People have been asking me how expensive it is here in New York. I’ve taken the liberty to snap shots around the shopping isles in supermarkets and general stores here, to show you the prices we are talking! For my South African readers, the exchange rate right now is that R10 will get you 1 Dollar. So working on this, here are some interesting prices I noted:

• A small bottle of water here is around $1.99 which equates to R19.60
• Rice Krispies = $4.99 = R49.14
• Pringles = $2.99 = R29.44
• Toblerone (original) = $3.49 = R34.37
• A slab of Herschey’s = $2.79 = R27.47
• Marie Claire = $4.19 = R41.26
• Women’s Health = $5.29 = R52.09
• 2L milk = $2.59 = R25.50
• Loaf of bread = $3.99 = R39.29
• Packet of Lays (small) = $1.49 = R14.67
• 6 Pack of beer = between $11.99 and $13.99 = between R118.07 and R137.76
• 500g mince = $3.98 = R39.19
• 500g pork = $4.29 = R42.24
• 200g beef round steak = $2.10 = R20.68
• 500g beef steak bone-in = $12.59 = R123.97
• Bottle of Bacardi Rum = $18.99 = R186.99
• Bottle of Malibu = $22.99 = R226.38
• Bottle of Absolut Vodka = $26.99 = R265.77
• Bunch of flowers = $25 = R246.17
• OK! Gossip magazine = $3.99 = R39.29
• In Touch Gossip magazine = $2.99 = R29.44
• Slice of pizza = roughly around $2.75 = R27.08. But there are places in some parts of the city where a slice will be around $1 = R9.85
• Take-away coffee = around $1.75 = R17.23. But you can get a hot coffee for $1 at a vendor on the street = R9.85
• Can of coke = $1.50 = R14.77 
• 500ml Coke = $2.19 = R21.56
• Nectarine = $2.99 = R29.44
• Apple = $1.99 = R19.60
• Banana = $1.29 = R12.70
• Watermelon = $5.91 = R58.20
• Metro (subway) ticket = $2.50 = R24.62

Out at the clubs, a glass of white wine can be around $9 which is R88.62! Drinks like vodka cranberry are $7 which is R68.93! The other night I ordered a Malibu and Coke which came to $13 which is R128.01!! Never in my life would I have imagined paying R130 for a Malibu and Coke. I must say, the restaurants and bars here do have drinks specials daily. Nearly every single licensed restaurant and bar will have a “Happy Hour” every day between 5pm and 6pm which offers drinks specials for cocktails. Cocktails are usually anywhere from $9 – $11 (R88.62 – R108.32), and during Happy Hour they become roughly $5 (R50). Cocktails this includes are ones like Frozen Margaritas, Sangria’s, Bloody Mary’s and classic Mojito’s. The most expensive I have seen for cocktails was at a rooftop bar I went to the other night called “Press Lounge” as part of 48 Ink Hotel on 48th and 11th avenue. Cocktails were $16. That is R157.50 per cocktail! What I must say is cheap, is clothing at “H&M“. Beautiful easy sun dresses are $13 which is R128! If I think in Cape Town in popular and trendy boutiques that me and my friends like to get sexy cute clothes at, such as “The Lot” or “Wardrobe” or “Traffic Clothing”, the T-shirts and blouses alone can easily start at R250. Nevermind shorts or blazers or dresses! Whereas at H&M, a beautiful patterned blouse can be only $14.95 which is R147.21. And a nice sexy pair of denim shorts is around R196.45 ($19.95). I better get shopping!