Lisa1271

Thank you all for your advise on finding a villa, I found the perfect spot right outside of Greve just like I hoped. Now for my next request; what would you suggest would be the best source to get a handle of expenses for the week. Such as, what is the average price for XXX at the grocery? Thank you all for any advise.
Lisa S.

rex

Hard to answer without knowing the size of the party; costs per person are inherently higher for than for a family of six, especially if it includes little kids. And I sometimes spend $50 for one meal at my local Whole Foods.

In general, I'd say a modest percentage higher (20%) than you spend at home - - but even that varies from Alabama to Boston, considerably, no? And as with all places, there are better bargains for some locally produced items, whereas Kellogg's cereals are almost sure to cost more than other breakfast choices.

Best wishes,

Rex

Lisa1271

It will just be Hubby and myself. He is a great cook (and I am a great eater, perfect match!!) so we hope to prepare most of our breakfasts & dinners at the villa with the occational lunch when we don't venture out. So I guess I'm just looking at the staples: pasta, olive oil, meats, veggies, cheeses, breads and such. Getting hungry just thinking about it.
Thanks much, Lisa S.

LoveItaly

Hi Lisa, I have no idea where you live. Where I live the cost of groceries is about the same as in Italy. The only difference is you will be paying in Euros of course and so you should add about 20% due to the weak dollar compared to the Euro. But if you live in an area where groceries are very inexpensive (don't know where that would be, LOL, but certainly not California) than you need to take that into consideration. Have fun, you should have a wonderful week!

Also, don't forget, you will not be buying groceries at home, your utility bills should be lower at home etc. so it will probably more or less even out.

Grinisa

My family of four just spent a week in a villa north of Volterra. We ate lunch and dinner out but had to provide our own breakfast. We went to the local "COOP" twice, spending 45 Euro once and 29 Euro the second time. For that we got: a small package of proscuitto, two small packages of cheese, two loaves of bread, six nectarines, a quart of milk, a quart of orange juice, a package of six juice boxes, a very small box of cocoa krispies, nutella, a liter of Coke, paper towels and dish soap. Oh, and four plastic shopping bags. Not much for about $80.

nytraveler

Given the dollar/euro difference that sounds similar to what you would pay in NYC at a better grocery (D'Ag for example). Certainly more than you would pay in the suburbs - or outside NY.

But food (in the market) in the US is generally cheaper than anywhere else in the industrialized world. (I was amazed at what basic stuff - half gallon of OJ or milk - cost in a supermarket in London vs New York a couple of years ago - and I'm not talking about the Food Halls at Harrods.) I would think that plus 50% or so would probably be safer.