Him says the list below consists of boring minutiae — and he’s probably correct (perhaps similar to your Facebook friends reporting on what they ate for breakfast) — but I’m going to share it anyway to justify the wad of receipts I’ve been carrying these past few weeks.

Ever since we nearly succumbed to restaurant sticker shock in Sydney, we’ve been self catering almost every meal. Over the course of about two months, we’ve learned New Zealand’s New World is our favorite grocery store for both price and selection (we love the dried fruit bins!), and pretty much every item on any store’s cosmetics aisle is at least two times the price it is in the U.S. (The $11.99 sunscreen listed below was by far the cheapest option available.)

We’ve come across some interesting products, including purple carrots, $90/kg lobster, placenta cream (with Vitamin E!), chicken-flavored potato chips, coal tar shampoo and walls of Vegemite (yes, they really do eat that vile stuff here).

Here’s a snapshot of what recent grocery store purchases have cost us and might cost you if you visit these cities (all prices are listed in local currency):

 

Melbourne (Australia) Central Coles Supermarket, Dec. 17, 2012 (AUD)

-Bananas (0.182 kg @ $3.90/kg): $0.71

-Campbells chicken stock (375 mg): $1.67

-Carrots, purple (500 grams): $2.48

-Mushrooms (0.157 kg @ $7/kg): $1.10

-Onions, shallots (0.072 kg @ $12.98/kg): $0.93

-Plums, black (0.162 kg @ $12.98/kg): $0.81

-Vicks Vapodrops (24 pack): $3.99

-Yogurt (100 grams): $1

 

Ashburton (New Zealand) New World, Dec. 19, 2012 (NZD)

-Apricots (0.1400 kg @ $8.29/kg): $1.16

-Bananas (0.5350 kg @ $2.99/kg): $1.60

-Crumpets, Golden Break: $2.35

-Dried fruit from the bin (2.750 kg @ $16.90/kg): $4.65

-Granola bars, box of generic (6 bars): $1.99

-Gum, spearmint: $2.15

-Potato salad (half pint container): $4.11

-Sandwich, Dagwood: $4.25

-Water, Kiwi Blue Water, still (1 liter): $0.99

 

Westport (New Zealand) New World, Dec. 24, 2012 (NZD)

-Bananas (0.4900 kg @ $3.29/kg): $1.61

-Carrots, orange (0.3000 kg @ $2.99/kg): $0.90

-Chicken Schnitzel (raw, two breasts): $5.64

-Garlic bulb (0.0400 kg @ $23.59/kg): $0.95

-Pasta sauce (510 grams): $2.09

-Pie, 4-inch apricot and apple: $3.39 each

-Sandwich, Dagwood: $5.99

-Wine, Sacred Hill pinot noir: $12.99

 

Wellington (Wakefield Street) New World, Dec. 27, 2012 (NZD)

-Bears, gummi (0.146 kg @ $9.90/kg): $1.45

-Carrots, orange (0.136 kg @ $2.99/kg): $0.41

-Cucumber: $1.99

-Eggs, brown (half dozen): $2.40

-Peaches, yellow (0.216 kg @ $7.99/kg): $1.73

-Plums, red (0.101 kg @ $8.99/kg): $0.91

-Tomatoes (0.266 kg @ $2.99/kg): $0.80

-Wine, Shingle Peak Merlot: $8.99

 

Auckland (Quay Street) Countdown, Jan. 1, 2013 (NZD)

-Bananas (0.793 kg @ $2.99/kg): $2.37

-Cheese, shredded pizza mix (250 grams): $8.99

-Cookies, chocolate “Digestives” — they’re really very good! (200 grams): $3.59

-Gum, Wrigleys (14 pieces): $1.89

-Juice, orange (1 liter): $4.96

-Kiwis, gold (0.328 kg @ $5.99/kg): $1.96

-Pasta, pipe rigate (500 grams): $2.68

-Pasta sauce (540 grams): $3.99

-Salad dressing, French (310 grams): $6.99

-Sausage, spicy chorizo (6 pack) $6.95

-Spinach, fresh (130 grams): $2.99

-Sunscreen, SPF 30, generic (250 ml): $11.99

-Tomatoes (0.208 kg @ $2.99/kg): $0.62

-Toothpaste, Colgate (80 grams): $3.19

 

I think the most important conclusion we can reach from this list is… we’re both quite fond of bananas and carrots.