Come Grocery Shopping with me in Tavira

Why I Always Visit Grocery Stores When I Travel

Am I the only person who loves checking out grocery stores, especially in other countries? I’m always curious about what’s different, what’s familiar, and what things cost. No matter where I travel, a grocery store stop is non-negotiable. Want to see what grocery shopping is like in Tavira and how much food actually costs here? Here’s a look at what we typically find, with prices in the photos. I also shared a reel on my Instagram with even more, but this gives you a good idea.

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Lots of fresh meats and veggies

This is just a small view of the amount of cheeses, chocolates, and chips.

Portuguese Wine!

The wine and beer aisle has many more choices. But look at the prices! Portugal has 14 wine regions, and there are incredible wines here! They are so much more affordable than anything in the US, and they are amazing!!!!! Read more about Portuguese wine and how I became a wine-lover here

Also, Portuguese beer is really affordable, too. In many restaurants, it’s actually cheaper than buying a carafe of water.

Our Grocery Haul & Typical Budget

We have a much smaller fridge and a tiny freezer here, so we are only able to buy a certain amount at a time. This was my last grocery haul. We go grocery shopping on average about every 4 days. Each trip averages about €55-65. This trip contained a typical haul with a couple of extras.

Where We Shop in Tavira (Stores & Markets)

We shop at a few different stores. Some things are only available at certain places, so we jump around between them depending on what we need. We cook lunch and dinner at home almost every night. Our typical grocery cost is less than €500 a month. My husband eats a lot though 🤣

• Large Supermarkets- Continente located at Tavira Plaza is the largest store in town, and you will find almost everything there. There is also Auchon in Faro that is really large, but a 30-minute drive away.
• Smaller grocery stores- Aldi, Lidl, Pingo Doce are some of the smaller stores. Everyone seems to have their favorites; mine is Aldi
• The Mercado- The fresh market is open every day until 1 pm, except Sundays. You can find fresh produce, butchers, fish mongers, spices, and Portuguese specialty products.

Tips for gluten-free shoppers

• There are usually dedicated sections of Gluten-Free items, but you can also find items throughout the store
• Look for Sem Gluten (gluten-free)
• Wheat flour is called Trigo, so avoid that in the ingredients list.

Portuguese Grocery Shopping Tips

• Eggs and Milk are not refrigerated, and they are safe
• Use your reusable bags. All the stores have them available for sale near the counters or if you need plastic or paper, there is usually a charge of 10 cents per bag
• You will bag your own groceries. The clerk just scans them, and you bag them yourself.
• Download the apps for discounts and coupons. You can even get gas discounts from Pingo and Continente.
• You can get your fresh bread sliced. There is a bread slicer machine near all the fresh breads.
• Bring a coin if you need a shopping cart; don’t worry, you’ll get it back when you return it.
• You can buy way more than just groceries. Most stores have a few aisles of random items that change weekly, everything from clothes and shoes to tools, sports equipment, and household items. There’s always something you didn’t know you needed.

How Does It Compare to Back Home?

It’s been over a year since I’ve stepped foot in a U.S. grocery store, so I’m genuinely curious how these prices compare to where you live now. For reference, I didn’t buy eggs on this trip, but a case of two dozen here costs about €4. Not bad at all.

If you want to learn more about the cost of living in Portugal, check out this post.

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Follow me on Instagram to see more of my grocery trip and even more content about my life in Portugal @vegas.to.portugal