7 Things That Are Surprisingly Expensive at Mexican Grocery Stores

Seven surprisingly expensive items at Mexican grocery stores include peanut butter ($9 for Skippy/Jif), breakfast cereal ($8/box), imported cheese ($60/kg for blue cheese), asparagus ($4.50/bunch), potato chips ($4.15/bag), seedless grapes ($4.50/bag), and Asian/American specialty products (300% markup). The key to affordable Mexican living is embracing local alternatives: Mexican cheeses cost a fraction of imported varieties, tropical fruits like mango and papaya cost 10-25 pesos versus expensive imported grapes, and shopping at local mercados rather than supermarkets slashes produce costs by 50-70%.

Most people dream of moving to Mexico for a cheaper life. And in many ways, it delivers, housing can be a fraction of US prices, healthcare is affordable, and local food is remarkably cheap. But step into a supermarket looking for familiar products from home, and you might be in for sticker shock. Here are seven items that cost significantly more in Mexican grocery stores than you might expect.

1. Peanut Butter

For Americans especially, this is a painful discovery. A jar of peanut butter that costs $3-4 back home can run 40-50 pesos for small generic jars, and premium brands like Skippy or Jif can hit 114 pesos (nearly $9 USD). The demand simply isn't there, Mexicans traditionally don't eat much peanut butter, so it's priced as an import specialty item.

My solution: I've learned to love local alternatives. Cajeta (goat milk caramel) on toast isn't the same thing, but it's delicious. And when I absolutely need peanut butter, I stock up when traveling or ask visitors to bring some.

2. Breakfast Cereal

Your favorite cereals exist here, but they're expensive. Regular brands are pricier than in the States, and organic or specialty cereals can cost nearly $8 USD per box. If you're a cereal-for-breakfast person, this adds up fast over a month of shopping.

Consider switching to local breakfast alternatives: chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, fresh fruit with yogurt, or even simple eggs and beans. Your wallet will thank you, and honestly, these options are usually more satisfying anyway.

3. Imported Cheese

Mexican cheeses are delicious and affordable, queso Oaxaca, queso fresco, Chihuahua cheese, panela, cotija. But if you're craving blue cheese, aged cheddar, brie, or European varieties, prepare to pay. Blue cheese runs approximately 1,000 pesos per kilogram, that's around $60 USD. Even "normal" imported cheeses carry significant premiums.

The good news? Local cheeses are genuinely excellent and cost a fraction of the price. Learn to cook with Oaxaca cheese, discover the wonders of queso panela, and save the imported stuff for special occasions.

4. Asparagus

Fresh asparagus bunches cost around $4.50 each, not outrageous by American standards, but significantly more than local vegetable options. For that same price, you could buy a mountain of fresh tomatoes, avocados, chiles, and peppers that would last all week.

Adapt your cooking to what's local and seasonal. Mexico has incredible produce, just not necessarily the same produce you're used to. Chayote, nopales, jícama, and dozens of chili varieties are cheap, fresh, and delicious once you learn to cook with them.

5. Potato Chips

A bag of Lay's or imported chips can cost around $4.15 USD, more than double what you'd pay for the same bag in an American grocery store. The local brands exist and are cheaper, though the flavors differ from what you might be used to.

Better yet, embrace Mexican snacks. Chicharrones (pork rinds) are everywhere and cheap. Fresh fruit with chili and lime from street vendors is addictive. Esquites (corn in a cup) satisfies that snacking urge. Or just buy a bag of tortilla chips and fresh salsa for a fraction of the imported chip price.

6. Seedless Grapes

Grapes are one of the pricier fruits in Mexico, with seedless varieties running about $4.50 per bag when available. They're often imported and not always in season. Compare that to tropical fruits that grow abundantly here and cost almost nothing.

Papaya, mango, pineapple, watermelon, cantaloupe, these are cheap, fresh, and incredible in Mexico. A whole pineapple might cost 25 pesos. A perfect mango might be 10 pesos. Redirect your fruit cravings toward what's local and seasonal, and you'll eat better while spending less.

7. Asian and American Specialty Products

Soy sauce, sriracha, specialty Asian ingredients, American condiments like ranch dressing, anything considered "ethnic" or imported carries significant markup. A bottle of sauce that costs $3 at home might be $11 here. If you have specific dietary needs or cuisines you love, this adds up quickly.

The workaround: stock up when you travel internationally, ask visitors to bring items, or learn to make substitutions with local ingredients. Mexico City has better Asian grocery options than the Riviera Maya if you're willing to make the trip occasionally.

The Smart Approach

The key to affordable living in Mexico is adapting your habits to match local availability:

• Embrace local products - Mexican cheeses, tropical fruits, local snacks are cheap and delicious
• Shop at mercados - Local markets have dramatically better prices than supermarkets for produce
• Cook Mexican - The ingredients for Mexican cuisine are affordable and readily available
• Stock up when traveling - Bring specialty items back from trips to the US or Canada
• Find local alternatives - There's usually a Mexican version that works just as well
• Connect with other expats - Group orders and sharing tips help everyone save
• Accept some changes - Your diet will evolve, and that's not a bad thing

The Bottom Line

Living in Mexico can absolutely be cheaper than the US or Canada, dramatically so if you're smart about it. But that savings only materializes if you're willing to adjust your shopping list to match what's actually affordable here. Clinging to your old grocery habits and insisting on imported products? That's when Mexico gets expensive.

The expats who thrive here financially are the ones who embrace Mexican food culture, shop at local markets, and treat imported products as occasional treats rather than daily necessities. Make that mental shift, and your grocery bill will plummet while your culinary horizons expand.

Living in Playa del Carmen, Tulum, or Mexico City? Join our expat community to share grocery shopping tips, discover the best mercados, and learn which stores offer the best prices on imported items.