People travel to the United States for various reasons: studies, work, tourism, business … And also shopping. Although the United States is a country where life is more expensive than in Spain in general, it is true that there are certain products that are cheaper on the other side of the pond , and many people take the opportunity to buy them during their visit and bring their own. suitcases with the bargains. In this article we tell you what are the cheap things in the US that you can buy there at a better price.
Clothes are the main star among the cheap things to buy in the US
Most of the clothes and accessories are much cheaper in the United States: t-shirts, shirts, dresses, pants, shoes, bags … The list is endless, and although there are certain things that are as expensive there as here or even a little moreover, there are few exceptions. For example, a pair of Levi’s 501’s jeans are sold for € 99 in Spain, while in the US you can find them for $ 58 (which would be about € 51 to change).
This occurs because most US clothing manufacturers outsource production to countries where labor is much cheaper than in their country , and the taxes for importing the merchandise are not too high. Outsourced production equates to lower costs, so clothes are produced for less money and manufacturers can afford to sell them cheaper .
On the other hand, the online clothing industry has been very aggressive in the United States cutting prices to attract customers, and this competition has naturally driven the reduction of prices in physical stores . Lowering prices is the only way to stay afloat, as there are few unions or protectionist laws in place to protect retail companies that sell clothing in brick-and-mortar stores from unfair competition from online stores.
In addition, the most important factor that makes buying branded clothes cheaper in the United States than in Europe is that all European countries have a much higher VAT than the sales tax that is applied in many states of the United States. , and a higher tax means higher prices. In particular, clothes are especially cheap in New Jersey, since in this state (an hour from New York by car) the sale of clothes is tax-free.
Where to buy cheap clothes in the USA?
In the United States there is no concept of a sales season as in Spain, but each store has its own promotions throughout the year. Therefore, whatever the mall you go to, you can find decent deals on clothing from brands such as Tommy Hilfigher, Hollister, Michael Kors, Nike, Calvin Klein, D&G …
But, without a doubt, the best places to buy cheap things in the US when it comes to clothes are the outlets. The cheapest and most popular are:
- Jersey Gardens Outlet (New York) , which can be reached from the Port Authority bus station on Bus # 111
- Century 21 Outlets (New York) : You can find them in Lincoln Square, Brooklyn or Long Island
- Woodbuddy Commom Premium Outlet (New Jersey)
- San Francisco Premium Outlet (California)
- Desert Hills Premium Outlets (California)
Sheets and towels
According to expatriates who have been forced to move there, another of the cheap things in the US compared to Europe is bedding and towels : in large stores such as Walmart or Target, prices are usually 25% lower than here.
Electronics, one of the cheap things in the US that tourists buy the most
Apart from clothes, many tourists take advantage of their visits to the United States to buy electronic products, since they can be much cheaper there. For example, memory cards for SLR cameras are 30 to 40 percent cheaper in the United States.
But, without a doubt, Apple is the favorite brand to buy in the US for tourists, since acquiring its products can be 25% cheaper there than in Spain or other European countries . For example, the base model iPhone 11 had a starting price of $ 999, while it sold for the equivalent of $ 1,200 in China, and more than $ 1,300 in the UK, Italy, and other European nations.
So if you want to get an iPad or iPhone and are going to travel to the United States soon, it may be worth considering buying it there. Of course: you have to pay attention to the phone you buy (it must be GSM), since not all of them are compatible with Spanish telephone operators .
Toiletries, Cosmetics, and Vitamin Supplements – Another Bargain!
From luxurious face creams to basic everyday shampoo and conditioner, almost everything found on the shelves of toiletries in pharmacies and supermarkets in the United States is between 15% and 30% cheaper . Brands like Maybelline, Neutrogena, Almay, Cover, Milani, Wet n Wild or MAC are quite expensive in Spain, but there they have a decent price.
Also, if you are flexible about the brands you choose, in pharmacies like CVS or Safeway you will find vitamins and other health supplements considerably cheaper, sometimes up to 50% less. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure you know what to look for on the labels and bring everything you need back with you.
They are also much cheaper compared to diapers and baby wipes: you will find deep discounts on these items at grocery stores, pharmacies and large chains like Trader’s Joe, Walmart or Target , where the savings on branded baby items can be between 40% and 50% .
