price of pork in Vietnam, depending on the time of the year (as almost the entire 2020), can quadruple the price in the States (depending on sales, which happen frequently).  For instance, when on sale, ribs in CA are $1.99/lb (0.45kg) which equals to 102k/kg.  The price of ribs at Lotte Mart yesterday was 340k/kg.  The price is lower at traditional markets but it's difficult to know where and from whom to buy.

OK, now that we know the OP isn't in country right now it makes more sense.

First, a stay-at-home mom doesn't need a nanny.  She just wants one.

Second, she has become accustomed to living a bit larger on a western salary.  Sadly it sounds like that salary has gone down since the layoff.

She doesn't want to lose face with whomever she associated with before or with family so she wants to maintain the same livestyle as she was accustomed to.  She may also be sending money to family for support.  If she was doing this before when you were employed she wants to still do it now. 

From the way you describe the interactions thus far you aren't likely to get a clearer answer from her on "where the money goes".  So you have two options - accept it as the monthly cost or just cut it in half.  She will be able to "get by" on that but she might not like it.  Is it worth it to do that?  Only you can decide.

It is sad that she isn't willing to work with you on this.  Some Vietnamese will do anything possible to get by on what they have, some will do anything possible to maintain status.  It is tough for one married to a foriegner to accept the reduced status.  All of her friends will be like " what happened to your rich husband?"  (some of them gleefully).

I must be lucky. My Vietnamese wife doesn't send money to her family and they don't ask for any. They don't descend on us and live with us, although they are welcome to visit if they wish. Being farmers the family regularly send us supplies of coffee beans, avocado (what do you do with 20kg of avocado?), chickens and eggs.  We sent her mum and sister a microwave cooker each, which was appreciated. We also have her brothers kids stay with us during school holidays when I teach them English.  Seems to be a good arrangement all round.

eodmatt wrote:

Being farmers the family regularly send us supplies of coffee beans, avocado (what do you do with 20kg of avocado?), chickens and eggs.

Many things.  I buy 40kg of avocado each season just for the two of us (two shipments of 20kg each).  Eat it as is, make avocado smoothies, avocado salad, avocado face masks, guacamole, mix with scrambled eggs, spread on toast, avocado sandwiches, avocado soup, avocado salad dressing.

Er, yep. I am aware that there are many recipes for using Avocado, but 20 kg? We share them with neighbours as I don't mind eating the occasional avocado, but but with the range of superb food available in Vietnam, avocados are - to me anyway - relatively tasteless and a bit boring. Give me a pork banh mi with chilli and pate (my favorite breakfast every Sunday) any day of the week.

THIGV wrote:

vndreamer wrote:

... and we eat shrimp, crab weekly here in the USA and it is not cheap compared to VN.

When my wife began shopping in the US she told me that the pork was cheaper than in VN and that it was about the only thing that was less expensive.  Mind that this is in Hawaii, which may have the highest pork prices in the country.   Of course this makes some sense, as pork raised on grain is capital intensive while vegetables are labor intensive.  She still bemoans the price of some vegetables, particularly Asian specialties which might not be available where you are.  I would be curious what your wife says about the price of pork.

We don't buy pork or beef at GMO chemical based grocery stores, we are fortunate that we live close to  organic farms.  Here at this link is the price list where we get our pork.  Looks like the date of the menu is may 2020.

https://www.facebook.com/hasenourfarms/ … 6765145450

She has no problem with the price because the quality of the food.  We buy mostly ribs, baby back ribs, pork chops, bone in pork chops, bacon.  We used to buy pork tenderloin sometimes until she find out it was $8 a pound, "Khong Can"  LOL.  We have not bought pork in a grocery store in the USA so I cannot opine on the price of pork sold at groceries store.  However, I do know that the farm we buy from sells their products to grocery stores and 1 is organic.  I visited that organic store and the price they charge is far higher than what you see on the menu list in the link.

We also buy most of our Vegetable and beef from an organic farm as well, we are in a CSA (cooperative share arrangement).  However, we do buy organic vegetables now at the grocery because it is winter and yes, the wife is still shocked at the prices for vegetables and fruits.  But she has figured out the best prices for the organic food and we work together as a team and it works great. 

However, like I said, the seafood is a different story.  We don't buy a lot of seafood products like the others, but we still eat some seafood weekly, no doubt.  When we go to the asian market, we stock up on seafood, and do not recall the prices, but it is not cheap like VN.  The fish we buy locally like crab and shrimp is also not cheap.  I do not have a receipt with me, but they are always the most expensive items on the list.  I just checked Walmart shrimp, $7 a pound and that is what I remember as well.

Thanks for the reply vndreamer but I am afraid we are talking apples and oranges. 

Ciambella wrote:

eodmatt wrote:

Being farmers the family regularly send us supplies of coffee beans, avocado (what do you do with 20kg of avocado?), chickens and eggs.

Many things.  I buy 40kg of avocado each season just for the two of us (two shipments of 20kg each).  Eat it as is, make avocado smoothies, avocado salad, avocado face masks, guacamole, mix with scrambled eggs, spread on toast, avocado sandwiches, avocado soup, avocado salad dressing.

"avocado face masks"
I imagined a covid mask made out of one half of an avocado skin covering nose and mouth, not some fancy schmanzy spa application of mashed avocado spread over the face.

Ah, the covid has me in its grip!

Lennerd wrote:

Ciambella wrote:

eodmatt wrote:

Being farmers the family regularly send us supplies of coffee beans, avocado (what do you do with 20kg of avocado?), chickens and eggs.

Many things.  I buy 40kg of avocado each season just for the two of us (two shipments of 20kg each).  Eat it as is, make avocado smoothies, avocado salad, avocado face masks, guacamole, mix with scrambled eggs, spread on toast, avocado sandwiches, avocado soup, avocado salad dressing.

"avocado face masks"
I imagined a covid mask made out of one half of an avocado skin covering nose and mouth...

Also useful for ear muffs and brassieres...

Lennerd wrote:

"avocado face masks"
I imagined a covid mask made out of one half of an avocado skin covering nose and mouth, not some fancy schmanzy spa application of mashed avocado spread over the face.

Ah, the covid has me in its grip!

I misspoke, should've said facial masks. 

And it's not fancy at all, but rather messy.  Many women routinely give themselves a gooey green facial mask of avocado and honey at home instead of paying the spa for the same thing.

Ciambella wrote:

Lennerd wrote:

"avocado face masks"
I imagined a covid mask made out of one half of an avocado skin covering nose and mouth, not some fancy schmanzy spa application of mashed avocado spread over the face.

Ah, the covid has me in its grip!

I misspoke, should've said facial masks. 

And it's not fancy at all, but rather messy.  Many women routinely give themselves a gooey green facial mask of avocado and honey at home instead of paying the spa for the same thing.

not only women, in Vietnam I see many Vietnamese men in the salons with full face mask on  & getting their hair dyed  Jet Black . Not that I have experienced it, just an observation

Yeah, i think buying in bulk, comparing prices, planning meals, reducing waste, even growing your own food, i think you can feed a family of 5-6 for under 10mil a month easy and eat really healthy and well.

bizdeals wrote:

Yeah, i think buying in bulk, comparing prices, planning meals, reducing waste, even growing your own food, i think you can feed a family of 5-6 for under 10mil a month easy and eat really healthy and well.

Does buying chicken nuggets in the 20 piece box qualify as "buying in bulk"?

Asking for a single friend...

i think this has gone very off-topic

a WEEK? are you kidding me?

we are currently an adult family of four

and including fairly frequent ca phe and occasional restaurants, and eating very well very day ... but w only occasional visits to Mega Mart etc, we live on about 18-20mil per MONTH, plus electricity 2m incl a/c, and rent

even w frequent extra minor purchases eg dartboard, dresses, shoes, and with some significant pharmacy and medical costs, we manage on $20mill p/ MONTH

... excl rent

myvietnam wrote:

i think this has gone very off-topic

The OP question was pretty much answered by the first 10 replies, so it it's OK with you can't people discuss other topics.  Most of what I see here is food related.

Depends...VM women are constantly hungry, either that or just want food to take photos of 😁

I budget $200 per week for a family of 3. There are times when we spend a good $100 more. Quality beef is crazy expensive $20/kg and up. Depends on several variables but $500 is likely sufficient.

pls use dong as currency.

$20 p/kg quality beef is a crazy CHEAP price (regardless of currency)