South East Asia Fresh Food Markets - What Do Locals Pay Compared to Tourists?

[Deactivated] on 22/04/2019 - 00:07
Last edited 22/04/2019 - 12:53 by 1 other user

Watching some of the many youtube fresh market and street food videos in Thailand and Vietnam, I would really appreciate information on what the locals really pay for fresh seafood versus the tourist prices. Sometimes tourists in Thailand are paying 1800 Baht a kilo for admittedly nice prawns/shrimp, but that is crazy expensive ($80 a kilo). One restaurant video has giant freshwater prawns that cost about $70 for 700g. They look fabulous but that is crazy expensive.

Medium Freshwater Prawn 300g US$25 each actual, comments say US$4-8 would have been local price. Elsewhere a famous vlogger gets 10 very nice prawns for US$11.40 a kilo.
Giant Freshwater Prawn Restaurant price $70 for a 700g
Large Lobster/Rainbow Crayfish size 1kg+ 4300 PHP per kilo (more than $100)

I think it's reasonable for tourists to pay a premium of maybe 20% over locals, but maybe things are getting silly. Any local information would be appreciated and interesting to me. It's strange watching these videos and many times seafood prices are better in Australia.

Food & Grocery

Comments

  • SydStrand on 22/04/2019 - 00:41
    +2

    Dual menu/pricing is everywhere from SEA to Hawaii. You're charged whatever they think you'll pay.

    I think it's reasonable for tourists to pay a premium of maybe 20% over locals, but maybe things are getting silly.

    Is your salary only 20% more than a Thai's? Tourists will always get charged more, it's just part of life. Those Thai fishmongers likely have higher operating costs like rent than those selling solely to locals in less-trafficked shops, they might even be paying protection money for access to the tourist train.

    • [Deactivated] on 22/04/2019 - 01:10

      I'm trying to get a better understanding as the super food vloggers paint such a fake picture. Their videos can get 2 million hits, the best ones are on more than a million bucks a year and they couldn't care less about the cost or overpaying as they make comfortably more per video than the overpriced cost of the meal. For my own situation, if I know it's a tourist ripoff I would keep looking elsewhere. There are strips of tourist restaurants in Hua Hin that the locals wouldn't touch and are often empty waiting for suckers. Australia exports 95% of it's premium rock lobsters to China yet the price here is still cheaper than Manila?

    • [Deactivated] on 22/04/2019 - 01:11
      +2

      Your entitled sigh is noted. Sorry it doesn't meet your lofty standards, bigshot.

      • spackbace on 22/04/2019 - 01:19
        -4

        Your entitled sigh is noted.

        Nope not entitled at all

        I just don't feel the need to use forums on a bargain website to soapbox, or to find out answers I 'might find interesting' because I was just watching a YouTube video.

        I mean, what would you do with the answers you seek? How would it enrich your life? You'd never be able to obtain the locals pricing for the seafood, so instead it would just leave you feeling bitter.

        Or, the info you get will just be 'interesting', and no one's life will be any the richer.

        No one's paying $70-80/kg for seafood. You'd get quoted that and keep walking.

        It's a pointless forum topic and I'm calling you out on it.

        • [Deactivated] on 22/04/2019 - 01:28

          Calling out? Yes, your self-appointed sheriff's deputy act is a regular public service.

          • spackbace on 22/04/2019 - 01:29
            -2

            @[Deactivated]: That was your moment to go "no, this post isn't a complete and utter waste of everyone's time", but I guess even you can't lie like that

            • [Deactivated] on 22/04/2019 - 01:50
              -2

              @spackbace: Is that your inner dialog speaking?

                • [Deactivated] on 22/04/2019 - 02:05
                  -1

                  @spackbace: Can we crowdfund you a working full stop button?

                  • spackbace on 22/04/2019 - 02:06
                    -1

                    @[Deactivated]: Yes

                    • [Deactivated] on 22/04/2019 - 02:08
                      -1

                      @spackbace: Are you just bitter that I didn't have any questions for your car salesman AMA. Is this payback? I apologise. I didn't find it enriching and respectfully gave it a wide berth. Nothing I can do is as spurious as your Henny Penny effort when your google drive was full. You are perfectly happy using the forum as your personal false alarm helpdesk. Why are you holding my thread to standards you don't keep yourself? You started a panic thread because your email was full. Thread of the year, that one.

            • jacross on 22/04/2019 - 08:59
              +2

              @spackbace: This post isnt a complete waste of time.

              Well with the exception of your subthread.

    • dcep on 22/04/2019 - 01:13

      Or, do you prefer ..

      How to get away with speeding fine

      Accident - no insurance

      Scammed by buyer, money not showing up in account

      • spackbace on 22/04/2019 - 01:19

        I prefer "please help me with this basic task I couldve googled an answer to by now"
        /s

        • [Deactivated] on 22/04/2019 - 01:24
          -1

          couldve? Is that like covfefe?

          • spackbace on 22/04/2019 - 01:25
            -1

            @[Deactivated]: What do you think that means?

            Medium Freshwater Prawn 300g US$25 each actual,

            Yep, comes under the same heading as "each actual" whatever the hell that means.

            You done?

            • [Deactivated] on 22/04/2019 - 01:29

              @spackbace: Is that the best you have?

              • spackbace on 22/04/2019 - 01:30
                -2

                @[Deactivated]: I thought it was up there in a reply about a missing apostrophe?

                Or is this a race to the bottom? In which case congrats, you're miles ahead 😂

                • [Deactivated] on 22/04/2019 - 01:33
                  +1

                  @spackbace: I think you hit bedrock with "locals pricing". Maybe self-important barnacles are the forum issue.

  • mskeggs on 22/04/2019 - 20:26
    +1

    I am interested in the answer.
    I know closer to home the local toy shop in our tourist town offers locals a 20% discount on their otherwise inflated prices.
    I have seen pictures translated from Thai that show different prices for tourists and locals for services.
    One of the reasons I travel is because different places have different advantages, like cheap seafood or tasty street vendors. If I can get better prices due to a tip from another forum user, I would like to get it.

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