Cost of food in Scotland?

Hi, I'm new here (just made my introductory post a few moments ago) and so I don't know if this is the right place for this or not, but I was wondering if anyone could give me a brief overview/synopsis of cost of food in Scotland. 

Basically, I am going to be a student at St Andrews this coming September, and am 99% sure I will be given self-catering accommodation (the one where you buy and cook your own food).  I am excited about this, as I would much rather have that sort of control over what I do, or don't, put into my body. 

That said, I'm trying to work out a preliminary budget, and I would like to know if anyone could give me more detailed prices on food in Scotland, in general, in St Andrews/Fife in particular.  The one thing I DO know is that the Tesco in St Andrews is, apparently, the 2nd most expensive one in all of the UK.  And there IS an Aldi in St Andrews. 

I have also found out that for a significant majority of the basic student veggies of the diet, I can get  a vegbox through a uni society that for 6 GBP includes 4kg of veg: 1kg potatoes, 1kg onions, 1kg carrots and 1 kg assorted other seasonal stuff.  But as for the rest of the general food shop, I'd like to get a slightly more specific answer as to how much things cost, if possible.  I mean, I've been there before, and remember the GENERAL prices, but I'd like to know that, for example, bread will cost me roughly 1.99GBP, for example not 'bread is from 0.50GBP-2.00GBP'.  Its hard to budget like that. 

Sorry, I just read that and I know it comes off as demanding.  Thats not how its meant.  I am just curious as to see if anyone can give me more accurate food costs.  Especially since I've been told local butcher/greengrocers/etc are probably cheaper than supermarkets.  If this is so, can anyone tell me what the average % cheaper they are? 

Basically, I'm looking for costs of things like:
 tomatoes
bell pepers
mushrooms
eggs
milk
cheese
chicken/cheap meat
pasta/rice/other dry goods
bread
tinned soup
spices
jam
dish soap
cereal


If anyone could help me, I'd greatly, GREATLY appreciate it.  Thanks!

Hi... we do have a forum member here who lives in St Andrews (or very nearby), so she'll be able to provide more locally-specific advice, but I'll have a go just to get things started for you...

tomatoes - £1.29 (or sometimes 2 for £2) for a pack of 6 ugly tomatoes
bell pepers - I don't buy these, as they are the devil's own food 
mushrooms - same as above
eggs - £2.09
milk - 59p / pint
cheese- I buy store-brand Red Leicester - £1.50
chicken/cheap meat - Just bought a pretty large pack of chicken drumsticks and thighs for £2.19
pasta/rice/other dry goods - I don't buy pasta, but rice is something like £1.29 for a small bag of basmati
bread - the nasty Warburtons Toastie bread my partner likes is £1.39/loaf
tinned soup - you can get really cheap soup, like 59p a tin
spices - i buy mine in the Chinese supermarket for less than £1 a 100g bag
jam - don't use, but it's probably around £1.50 a jar.
dish soap- I buy it in the pound shop for £1
cereal- I think cereal is ridiculously expensive.  I've seen Special K for £3 a box!

Meant to add... i shop in Sainsbury's normally.  If you have an Aldi near you, my veggie friend at work says their veg is really fresh and nice, and very cheap.  I seem to remember seeing a flyer for Aldi showing a special offer where all the veg seemed to be something like 35p a pack/bunch.

Aldi or Lidl are WAY cheaper than any of the main supermarkets for basic stuff. Aldi have selected veg/fruit on offer every week, some for 69p some for 39p. I buy dried fruit (prunes, sultanas etc.) there far cheaper than in Tesco or even Morrisons.

Pasta may be cheaper on a given week if on offer in a big-name grocery, but week end and week out, Aldi is far cheaper.

Definitely watch Tesco for some of their multi-buys, like the buy 1 get 2 free. Sometimes they run that on things like tinned tomatoes, or baked beans and it's worth stacking the tins in a corner or under the bed if you don't have room in the cupboard.

Even as a student you need to be willing to watch the offers and buy accordingly. We are pensioners, and that's what we do.

If you look up various supermarkets online, you can search for specific items and see what the prices would be.

You can get all your answers and compare prices here - http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/

I think every week Aldi sells 5 fruit and/or veg for .39p a bunch, so last week I got broccoli and cucumbers for 39p each....thats super super cheap! Aldi is a big winner in my book!

I live right across the river in Dundee. I've been in St. Andrew's Tescos and not noticed any major price differences from other Tescos.  That said, there will be HUGE differences in your preferences and only you can decide what those are.  Example- you could go for a high-end multi-grain bread that costs £3 or a low-end cheap bread for 55p.  I don't think I would break my budget down so close that you have it down to the penny anyway.  If it's just you and you are cooking from scratch and you're willing to shop to Aldi's for some things (completely recommend for cheap fruit and veg.) then £30 to £35 a week (including a few personal care items) should cover you well and leave you quite comfortable.  Does that help?

ETA-- I find tinned soup here to be absolutely horrible. Even soup ordered from restaurants is nothing like what it is in the States.  Basically, it's flavorless broth with the rare grain or two of rice or noodle. Not worth the £. Too easy to make a whole pot of soup for the same price.

Hi... we do have a forum member here who lives in St Andrews (or very nearby), so she'll be able to provide more locally-specific advice, but I'll have a go just to get things started for you...

tomatoes - £1.29 (or sometimes 2 for £2) for a pack of 6 ugly tomatoes
bell pepers - I don't buy these, as they are the devil's own food 
mushrooms - same as above
eggs - £2.09
milk - 59p / pint
cheese- I buy store-brand Red Leicester - £1.50
chicken/cheap meat - Just bought a pretty large pack of chicken drumsticks and thighs for £2.19
pasta/rice/other dry goods - I don't buy pasta, but rice is something like £1.29 for a small bag of basmati
bread - the nasty Warburtons Toastie bread my partner likes is £1.39/loaf
tinned soup - you can get really cheap soup, like 59p a tin
spices - i buy mine in the Chinese supermarket for less than £1 a 100g bag
jam - don't use, but it's probably around £1.50 a jar.
dish soap- I buy it in the pound shop for £1
cereal- I think cereal is ridiculously expensive.  I've seen Special K for £3 a box!

I hope that was for a dozen eggs, and even at that it's expensive....our local markets sells free range at 90p for half dozen, morrisons at £1.60.
Bread - I find best value for decent quality are the supermarket in-store bakery - 800g granary or wholemeal loaf for £1.20, sometimes 2 for £2 or 400g at 2 for £1.
Jam - got some decent ones for 60p
Pasta - buy store own brand at 90p, sometimes do 2 for...offers
Bell peppers - £1.50 bag of 5
Mushrooms - about £1
Milk - 89p for 2 pint carton....works out cheaper getting in multiples - used to get a 4 pinter but DW now drinking lacto free so a 2 pinter does me for the week