"Meat about 40% Cheaper" French People Traveling Over 400Km to Shop

Relatively Lower Cost of Living Compared to Spain and France

Due to soaring prices, some French people have started traveling 400 km to shop in neighboring Spain.

On the 3rd (local time), local media including BFM TV reported that Azur ?vasion, a tourist bus company in Marseille in southern France, has been transporting 'shopping customers' to and from Spain once a week for the past two years. As more people seek to shop in Spain, where prices are relatively lower than in France, the bus capacity has been doubled. The round-trip fare per person is 39 euros (about 58,000 won), which is an exceptionally low price considering the tolls and fuel costs if driving a car personally.

Priscillia, a mother of three, said, "Due to inflation, I come more often to buy cigarettes, groceries, especially meat," adding, "For example, sandwich bread here (in Spain) costs 1.59 euros (about 2,300 won) for 500g, whereas in Marseille it is 2.20 euros (about 3,200 won) for 200g." Priscillia added, "I bought 6 kg of meat for 34 euros (about 50,000 won), which is about 40% cheaper than buying it in France."

[Image source=Pixabay]

Malik, a passenger who arrived in Spain by bus from France to shop, said, "With the money to fill two shopping bags in France, I can fill five in Spain." He said, "I packed oil, soap, and all other daily necessities, products that are too expensive to buy in France."

Those who embark on these shopping trips say that the prices of daily necessities in Spain are on average 20?30% cheaper than in France. In fact, according to Expatistan, a global cost of living comparison site, the cost of living in Spain is on average 25% cheaper than in France. Because of this, some people occasionally overspend. Another bus passenger, Angel, said, "I come with a fixed budget. Otherwise, I might compulsively buy things."

Earlier, during last Christmas, there were reports that residents of northern France were increasingly visiting neighboring Belgium. At that time, the French public broadcaster France Info reported, "French people are crossing the Belgian border to buy Christmas trees at much cheaper prices." A French couple from the Normandy region in northern France who went to Belgium for a 'tree shopping expedition' said, "Christmas trees that cost on average 150?200 euros (about 210,000?280,000 won) in France cost about 14 euros (about 19,000 won) in Belgium."