cheapest groceries

[Riches1]

Living close to Jestetten, I was wondering how much I could potentially save on groceries if I went shopping there, as opposed to Swiss stores. I only get pretty basic / cheap stuff, for the most part, and I usually buy at Migros. Some stuff seems very affordable (mostly the Migros Budget products), for example:

- 1 kg rice / oats: CHF 1.50
- 1l french dressing: CHF 2

But then some things are quite expensive, or at least it seems to me that they are. For example:

- 500g of salad: CHF 2.50
- 750g of broccoli (frozen): CHF 3.40
- 750g of green beans (frozen): CHF 3.20
- 500g of brussel sprouts (frozen): CHF 3.50

- chicken breast: CHF 11.50 / kg
- pork tenderloin: CHF 22.50 / kg
- salmon: CHF 23.80 / kg

I'm not exactly sure if this is much cheaper in other stores / in Germany. Would I likely save a lot of money if I bought these things in other Swiss stores, such as Aldi or Lidl, or in a German Aldi, for example?

 

[gaijin]

Overall Germany is cheaper than Switzerland. I go there quite often for shopping. One addtional thing to consider: if you buy for more than 50 Euros, you can get the German VAT back (important: if your total amout is higher than CHF 150, you'll have to pay Swiss VAT to get the German VAT back).

 

[Baptiste Wicht]

I'm not exactly sure if this is much cheaper in other stores / in Germany. Would I likely save a lot of money if I bought these things in other Swiss stores, such as Aldi or Lidl, or in a German Aldi, for example?

I never shop abroad since I live too far from the border, but at least in Switzerland, you can save a lot by using Lidl and Aldi, compared to Migros/Coop. We have been shopping at Lidl mostly for years and there is no going back.

But when we are abroad for holidays in France or Germany, we can still notice a significant difference.

 

[evergreen]

Overall Germany is cheaper than Switzerland. I go there quite often for shopping. One addtional thing to consider: if you buy for more than 50 Euros, you can get the German VAT back (important: if your total amout is higher than CHF 150, you'll have to pay Swiss VAT to get the German VAT back).

Interesting for people shopping between CHF 50 and CHF 150 per trip to Germany (I assume these limits are per person?), what is the procedure to claim the German VAT back, can you use a mobile app like to take a picture of your shopping receipt ?

 

[gaijin]

Interesting for people shopping between CHF 50 and CHF 150 per trip to Germany

Just to be clear: claiming German VAT back requires a purchase of at least CHF 50. If you are over CHF 150 you can still do the same procedure for getting German VAT back. But additionally, you have to pay Swiss VAT. So above CHF 150 still lets you save money (21% German VAT -> 8.1% Swiss VAT).

(I assume these limits are per person?)

Correct.

what is the procedure to claim the German VAT back

In the German shop you have to ask for an 'Ausfuhrschein'. At the border you have to get a stamp on this document. At your next visit to the German shop you present the document and get the German VAT back in cash.
So no app or alike. Very much paper and pen

 

[justatreeinthesea]

Well, you still have over a month to bring groceries for up to CHF300 without having to pay Swiss VAT
And people should keep in mind that you don't get 19% back on groceries. The German VAT on food is much lower, so the savings are not huge if the base price isn't too different.
For non groceries stuff, it's great and you don't even need to go back if your order from shops like Amazon and get it delivered to a pickup-point. Just send your stamped invoice and they'll refund your credit card.