Virgin Islands shoppers face $112 price swings at different supermarkets

Residents shopping for groceries across the US Virgin Islands encounter sharp price differences for the same products, according to a recent study by the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs.

The agency's Supermarket Comparative Study for the week of September 21 tracked identical items across multiple retailers on each island. On St. Thomas, the price gap between the cheapest and most expensive basket reached $112.85, with Pueblo Subbase at $483.98 and Food Center at $596.83 for 91 comparable products. That represents roughly a 23 percent increase for shoppers choosing the pricier option.

St. Croix showed a smaller but still meaningful difference. Pueblo La Reine's basket totalled $435.71 across 97 items, while Plaza Extra came to $488.56, a $52.85 spread or about 12 percent higher. On St. John, Pine Peace Mini Mart offered 46 identical products for $240.60, compared with Starfish Market at $290.25, a $49.65 gap representing roughly 21 percent more.

The survey illustrates that the lowest-priced store overall does not always offer the best deal on every item. On St. Croix, The Market sold white rice for $4.49 per five pounds while Pueblo La Reine charged $4.99. Yet Pueblo La Reine undercut Stop and Shop on bacon, at $17.49 per 16 ounces versus $9.49.

Some everyday items showed extreme variation. Grade A large eggs cost $2.39 at The Market on St. Croix but $7.99 at Stop and Shop. Toilet paper four-packs ranged from $2.39 at The Market on St. Thomas to $9 at Food Center.

Geographic differences also emerged when comparing prices across islands. White rice cost as little as $4.49 on St. Croix but $7.59 on St. Thomas and $7.95 on St. John. Olive oil showed starker variation: $7.99 on St. Croix and St. Thomas but $19.99 on St. John.

The department found that store rankings shift between surveys. In its previous study for the week of September 7, Pueblo Long Bay held the lowest St. Thomas position, but Pueblo Subbase claimed that spot by September 21.

DLCA advised consumers to compare prices for items they regularly purchase rather than relying solely on a supermarket's overall basket ranking.