The Price Isn't Right

I live in possibly the most expensive city in Africa. Prices are outrageous. Not just compared to other African countries, but compared to anywhere. It depends on what you’re buying, but lots of things are more expensive even than what I would pay in the US. Actually, the US has some really cheap stuff (Thank you, China). There are some things that are less expensive here, like some fruits and veggies, but there are other things that are so astronomical you can only laugh and wonder if anyone has ever bought it before.

Examples:
Pineapple $2 (good compared to US)
Spaghetti noodles $0.50 (I think that’s cheap, but they’re probably cheap everywhere)
Board game like Clue or Monopoly $120 (seriously)
Large avocado $0.20 (awesome!)
Tailor made skirt and shirt $12 (Does anyone even use tailors in the US?)
Ice-cream cone $1 (nice)
1 plate of Chinese food $10 (This is the European price for Asian food…no cheap Chinese take-out like in the US. By the time you buy a drink and some spring rolls you’re up to $15/person)
Small bottle of Coke $0.50 (reasonable)
1 liter of juice $3 (expensive in my opinion, but worth it sometimes)
Bottle of olive oil $12 (too spendy, but necessary sometimes)
Small wedge of cheese $6 (spendy but it’s the cheapest available and it’s worth it)
Roll of toilet paper $1 (use sparingly)
Long, skinny baguette $0.50 (cheap compared to US, but normal for Europe)
Can of Pringles $3 (expensive but nice to know they’re there when you need them)
Laundry detergent $7 (expensive but what can you do?)
Shaving cream $10 (forget it, use soap)
TV $300 (don’t need it or want it)

OK, I’m having a hard time thinking of the really expensive stuff because I never buy it. You can live without most of it. My roomies and I spend $30 each per week on groceries. It seems like a lot, but colleagues from places besides the US think it’s not much and even our American colleagues think we’re doing well.

An important thing to keep in mind when considering these prices is that the average Congolese person makes $800 in a year. I think our guards at the center earn about $80/month. They are obviously not partaking in a large portion of the items available in this city. I don’t know how they manage. A house lady who does cooking and cleaning makes maybe $6/day, but usually only finds part-time work. Another factor, however, is that if the employer has the means they are expected to pay for things like medical expenses and school fees which would otherwise be way out of the employee’s budget. Somehow people manage. And somewhere there are some very rich Africans buying some very expensive things because there aren’t enough ex-pats here to keep the deli stocked with European cheeses or buy up the overpriced entertainment items.