What €60 Buys at an Italian Grocery Store

One of the things that interests people is how affordable Italy is, especially when they, like me, are coming from more expensive parts of the U.S.

If you're curious exactly how far your money will go at an Italian grocery store, let's walk through my recent shopping excursion. It was a big haul for us...and only cost €60!

First, the Produce

The thing I love the most about groceries in Italy is how cheap and yet utterly fresh and delicious the produce is. I remember when I first got to Calabria, and I saw the ginormous peppers at the market. They weren't GMO...they were just happily raised in good, chemical-free soil.

Even though tomatoes are technically out of season, Italians can't do without them, so they're readily available year-round. I needed them to make Mexican salsa, because this girl can't do without!

I was also in the mood to cook zucchini and cauliflower, and I snagged a bag of shallots. We always have fruit in the house, so the huge box of Pink Lady apples (2kg!) was a steal...AND it came with a super cute shopper bag!

To summarize my fruit and vegetable spend:

• Tomatoes (2 packs €1.59 each): €3.18

• Zucchini (2 at 0.51 kg): €1.02

• Shallots (250 g): €1.29

• Cauliflower (1.68 kg): €2.51

Let's Hit the Dairy Aisle

Normally, we buy ricotta from a friend who sells it in Davoli, but I didn't want to wait, so I got some at the store, along with an 8-pack of fiber yogurt (ain't aging fun?).

I bought some panna (heavy cream) for a new dish, and some kefir for my mother-in-law. Whenever I see tofu, which is not super popular here, I pick some up, so I did.

Total dairy spend:

• Ricotta (400 g): €2.59

• Yogurt (8-pack): €2.99

• Panna (200 ml): €0.79

• Kefir (2 at €0.99): €1.98

• Tofu: €1.85

Onto Dinner Deals

Fra's so cute. He studiously scans the grocery store flyer before we plan a trip. This week, at our favorite store, Eurospin, they had a promotion on German products. I have no idea why.

"Why don't we try this?" he pointed to a special on spaetzle. I'd never made it, but I was game. That's what the panna was for, and I also bought speck to go with it.

There was also a special on chamomile grappa, and I thought, why not? Is it German? I don't know.

Typically, I cook dried chickpeas, but it's nice to have canned legumes on hand when we want a fast lunch. They were on sale, and I'm already kicking myself for not buying more. I threw in a can of peas, too.

We normally buy meat from our cousin, the butcher, but again, I needed food and didn't have a lot of time, so I picked up a pack of chicken breast and ground meat.

Total spend:

• Spaetzle: €1.99

• Chamomile grappa: €3.49

• Speck: €1.69

• Chickpeas (3 cans at €0.39): €1.17

• Peas: €0.65

• Chicken breast: €4.87

• Ground meat: €4.92

Snacks and Random Items

The rest was a mishmash of things we needed and things I wanted. I have the worst trouble finding a) the right-sized trash bags for different trash cans and b) bags that don't split. Fingers crossed on the two bundles of bags I bought.

I also picked up a bottle of apple cider vinegar. I've been making fire cider to boost my immunity this winter, and I go through it so fast that it's already time to make more.

Snackwise, Max got me hooked on these graham-cracker-like cookies, and we were out. I also always get tortilla chips for my Mexican food fix. Fra loves almonds, so I got some of those, too, along with cereal that was on sale. My impulse buy was paprika chips because they're so good!

I also got Fra some aftershave. I'd gotten the wrong kind last time, so he sent a photo to make sure I got the right one this time!

This store doesn't carry my ultra-soft favorite toilet paper, so I got some "eco" toilet paper. I am not impressed!

Total spend here:

• Big garbage bags: €1.29

• Small garbage bags: €1.05

• Cookies: €1.09

• Tortilla chips: €1.29

• Apple cider vinegar (500 ml): €0.99

• Aftershave: €2.49

• Cereal: €1.99

• Almonds: €4.99

• Toilet paper (4 rolls): €1.39

Eating Affordably in Italy

Our total was about €60. Taxes were €5. I had to haul five bags and the box of apples up all our stairs, which tells me it was a lot of groceries!

I feel so good knowing I'm eating wholesome, healthy foods, and that I'm not spending a ton to eat right!