Grocery Stores Food Shopping Tour in Costa Rica
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- Опубліковано 5 вер 2024
- In today’s video I take you to some typical grocery stores you may see in Costa Rica.
1. Mini Super
2. Mas x Menos - standard larger grocery store
3. Maxi Pali
4. Automercado
These stores are located in Jaco but are comparable to what you may find depending on where you live in the country!
As always, I hope this information is helpful if you are in the journey to move to Costa Rica.
AND OF COURSE!
If you will be needing assistance with all areas of your move, our team is ready to help you!
You can visit our website at: www.lasarahele...
And book a free exploratory call!
Automercado is expensive but we ticos love it. It’s a family business and has been since the 80s in Costa Rica. The bakery has good bread and its not crazy expensive. Automercado makes money on luxury goods. I worked for Walmart and they compare on basic goods except meats and veggies.
I live in Costa Rica as well, but in Tres Rios. Más X Menos, Pali and Maxi Pali are all owned by Walmart International. Más X Menos would be similar to the Neighborhood Markets in the US. It’s a very nice store.
I found Maxi Pali a great place to explore with the kids while it's raining!
Thank you for your input!
I see people in Costa Rica very decent good clean people they don’t mess in the store like in US and Canada they don’t throw things on the floor I see that so that gives me an idea what kind of people that lives in Costa Rica
As basic as this video is, anyone who is moving there is going to shop like this every week and it is helpful to adjust expectations. Yes, very helpful!
Thank you Bob! I am glad you found it helpful :)
It looks as though it would be easy to be vegan in Costa Rica. Lovely. Thank you.
Absolutely!! We have some fabulous Vegan restaurants here in Jaco as well !
I’m Costa Rican. Sarah probably did not know but megasuper has the cheapest prices among all the stores she mentioned.
Thank you Nick for you input! Here in Jaco, I find Megasuper to be pricier for some items but a good option as well.
@@SarahElenaDesignsLife ahhh. Yeah makes sense
"La nacional" is the cheapest of them all, is a chinese owned chain of supermarkets, i'd advise not to buy meat or dairies there, but everything already packed like tuna or rice is fine.
@ as a Costa Rican I had never heard of la nacíonal.
Chinese-owned supermarkets come in different brand names, it's Walmart's competition, Automercado focuses on quality
Excellent job, Sarah! I remember asking you about creating a grocery store tour a while back and glad to see this video. Super job on contrasting and comparing the different options!!
I loved my first trip to a Walmart in San Jose. That's where I discovered a box of pancake mix with Aunt Jemima on the box. I knew I was in the right spot.
I love this grocery store video. I enjoy visiting all the grocery stores in different countries we visit. Auto Mercado is a fav to visit. Not to buy things, but one item, and that is Thomas Muffins or bagels.
More videos please. Your voice is soothing... and my wife enjoys listening to your videos too. She says you're a little north american angel in the jungle. 😇
Jeffrey , Thank you & your wife for watching my videos :) That is so sweet what she said!! -- Subscribe and stay tuned as I have a lot more coming!!
I’m moving to Costa Rica in August, so this is very informative.
Spot on Sarah! Great video. Auto Marcado is like Publix in the states.
Thank you Dave! Glad you enjoyed the video!
fantastic information thank you
You’re welcome!
You are the best. Thanks for the information. Never heard of f maxipali
Nice tour. Thanks. Walmart also owns Más por menos. The Walmart is the higher end, más x menos is the middle and Pali is the lower end more pallet shopping.
Thank you for your feedback Keith! I am glad you enjoyed the video.
Cmg. I totally agree with you that the best prices for fruits and vegetables are at our local mini supers too. Either that or at the feria at Cenada here in San José.
They also own Mega Super, Maxi Pali and Hyper Más
Thank you for the grocery store tour. 🙂
Very nicely done! You’re so special to take your camera into these stores knowing that people are going to look at you funny. Yes everyone has their own budget, but like you said, “Why waste money on things that you could just as well get a a family owned store and support local businesses”, but if you really need Coors Lite, you know where to go. 😄
haha exactly!! Thank you Don :D
Damn you beat me too it lol I was just working on my grocery store video this morning! :) Nice truck !
Thank you!
22 years away from Costa Rica ..make me watch these videos to update myself ..I personally think may Max X menos should be my place but if i can find cheapper why not...Maxi pali , Im not open with mini super !! ...for special date as a nice wine possible i should go to Auto Mercado !! Im lost ....lol
Thank you very much . Love and I miss Costa Rica !!
Sometimes I go to multiple different stores a week-- All of them have something the other doesn't a better price for something but not for other things. You'll get here and get your groove and find out what works for you!!
Hey! Look at you go and grow, Keep up the good work
Thank you! :D
Thanks for the video. Ill be visiting Jaco for 3 or 4 months here soon.
Hola Saludos desde san Ramón de Alajuela Costa Rica.
Super interesting! We’re heading to Costa Rica next week and we can’t wait.
I am glad you enjoyed the video! Hope you have a wonderful time in Costa Rica!
Ha - I've literally been shopping in MegaSuper all week during our 10-day vacation in Jaco, only to see you skip it. ;) I will say that it's had everything I've needed to look for so far, and the prices seem fair. Thanks for the great videos!
Valid point! MegaSuper is another option as well :) Thank you for your input and I hope you enjoyed your vacation!
@@SarahElenaDesignsLife - enjoyed it so much that I’m now considering buying a place here! 😉
Walmart is buying all the Supermarket in Costa Rica.
I went to visit Costa Rica in March of 2020 . My family is from there infact 95% of them live there. And so when I was there I was taken to a automarcado and the way it was described seem to me like a wholefoods Except it was like a regular supermarket with wholefoods prices lol I still do not understand it. I tell my aunt who shops there Why would you pay three times more then pali or mega super for a item . I get some items that you can't find anywhere else but why lol to each there own I guess. I loved visiting though, it was twenty years since I step onto that soil only sad part was that they had so many restrictions that seeing family was tough
A excellent video , thanks for explain
Thanks for the info. Got in yesterday and our 1st stop was Zarcereno... Fruit and veggies were great..will definitely be our go to place for the month we're here👍
I'm glad to hear that Patty! Enjoy your time here in Jaco!
i miss shopping at the first spot you went to when i was living there, definintely my favourite
I'm glad I could bring back some fond memories for you :)
English is not my language . I heard: I do buy my dogs clothes here and I said ok she buys clothes for her dog very regularly and then I played it again to find out if the clothes was for her daughter or dog then i noticed she said food haha
😂😂😂 can you imagine if I dressed up Azu. I don’t think he would enjoy that…
excellent video... Jaco has changed a lot... still a good surf town...lol
I always go to the “smaller” stores, specially if they are family owned. Saludos. Pura Vida!
Love it! Pura Vida!
El chino
This is excellent! $7 for limes, bloody hell!
Thank you John! I am glad you enjoyed the video!
Never enough shopping baskets in Mas x Menos! Still, prefer to be dropping my shopping in Jaco than well basketted in Blighty. Missing Jaco, thanks for a bit of ordinary life.
Haha, I can agree to that!! You're welcome :)
Excellent video, thank you for posting!
Thank you for your feedback Charles! I am glad you enjoyed it!
i am moving on retirement in june like your visios
Thank you…I totally agree with what you said about Automercado….I was hoping you’d stop at the dairy section of Automercado and see if they possibly have what I really miss when I come to CR….cheeses…Parmigiana Reggiana, Pecorino Romano and Cheddar are all I need lol…I wouldn’t mind paying the extra $$$ either
Hello Bev! Yes you can find some of these cheeses there at Automercado
Thank you Sarah! Everything else I’ll go to cheaper stores, and also my favorite, the outdoor markets..can’t wait to go back❤️
Thanks for the tour. I learned a lot.
You're very welcome! I am glad to hear that :D
As a handicapped person I shop Mas x Menos. They have an electric cart, and literally bring it out to my car whenever they see me pull up in the parking lot.
That is wonderful to hear Robert! And thank you for the suggestion for others :)
I would load up on banana bread my grandma use to make it and I love it. I’m debating now if I’m going to try living in Mexico or Costa Rica.
Excellent! I hope watching videos from my channel can help you in making your big decision!
Great Job!!! Thank You for the tours... :-)
I am glad you enjoyed Andrew! It's my pleasure.
From Heredia greetings ,, 👍😃🙏🏼🇨🇷
Greetings to you!
She is beautiful and love her videos. Hopefully she knows what's going on a global scale which will have a big impact on Cost Rica here pretty soon
What’s gonna happen in Costa Rica?
What's going on ??a global. ..scale ?I don't even know ....
Another great video!
Just curious to know why you think seeing Coors Light at one one of the stores in your video was so hilarious to you? 😁 i like Coors Light 🍺🍺🍺 Cheers!!
haha!! Cheers! I'm glad you enjoyed the video!
Sarah!!! You are muy bella.
Mas x Menos, Pali and Maxi Pali are all owned by Walmart.
Correct
Subcribed
Thanks for that!
You're welcome! :) Thanks for watching!
Sarah, are you living in Jaco now ? Thought you were still in Uvita. Would love to hear more about what you liked about where you have lived as well as what you did not like and reasons for moving. I want to move there someday. I feel I would like the Souther Pacific Zone. Just not sure what area I might like best.
Thanks !!
Hello Joe.. Thank you for your comment. I am currently living in Jaco but have lived in many places throughout Costa Rica- Each one to me has had something special about it. I enjoy moving around and exploring. If you would like to discuss your potential move in more detail please feel free to book a call with me: www.lasarahelena.com/book/ . Thank you :)
I drive by an automercado every week and go in to get a couple of things I can only find there, but obviously I end up buying some other regular stuff because I'm already there, so yeah so much money down the drain every time...
As for Automercado inflated prices well it is exactly the places you need to avoid . The place is gorgeous inside . Looks beautiful just how Americans like but they also think prices must be like in USA but the problem is that they have it MORE expensive. That is why there are some places Like hotels, stores , car rentals etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc that you need to avoid bc they think every American is super reach
It can be comforting to get some familiar items that you can't find elsewhere! But yes it is a pricy option
@@SarahElenaDesignsLife Sarah many Americans live Costa Rica bc they find it price. I think they must buy and spend smart including A/C, electricity, dishwasher and all that sh*t lol
It is heartbreaking. Beautiful local store but forced masquerade is not for me, still searching for a place on this earth. All the best Sarah…
Hi Sarah, Watching this video for the second time 😊great job 👍🏻. We have a place in the Potrero area we will be there in March for a few months, our daughter is coming to visit with our granddaughter. I know you have been raising your daughter there so my question is.
Will we be able to find baby formula ( Enfamil) in CR?
Also thinking of doing a road trip to Jaco for a few nights, Is there anyplace you would recommend to stay? Do you still live there?
interesting could be to see the prices ........
I have a video of prices from the Jaco farmers market which I hope will be helpful in getting a general idea. I will try to go back in as well to get some prices of common items inside the grocery store.
Helpful video. Random question - have you bumped into Paula Saladino aka CarnivoreMD?
Looking forward to the fresh food shopping. How about fish markets at the docks?
We have a Fish Market here in Jaco , it's in town. In Tarcoles and Puntarenas you can get fish straight from the docks !
@@SarahElenaDesignsLife thanks Sarah, do you know of any south of Dominical?
There is a small fish store in Dominicalito across from the entrance to La Parcela. You can also buy direct from the pescadores on the beach. Entrance by the small cemetery.
@@elkarlos814 thank you so much! Much better to buy locally than have to travel a distance.
Where is the first store (El Zarcereno)? No link in the description as promised. google maps takes me to SJO > Help ! :-)
Here you go!!
maps.google.com?q=9.6102447,-84.6218296&hl=en-US&gl=us&entry=gps&lucs=s2se
i was thinking of going to playa del coco but alot of sun how is rental in jaco
Great video, thank you. Can you find tofu or nutritional yeast in any of these stores?
Hello, I am glad you enjoyed this video! Yes in select markets and health food stores.
Is milk readily available? I noticed you did mention it. Thank you very much!
Hola Sarah, thank you for your videos. I have a question; what car do you recommend to purchase in CR? Chevy Tracker or Suzuki Sidekick are good options? I heard Toyotas and Hondas are super expensive down there. Thank you
And it’s Walmart
What about the meat and fish department.
We have a Fish Market in the town of Jaco!
Im going to Dominical in a couple of weeks. If I’m buying random souvenirs or small restaurants, can I pay in US dollars or do I need to get some Colones first? Also, what’s your fav place to eat/drink in Dominical?
just was there end of June, they seem to take the dollar almost everywhere, and the cash register can switch from dollars to Colon's bring alot of singles and small bills. I had a blast there!
try the smaller restaurants called soda's i thought the food was better at these places, more mom and pop type.
Most places will accept USD but when you get change it will be in Colones. I love "Phat Noodle" in Dominical as well mentioned below Sodas have the authentic Costa Rican food and good prices !
Hey Sarah, I wanna move with my gf in Costa Rica and our mounthly budget is $2000-3000 and I’m not sure if it’s enough for a good living( house , car, amazing internet for work, shoping etc)
In the case if we will decide to move, how can I get in touch with you if we’ll need some help with accommodation?!
Hello! I am very excited that you are considering moving to Costa Rica! CR is what you make of it, and your monthly spending depends on your expectations but yes it is very possible to live on that budget here in CR. If you are interested in utilizing my services to help you with your move please visit my website for more details: www.lasarahelena.com/ . I also have a "Rental only" option where I just assist you in finding a rental , it's not listed on my website so if you are interested in that only send me an email at Support@lasarahelena.com . Thank you!!!
Why are you wearing a mask Sarah? Do they require it?
So you are a costa rica local? What made you move there?
Keep watching my UA-cam channel :) I have documented my entire journey.
Hi, I was wondering if grocery stores cashiers sit in Costa Rica?
Hello Jessie & thank you for your question - I have not seen any that sit.
@@SarahElenaDesignsLife thank you for answering! My dream is to live in Jaco soon! I can’t stand another Canadian winter
Sarah has it been raining a lot in that area?
The rain is starting to pick up now but overall hasn't been bad !
Is there any houses for sale for 50,000$ in the country?
Yes , but I would say you get what you pay for.
Yes, but be prepared.to live amongst barking dogs and theft.
@@elkarlos814 not everywhere Sir. I’ve been in Costa Rica in the country side Cotobrus San Isidro. Not city Sir. Punta arena punta Morales I know the places I want.
You have a kid? Do you pay for private school?
Yes I do & she does go to private school. If you are planning to move to Costa Rica with children they will not be able to attend public schools (which is all taught in Spanish) until you & they are legal residents.
@@SarahElenaDesignsLife gotcha. How much is private school per month if you don't mind me asking.
Camera work is not good. Makes me dizzy
Where is the dog? If you're not happy being single, you won't be happy in a relationship. Relationships don't make people happy...dogs do :) -author unknown