What builds a shelf price?
Almost everything on our shelves crosses the ocean to get here. Here's what happens to the price along the way, in plain language.
Inside a $7.99 bag of rice
Take the island's most-searched staple, a 5 lb bag of long grain rice at its lowest reported price. Here's where the money goes:
Lowest reported price: $7.99 at Lindo's Market · Updated 28 July 2026
Figures are illustrative, for education; every product's mix is different. Duty on this item has been reduced under the essential commodities schedule.
The journey of your groceries
Bought overseas
Importers buy goods abroad. The world price, plus insurance and handling, is the starting point.
Shipped to the island
Nearly everything arrives by sea. Freight and wharfage add to every case landed in Hamilton.
Duty at the dock
Customs charges import duty when goods land. Government has reduced duty on essential items. Look for the 'Duty reduced' tag on this site.
To the wholesaler
Wholesalers store, break down and deliver goods to stores across the island, adding their margin.
On the shelf
Stores add their costs (rent, power, staff) and their margin. That's the price you see.
Reduced duty on essentials
These everyday items currently receive reduced duty. Savings at the dock should show up on the shelf, and this site helps you see whether they do.
The Essential Goods List, explained
The Essential Goods List is the set of everyday essential and regulated goods named under the Commission's legislation. They are the items this site tracks, and the items retailers report prices for.
What qualifies? Staple foods, baby needs and basic household goods: the things a family can't do without. If it belongs in nearly every kitchen or bathroom on the island, it belongs on the list.
Luxury items are excluded at launch. The Commission focuses first on the goods that matter most to household budgets. The list can grow over time as needs change.
Four habits that save money
Check the unit price
A bigger pack isn't always cheaper. The price per pound or litre tells the true story.
Check the date
Every price shows when it was last updated. Fresher dates mean firmer prices.
Prices are indicative
Stores update shelves between submissions. Treat every price here as a guide, and check in store.
Plan around duty relief
Items with the 'Duty reduced' tag are where Government action is pushing prices down.
Fair questions, straight answers
Why don't you show every store's price?
At launch the Commission publishes one price per item: the lowest reported, with the store named. It keeps the focus on where the best price is, not on ranking stores.
Where does the data come from?
Bermuda's registered food retailers submit their prices to the Commission on an official reporting template, on a set schedule.
How often is it updated?
Retailers report weekly. Each item shows the date its price was last updated, and the monthly history shows the trend.
What if the shelf price is different when I get there?
Prices reflect what retailers reported for the period and are indicative. Shelf prices can change between submissions, so always check in store.
Who runs this site?
The Cost of Living Commission, under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Price data is used only for the Commission's functions under sections 10A to 10E.
Put it on a plate.
See what a week of family staples costs, and what Bermudian dishes you can make at this week's lowest prices.
Family baskets