Grocery Shopping in Antigua as a Medical Student | Caribbean Medical School | Studying Abroad | AUA
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- Опубліковано 6 жов 2024
- Groceries cost how much in Antigua? Come along with me as I take you on the experience of what it's like grocery shopping on the island as a medical student! ✨
Epicurean is one of the many grocery stores on the island - it's one of the bigger and more popular grocery stores & most expensive, BUT they have everything you need in one place which is the positive aspect.
The conversion rate that was used to calculate the Canadian prices is $1.00 CAD = $2.02 XCD
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Grocery shopping on an island is fun, but the prices are a little steep! What's your budget for grocery shopping weekly or monthly? ✨
are you promote this video i see your video add feed how's your channel running
@@NeishaG I can buy US $40.00 to US$60 buying food I will cook weekly.
Yes it is.....
@@NeishaG You do a lot on a 6 week shopping. That's not bad . I buy different. My food items cost me last. I mostly buy dry beans vegetables and a little bit beef . Oats, cream of wheat. I have fruit trees in my yard.
@@PatriciaPadmore-q4b that’s good! My habits have changed slightly since putting out this video, I don’t really buy soda anymore and try to stick to healthier options, and definitely more beans!
Antiguan here speaking, go to a cheaper grocery store and some of the items you pick up you don’t necessarily have to choose a well known brand, you could save some money. Try Chase Supermarket or simply ask around for smaller supermarkets. They may not be as fancy and big as Epi but at least you will save some money
I tried the cheaper brands but it didn't work out for me because they either broke or I used up more than I needed to because the quality wasn't there, so I spend a little extra so it lasts me longer. I go to epi because it's a one stop place after class that I can grab everything I need and head home to study after.
It's expensive because you're shopping at Epicurean. There are more affordable supermarkets
But to be able to find what one needs and accustomed to, one must go to an epicurean supermarket, the smaller ones mostly only for locals
@@StephB1989 No lmao. Other supermarkets sell imported brands
@@StephB1989nah you can find a lot of the same stuff at the other stores. Even at Epi you could just not go for namebrand stuff, some of it is just as good and you'll save money lol.
@@jakdaxter6033 ok
I’m aware there are but I don’t have time to go to one supermarket just to get bread and milk and another to get other things. I’m still a student so if I can cut down my time for grocery shopping so I can study, it’s better for me since I’m only here for school
There are literally disposable spoons for EC3.95. It is expensive because of what you choose to buy and where you choose to shop.
Well this is the closest to me and I only grocery shop once a month because I barely have time to study. So if I can get everything in one trip, it’s easier on me!
@@NeishaGjust moved here , definitely cheaper options . I was stuck on epi but there other other options closer by as well.
You are buying brand name items that are expensive. Don't you cook at all? There are times when you have to drive the extra mile to save dollars and the same items are also cheaper. Shop around.
@@PriscillaSmith-t8d who’s going to give me the money to drive the “extra mile” and the time to shop around for these places when I need prioritize that time to study?
You have such a good spirit beacuse alot of these comments are out of pocket... epi is insanely expensive and its like you said, because antigua imports everything! As a past medical student i understand that time is SUPER limited. Anything thats gonna takes away from studying is inconvenient when you have an insane amount of content to learn.
As much as possible try to buy what you need in bulk, while at home and ship it to the island in like a barrel. So when you're going shopping its just for those perishable goods. That barrel would last you the whole year or more and it would work out cheaper in the long run. December is a good time to ship barrels of food as the government usually decrease taxes for Christmas.
Good luck!
Thank you so much for this comment, it really means a lot hearing from a previous med student! Like I’ll make pasta here and there and air fry some meals, but time is so critical when you’re in medical school. Especially when you’re in a place where groceries cost so much, I just grocery shop once a month so save costs!
So I used to do barrels at my previous school but they were such a hassle especially when coming from Canada, I just hate dealing with barrels, so I just bring stuff in my suitcases, and I don’t have much storage in my apartment either that would hold all of it but thank you so much for the suggestion!
I really appreciate you empathizing with my situation as a fellow past med student! Its always great to hear the support 🥹♥️🫶🏽
Amazing video! Proud of you and your dedication for everything! :)
Aww thank you so so much! 😭🤗
This was such an informative video, I didn't know groceries were THAT expensive on the island, and they have a good variety but not like back home. Glad to see you sticking to a budget, that's all we got to do to save money now a days! 💕
Thanks for watching, I'm glad to hear you found the video helpful and informative!
I live in Antigua. I have a few remarks. I cringed at the amount of highly processed sugary foods that were purchased surprising for someone going into the healthcare industry.
If you have downy, I can’t see why the scent beads are necessary.
Much of what was purchased was not necessities, Antigua is 108 sq miles, most of the supermarkets with better pricing for people trying to shop on a budget are with minutes of each other. Epicurean has brands that are sourced from all over the world, it is a very big supermarket and by far the most international on the island, but it is also the most expensive. Choosing Whole Food, and fresh foods and actually preparing your own meals is healthier and definitely costs less. It’s still more than Canada or the USA, but not as much as what has been spent here. All that said, food costs in Antigua are definitely high.
Firstly, I don’t eat all of the food at once, I like to snack when I’m studying. Secondly the downy does not have a scent, the beads help with a stronger, longer lasting scent on the clothes. And as a student, I don’t have time after class to drive around the island to different markets, let alone bring all these groceries up by myself on a weekly basis. Also I don’t have that much time to cook and prepare meals. Especially preparing foods that I love, would cost me more to make than actually buying my the meals itself. Time is very limited when studying so if I can buy meals like chicken curry and stuff to eat, then I’ll don’t to save time to study.
In the Institutes of Medicine, they don't teach nutrition. They teach student how to treat people with pills. Cook once a week for the whole week and put in the single portion container. Your body will thank you in the long term.
Loved this video! Will definitely pack oatmeal, cereal, and other dry foods with me
Yes definitely do! And if you plan on drinking protein as well, bring that with you because those are definitely outrageously priced on the island!
All around the world grocery prices are high. This video caught my attention because Antigua was the first country I travelled to in 1988 and I know a lady that just retired home in December from New York.
Yeah but not this high, since everything is imported. That’s great to hear it was the firstly country you travelled to in 1988!
Thank you for showing us the grocery stores in Antigua! They look very similar to back home, but the prices are indeed very expensive 😩
Of course! I figured many would be curious about how I do my groceries & I get asked this question a lot 😅
Thank you, Neisha! Your video is great and very informative. I am following you in instagram, and today your video just popped up in UA-cam. My husband get accepted into AUA, and I was recently thinking about where and how to do grocery in the island. 😂
Thank you so much for watching my video, I’m happy to hear you found it very helpful! And congrats on his acceptance! Best wishes to you both, and if you have any other questions, feel free to reach out ☺️
Thanks for taking us along your trip for groceries! It’s so cool seeing how the island groceries stores are compared to the American stores! 🤗
You are so welcome!
It's only one supermarket she shopped at. There are way cheaper supermarkets in the vincinity.
That's crazy! Those prices are insane, some of them were a few dollars more than what we would typically pay but the other products are wildly priced!
Yeah, it's a lot! 😂
Omg, those prices! It would be so much easier to send barrels compared to spending so much every month.
It definitely would be, but I've done barrels before and its such a hassle because they open and go through all your items that you ship in your barrel, then you have barrels in your apartment that you need to get rid of, etc. So I just don't do the barrel route and I don't have that much storage space in my apartment for all that stuff 😭😅
If you are living on a budget Epicurean is not the place to shop. There are more supermarkets in the vicinity that are cost effective.
Yes, but they have everything that I can grab after class in one go
May God Bless you ,for your studies sister.
🎉
Thank you so much!
Am also in Antigua it's so easy to spend 1000 on groceries here, and to also pay got medical school it's rough.
THANK YOU for understanding! I feel like a lot of people don't understand what it's like being a medical student out here and also trying to shop as well. I try to budget as much as I can and select some of the cheaper brands, but sometime you got to do what you got to do 😭
Actually, since you guys came on island, (AUA) EVERYTHING has gotten expensive. Shit, they're even renting their houses and apartments in US Dollars, and for New York City prices, which is ridiculous.
Trust me, I see that! Even the food on campus has gotten expensive - you can see stickers over the previous prices and its just too much to pay for a salad, so I literally don't even buy food out anymore.
That is because as medical students you do not shop at more affordable places 😂.
LOL because they aren’t right next to my apartment 😂😂
Facts
Try perry bay supermarket
@@Seonsmith1988 perry bay supermarket the sister supermarket to epicurean? Ok.
@@NeishaG Cost Pro and Price Chopper are literally just below Epicurean
You do have to compare the price at the checkout because they don't always agree with the stated price on the shelves. That is bc the updates are not done for a few items. Therefore usually higher at checkout, making your overall Bill higher.
There are stronger garbage bags in 50s. So just as easy to take out smaller loads without bursting. 😂 Shop smarter. Good tips abound here 😊
I've tried other brands for garbage but I'm sticking to the glad ones because they always hold up with no issues.
Thanks for sharing this!
My pleasure! Thank you for watching! ♥️
I live here and yes it is expensive 😩😩😩😩that’s why we order food from overseas
I’d love to do that but it seems like so much work 😭😭
Epicurean is always expensive, go to First Choice or Chase
First choice and chase are far out for me to drive
@NeishaG Chase yes but not 1st choice stop it
@@Im.A.Potatoe why does this grocery trip concern you this much?
I didn't think the prices were too bad compared to here in America. Maybe a dollar or two more but for the most part comparable.
Really?! Because I’m still crying about $13 for cupcakes when they’d be about $3-4.99 here, or the tide for $50 😅
You are beautiful. Thanks for sharing your life with us
Thank you so much, I appreciate you for taking the time to watch! ☺️
You better transfer to the American University of the Caribbean on Sint Maarten. Stores are less expensive.
I mean with inflation currently going on worldwide, it wouldn’t make sense for me to transfer schools because of grocery prices
I start in a few weeks these prices are crazy !
dont do it, huge mistake
They really are! If you can bring some of these things from home, I would definitely do that to save some money!
Definitely reconsider. The majority of US/CA residency positions do not even consider international MDs.
@@cyryl9571 this is very untrue. A lot of Caribbean medical students get placed for residency
Im glad ur calling them out. Too expensive
Thank you, but not so much as to call them out but make other students aware of the prices as well when they do come over here to study!
Yep everything raise in the supermarkets except ppl salary..
For real!
That's a lot of processed foods. Most locals would buy these items sparingly, and purchase actual food to cook instead
You’re forgetting I’m a student and barely have time to cook
@NeishaG so you're going into health but don't and can't even make time for your own....by the time you're an official doctor you will be sick.
@@Im.A.Potatoe this is not even a fraction of what I consume on a daily basis. You can’t assume someone is going to be sick. It’s rude and you don’t know what I eat outside of my grocery trips. Don’t assume or wish ill on others. Thank you and have a great day.
Great video!
Thank you so much!
Love this
Thank you so much!
We do have Fruity Pebbles and Apple Jacks
There’s other cereals that we don’t have in Canada - I don’t remember the names 😅
As an Antiguan, yes I agree it's expensive. However, you basically picked up processed food . Also, we have cheaper stores
Well I am a student, I don’t have that much time to meal prep all the time and my kitchen isn’t that big where I can make weekly meals, so I pick things that easier for me to snack on during the day.
Where r u shopping, I shop in Antigua and 300ec last me almost a month
I did this trip at Epicurean!
@@NeishaG ok
Girly there are other super matkets with better prices just gotta explore some more okayyy
I know there are but this is closest to me, and I only grocery shop once a month because of my studying and school l
Vlog again. Nice. 👍
Thank you, definitely will!
Girl, you should just have most of those stuff shipped using a shipping carrier. Spending 1500 for 1 month of groceries is insane and a waste of money
I want to but dealing with barrels is such a hassle and I don't have that much storage space in my apartment, and they also open everything when you ship everything so I rather not have them open and test all the food products 😭
OMGG thank you so much for sharing your grocery experience with us!! its iNSANE how expensive things are there in Antigua!!😭😭😭 that really took me by surprise!!😯
Thank you so much for watching love! 💕I know its is crazy how expensive things are in Antigua! 😭
This supermarket is very expensive. There are cheaper ones on island.
There are cheaper options to shop at am just saying as an Antiguan.
Funny, how close is it for Canada. Well some are more expensive but some are close too.
Very close but still I would want the Canadian prices over this 😅
bruh, im so sorry, i cant imagine dealing with the student loans + other med school costs, being abroad, AND those extremely high prices in this economy. I'm a premed in USA and I thought groceries here were expensive
and all the interest + your loans from the other med school (I'm just mind blown, not trying to stress you out), but I really am curious how you feel about your finances? esp since residency in Canada isn't a promise, and doctor salaries arent much to begin with
Thank you for this comment! It is definitely very expensive! I actually am filming a video about my financial situation so stay tuned for that!
This applies to all islands people. All islands are expensive
How do residents afford food? What kind of jobs do they do to afford this? I’m so confused!!
Student loans my friend 🥲 and some people come from very wealthy families so money is never an issue for most (the lucky ones).
If they're at aua it means more than likely it's the few percent that is on scholarship and the rest are entitled foreigners who live on their parents wealth
Those prices are crazy! 😳
RIGHT!!
Right now, all the grocery stores are the same these days, Expensive!!!!
So true!
I fe get to tell you i used to live and work there in the 90s-2021
That’s pretty cool!
For your next shopping date! Contact me so I can show you the cheap spots.
Will do!!
So does it take out the Canadian amount or Caribbean amount from your Canadian debit card?
When you pay by credit card, it takes it out as Canadian dollars. I don’t use my debit card here and it doesn’t work at most places in Antigua (I also don’t recommend paying by debit anywhere foreign) ☺️
Omg I'm from Antigua! I didn't know that ppl knew about us😅
Trust me, we know about Antigua, it's a beautiful island! 💕
Why don't you go to the local shop and market ? You should try local food. It would work out cheap er. 😢
It’s father away from me. I go to the farmers market to get my fruits and veggies, and every now and then I order from the local restaurants!
Travelling the extra 20 mins for cheaper groceries is the bargain. I'm sure if you were living back home the stores would be approx. 20+ mins away from your house.
It would if I had the time, studying takes a huge chunk of time and grocery shopping is tiring especially when you have to bring up all these groceries up flights of stairs by yourself. And no, the groceries stores were all less than 10 mins away from my home & there were multiple grocery stores in the area. Travelling more than 20 mins would be ridiculous for groceries.
Girl, Epicurean is the worst grocery store to shop at if you have intentions of cutting costs. It is the MOST expensive of all the supermarkets on the island.
I know but its the most closest and convienent! If I had more time in my schedule, I would make the drive to first choice and whatnot, but after class, the traffic is just too much and cuts into my study time
Im not surprised this will make you broke - you are "grabbing" a bunch of prepackaged, processed brand name crap that you are used to whereever you came from. Im sure there are ways to achieve the same thing for alot less.
Keep in mind, I’m a student so I don’t have that much time to make actual meals so I grab stuff that’s quick and easy to make at home. I can also improvise and make stuff out of these as well. And it’s an island, this is about all the stuff that’s available to us.
@@NeishaG I live in Trinidad - we are much bigger and prices are lower and there is alot of local production, but i cut my prices in half by NOT going to the grocery with a list - only Bread, Milk, Eggs. I buy only what is on special. Most of the stuff i buy in the grocery is Close to Expiry half price but is going to be almost identical quality. Expiry dates dont mean very much. If i want a sweet snack i buy what is on special, Salty snack, Ramen - etc. There are stores i can get ramen for half price even Nongshim. There are always cereal for half price about 10 different types including more than one Kellogs K. YOu are buying Pre packed oats which is dog cheap, and can be made in the uWave in mins. You are shopping as though you are living in Canada. You can also go to the produce market. I feel sorry for who ever is funding your studies.
@@wilmarkjohnatty4924 that’s great, good job for you 👍🏽 you get a gold star.
Terrible prices!
Agreed!! Really got to set a solid budget and only get the necessities 😭
In Europe it's €1200-1500 for 2 people.
Oh wow that's a lot! I didn't know groceries were expensive in europe!
Comparing spending power from a super developed country to a developing country is bad economics. Based upon what i know, 2CAD is 1 US dollar and looking at your price comparison some of the items here are cheaperin economic value. If i had to do a barrel/ box by converting total you spent in EC to CAD follar, .....certainly would have gotten more goods
I’m not sure where you got your conversion rates from, but they’re very wrong and inaccurate.
I can hear the pain in your voice every time you say the price. Super informative video!
LOL yeah, it really pained me to purchase some of those items, but literally what can you do 😅 So happy to hear you found it informative! 💛
Try cost pro
They basically have the same things as epi
Jones Sarah Martinez Sarah Thomas Margaret
Hahah I live in AG too. It's defo expensive in Epicurean BUT I must say, you're choosing mostly expensive name brand items. e.g. bounty paper towels, glad trash bags (but i understand you purchase that for the strength). Those pastries are expensive too, as opppsed to the freshly made cookies for $7 with 3 in the container. Tositos with the dip are super expensive so that's like a once in while treat for me. To be fair, this is all your preference and we also wish the better brands were more affordable. But there's definitely a way to spend less..we tend to buy different brands like essential everyday, to save cash. We can go shopping together one day and I can show you how to save some coins 😊 #kidding #nostrangerdanger
When I first got here, I did buy the cheaper brand names such as Suave, etc, but those paper towels didn't hold and I ended up using way more than I would with the bounty paper towels. I use the essential garbage bags for my bathroom and waste basket but for the kitchen, I go with the glad bags because the other ones leaked a lot. Most of the things I bought here were snacks and such and I grocery shop once a month to avoid buying more every week which I did in my first semester and ended up spending way more money so I actually save a lot of money grocery shopping this way! I also don't have that much time to cook so I mainly air fry foods, or I purchase foods from the local stores :)
Omg I am in Antigua
That's amazing! Hope you're enjoying the island!
Girl are u serious those groceries prices are crazy. I just couldn't imagine living over there for anything.
What is wrong with AMERICA colleges
Canadian universities are extremely hard to get into for many reason so many Canadians go to the Caribbean for medical school.
@@NeishaG I UNDERSTAND THANKS FOR SHARING
For a medical student you are shopping very unhealthily.
These are all snacks, I usually order in food to eat or make meals at home. Medical students don’t have the time to cook or prepare full meals like we would at home. And buying all the things we need to make a meal like chicken curry would cost more than actually going out to buy it.
Are you single by any chance?
Really??
You've chosen the expensive way...
It’s the easiest, most convenient and less time-consuming 🥲
No Veg and No meat
The meat on the island makes me sick so I stick to veggie meals, and I get my fruits and vegetables from the farmer markets and the sides of the roads because they’re more fresh & cheap
hello my dear
Hiii
$1500 on groceries 🤯
Yup! Well monthly, not weekly!
Cheaper than eating out though....😢
It is cheaper than going to restaurants for sure! No one has time for that
You live in Antigua how come I never see you you are beautiful
Thank you! I’m always studying so I never leave my apartment 😌
Place expensive in truth
it is, tbh everything is really expensive here from a north American pov 😭
You have expensive taste
LOL always
A lot of processed foods 😂😂😂
To you it is, but this is food we eat back in north america, and I don't eat this everyday, I grocery shop once a month so this is intended to last me per month
Antiguan speaking stop saying thing about our country you going to make people don't want to come here and shop. At least go at first choice or woods
1. I never said anything negative about the country and I’m from the Caribbean so I have nothing ill will to say. Everything is expensive everywhere but the Caribbean is more expensive due to importation which I states in the video.
2. I don’t have power to tell someone to visit or not visit someone’s country.
3. I’ve said everything in the video so I don’t owe anyone any additional reasons as to why I shop at epi.
You ppl will do anything for views who in Antigua is really gonna buy spoons for $17 u choose the most expensive supermarket to do this vlog trying to make my Country look bad
My intention for this video was not to make Antigua look bad, I would never do that to any country. My platform is on a Canadian living abroad to study medicine and part of that is showing costs of living. At this time yes, I did spend this much on spoons but the more a person lives here, the more you get to find alternatives and cheaper options which I eventually did.
And I did not select this purposely choosing the most expensive grocery store. If you read other comments, this is the store that the school initially takes us to in order to do our shopping when we arrive to the island. And also for many students that are in Antigua, this is the most convenient location meaning we can spend the LEAST amount of time commuting and grocery shopping in order to get more studying time in as medical school is VERY time consuming.
am thinking to join aua. my age is 43. i have 15 years of health care experience is it worthy to join at this age ? am Canadian too
Honestly, if it’s something you want, go for it! There are students of all ages at our campus!
Great video!
Thank you!