Can you buy a meal with $1?
By rhodzptc
@rhodzptc (1317)
Philippines
July 12, 2010 9:17am CST
Today all prices are increasing and also all bills and would be getting worst on the following year. My daily basis for food allowance when I go to work is only $1, Yes I could buy a meal for a price of $1 but not in fast food but in canteens or food stall outside malls. I live in Philippines were in $1 is equivalent to 45 pesos, I'm still lucky because the cost of living here is not that much expensive in other country. But the big problem is the salary of employee a regular employee here is around $8-10 per day. Making it hard to live if your salary is below the minimum. I want to know if it your country can you buy a meal in price of $1?
5 people like this
31 responses
@picjim (3002)
• India
12 Jul 10
Could you tell me what you get for $1 in a meal?Then I'll tell you its Indian equivalent in Hyderabad.Here most of us who have difficulty in buying a meal at a hotel pack a lunch when leaving from home.This turns out to be economical and hygienic.
1 person likes this
@hanagi (390)
• Philippines
12 Jul 10
I live also in the philippines. Anyway, I have been to Malaysia and I can say that I can buy a meal with less than $1 in the canteen since it is in a buffet style you can get what you want or how many you want. I have tried it and paid only 2 RM that is almost equivalent to 25 pesos I think. I have small stomach and I think the meal is enough to make me full.
1 person likes this
@rhodzptc (1317)
• Philippines
12 Jul 10
Wow that's nice to know I think I'll try to go Malaysia for a vacation since you told me that cost of expense is food is less cheaper than in our country. Thanks for this info its a great help.
@Unah08 (671)
• Philippines
13 Jul 10
In my school student's meal are up for grab for only P27.00. :) It comes with a cup of rice and half of order of a of any viand of your choice (meat, beef, veggies etc). You stillhave a change of P8.00 for a bottle fo softdrinks/soda.
But don't expect for an extravagant meal or delicious close-to-perfect taste for that kind of amount or you'll get dissappointed. However, for those who have a tight budget/allowance this kind of meal will do.
Happy eating. :)
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
13 Jul 10
Hello I was in Cebu and Davao for some time, most of the days i ate in my hosts home, but one day i had to eat in a restaurant in Davao, it was a simple vegetarian meal, if i remember right i had paid 85 peso..
Your peso is almost our one rupees, here in my city you can buy a simple veg meal with curd and one sweet for 50 rupees..
Thanks for sharing.
Welcome always. 
Cheers.
Professor
Cheers.
Professor
@Amanda81587 (3042)
• United States
12 Jul 10
Our minimum salary here is $7.30 per hour.
I have been trying to think and the only thing you could probably buy for a dollar is something at the store if you add the prices up right,
but it will probably be a small portion. Like canned meat and bread. 
I have been trying to think and the only thing you could probably buy for a dollar is something at the store if you add the prices up right, but it will probably be a small portion. Like canned meat and bread. @rhodzptc (1317)
• Philippines
12 Jul 10
See the difference between our wages, in your country your salary is times 10 of ours and same goes to the food so it means the bigger your money currency the higher is your cost of living. Imagine your 1 hour work is equivalent to 1 whole day of our work. In our country your 1 whole month salary is equivalent to around 70,000 pesos and you could live for 3 months with out working if you go to our country.
@o0jopak0o (6394)
• Philippines
12 Jul 10
well i also live in the philippines and tried a full 50 cent meal which include one viand, rice, egg which is really cheap. But i think the average meal around some school campuses is $1.50.
@lalay1976 (330)
• Philippines
12 Jul 10
yes rhodz, we certainly can buy a meal for a dollar here (Philippines) and i hope its a good thing :)
but then if we pro rate the amount we spend for a meal to the amount we only earn for a day, it is so frustrating! :(
cost of living may be low if we will have to consider monetary value but if we consider the percentage of it to the amount we earn, it is already quite high.
@rhodzptc (1317)
• Philippines
12 Jul 10
It's true imagine you eat three times in a day that means $3 or 150 pesos or less and you only earn 450 pesos a day or $10 no to mention you need to commute every day just to go to work. Really frustrating but we can't do anything about because as I noticed with our economy if a company increase someone's salary he needs to lay-off some of his employees at maximized the work of those who retain. I experience it in my company right now we get an increase but in return they lay-off the others and include it to our work loads.
@christiana81 (717)
• Romania
14 Aug 10
In my country that is impossible. We have very high prices and very low salary....
@ReViewMeMedia (3785)
• United States
13 Jul 10
I think in the U.S. after taxes, no meal or fast food is under $1.00
@jkar1234 (147)
• India
12 Jul 10
I am in india and here we can get a meal in 1$ but you will have to get it from small hotels not from 3 star or 5 star hotels.
One or two years ago prices were so cheap but in a year or so inflation has risen so much that it is becoming very difficult.
I don't think at this rate i will be able to get a meal in 1$ in coming days but at present it is just enough for it.
@animegirl334 (3263)
• United States
13 Jul 10
At McDonald's there is a dollar menu where all foods cost a dollar so I could get lunch for a dollar. I'm surprised that with the level of inflaction in the United States, a dollar can still buy so much. I could go to a corner store and buy a bag of chips or a cup of potato salas for a dollar or go to McDonald's and get a burger or a harsh brown. A dollar can bring so many wonders Enjoy your lunch.
Enjoy your lunch.
@shia88 (4571)
• Malaysia
13 Jul 10
HI,
I stay in Malaysia now and for your $1 is referred to what currrency.
OKie...let's talk about SG$1 = RM2.80. For that amount, I get easily get a bowl of noodle in the coffeeshop.
The standard of living at my place here is not that high yet,so the food price is not that pricey. Of course, the town I am living now is not really a big city(capital city).
If your are talking about big city, I believe with SG$1, can only buy small cake/kueh keuh for snack only, but for sure it won't be enough to buy set meal.
@nijolechu (1842)
• Canada
13 Jul 10
I don't think you can find a good meal for just a Buck from the country that I am from. Because the foods and meals made here are much more expensive. The only place I think would have to be at a fast food restaurant like McDonald's where they sell like burgers. But there food isn't really all that healthy for you. I guess the only way to save money is just to buy the food and prepare the meal yourself at home.
@thanks1961 (7035)
• India
13 Jul 10
The exchange rate for US#1 = Indian Rs 47-50 (changes regularly in between). In an ordinary hotel or such small restaurantes Rs 50 good enough for one time food at normal rates.
But on a higher level food comes to $2-3 respectively. But for a commone man $1 is somewhat OK. As you stated earlier, the prices for the daily things are keep increasing day-by-day and it is untollerable. Recently we had a price hike in petrol-diesel and which resulted in all increase in prices. Bus fare, taxi fare and commodity rate and all gone up within 2 days time.
All the more, common people are the victims for eveything.
Regards,
Thank-s
@romartinez03 (94)
• Philippines
13 Jul 10
I totally agree that life is really hard nowadays. It's hard in a sense that it's difficult to find a job that would give high compensation that would suffice all your needs. I am in the Philippines and I can still buy a meal for that amount. It would just depend on how you eat like if you needed 2 cups of rice or just half.
