# What are you paying for a 1 gallon jug of 2% cow's milk? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 12, 2010, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-paying-for-a-1-gallon-jug-of-2-cows-milk/546457 "2010-07-12T21:39:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-paying-for-a-1-gallon-jug-of-2-cows-milk/546457/21 "2010-07-13T02:21:53Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > It all has to do with the Feds supporting milk prices. It’s illogical, I’ll admit. Sugar prices ain’t exactly Kosher either. Wisconsin is the state all the prices radiate from and Wisconsin milk support prices are lower than anywhere else in the country. You can’t blame my high prices on the price support system. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-paying-for-a-1-gallon-jug-of-2-cows-milk/546457/22 "2010-07-13T02:23:17Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > It’s the town I live in and the stores. The Walmart brand of butter is currently $4.18 a pound as I looked this afternoon. And, I Akron OH, I’ve never seen butter priced at that level. Never. On sale, it’s $1.99. Usually $2.99 everyday. May be a loss leader. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-paying-for-a-1-gallon-jug-of-2-cows-milk/546457/23 "2010-07-13T10:39:45Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > And, I Akron OH, I’ve never seen butter priced at that level. Never. > > On sale, it’s $1.99. Usually $2.99 everyday. May be a loss leader. They reduced the price and noted it on the shelf. $4.13 this morning.😉 ---
**Author:** ![BetsQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BetsQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BetsQ)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-paying-for-a-1-gallon-jug-of-2-cows-milk/546457/24 "2010-07-13T14:25:00Z")
Why am I the only one who has no idea how much a gallon of milk costs? I bought one yesterday, but I sure didn’t look at the price. It’s not like milk is really a luxury item - you just put a gallon in the cart every week no matter what the price. Y’all are really paying attention?? Why? ---
**Author:** ![kathmandu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kathmandu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kathmandu)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-paying-for-a-1-gallon-jug-of-2-cows-milk/546457/25 "2010-07-13T14:32:05Z")
> [@BetsQ](#): > > Why am I the only one who has no idea how much a gallon of milk costs? I bought one yesterday, but I sure didn’t look at the price. It’s not like milk is really a luxury item - you just put a gallon in the cart every week no matter what the price. Y’all are really paying attention?? Why? You buy a gallon of milk every week and have no idea what it costs? Y’all are really not paying any attention at all?? Why not? ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-paying-for-a-1-gallon-jug-of-2-cows-milk/546457/26 "2010-07-13T14:52:11Z")
> [@kathmandu](#): > > You buy a gallon of milk every week and have no idea what it costs? Y’all are really not paying any attention at all?? Why not? Can’t say that I notice the price either. I need milk, I buy milk. I do all my grocery shopping at one store because I can’t stand the thought of splitting it up to save a few cents, so I’ll be paying whatever it costs unless I look at the price and freak out over it, which is when I know it’s too high. On the other hand, I do know how much butter costs. Maybe because milk is an everyday thing but I only buy butter when it’s on sale? ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-paying-for-a-1-gallon-jug-of-2-cows-milk/546457/27 "2010-07-13T15:00:09Z")
I live in the city of Chicago and someone always has it on sale for $1.99. Usually the normal price is about $2.59. But either Walgreens, or 7-11 or Walmart or one of our local grocers has it on sale for $1.99. You just have to look. It’s the same for eggs. The normal price for large - 1 dozen is about $1.89 but you can always get it for 99¢ or less if you look for a place where it’s on sale. (I paid 88¢ yesterday) ---
**Author:** ![SanibelMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-paying-for-a-1-gallon-jug-of-2-cows-milk/546457/28 "2010-07-13T15:08:22Z")
I paid $2.64 for 1 gallon of 1% (Swiss Valley, to be exact) at HyVee on Sunday. Usually we get milk by the bag at KwikTrip, and last I checked 1% was $1.07 per half-gallon bag. So add a few cents for 2%. Eggs were $1.03 for a dozen large at HyVee. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-paying-for-a-1-gallon-jug-of-2-cows-milk/546457/29 "2010-07-13T15:37:29Z")
Just to throw in a UK data point - I don’t think I’ve ever seen a gallon container of milk (although I’m sure you can buy them somewhere). The biggest my supermarket has is a 6-pint bottle (that’s 6 imperial pints, which is almost exactly 0.9 US gal), and that is £2.25, which is currently about US$3.40. So call it $3.78 for a US gallon. ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-paying-for-a-1-gallon-jug-of-2-cows-milk/546457/30 "2010-07-13T15:57:15Z")
Netherlands data point: Converted from 1-liter bottles (which is the most I ever buy), it’s between $2.10 and $4.00 depending on the store. That’s fresh (pasteurized, not sterilized) milk. ---
**Author:** ![In\_Winnipeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a8b319/32.png) [@In\_Winnipeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Winnipeg)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-paying-for-a-1-gallon-jug-of-2-cows-milk/546457/31 "2010-07-13T19:14:32Z")
Around $3.50 in central Canada. ---
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-paying-for-a-1-gallon-jug-of-2-cows-milk/546457/32 "2010-07-13T19:20:14Z")
Here in Michigan, we have a retail store chain with a different special each day of the week. Wednesday is 99 cent milk day. So we buy milk on wednesday. It’s Busch’s, for those other Michigangers wondering. I can’t beleive it’s so much more in Canada. And it comes in a bag, not even a proper plastic jug! That’s just insane! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-paying-for-a-1-gallon-jug-of-2-cows-milk/546457/33 "2010-07-13T19:24:43Z")
> [@BetsQ](#): > > Why am I the only one who has no idea how much a gallon of milk costs? I bought one yesterday, but I sure didn’t look at the price. It’s not like milk is really a luxury item - you just put a gallon in the cart every week no matter what the price. Y’all are really paying attention?? Why? Same here. As far as I know, the price of things like milk is regulated here, so it’s pretty much the same price anywhere I buy it, so I buy as much as I need when I need it and don’t look at the price. > [@crazyjoe](#): > > \ > > I can’t beleive it’s so much more in Canada. And it comes in a bag, not even a proper plastic jug! That’s just insane! Only in parts of Canada. I’m about to go shopping, so I’ll look at the price while I’m there, but you can’t buy milk in bags here - it’s all normal plastic jugs. ETA: And cartons. ---
**Author:** ![maladroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@maladroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maladroit)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-paying-for-a-1-gallon-jug-of-2-cows-milk/546457/34 "2010-07-13T19:26:35Z")
I personally don’t buy milk, but my husband goes through a couple gallons a week. I think it’s around $2.50 (ish?) here in my part of Michigan currently, maybe slightly cheaper. As far as not knowing how much it is, it’s not like the price is going to change whether or not you’re going to get some not in my experience, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-paying-for-a-1-gallon-jug-of-2-cows-milk/546457/35 "2010-07-13T20:43:02Z")
I buy organic and it’s $5.99 a gallon. I only buy one a week; if we went through more I’d probably not pay this high a price and go back to the regular. I don’t drink it, and my children mainly use it on cereal. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-paying-for-a-1-gallon-jug-of-2-cows-milk/546457/36 "2010-07-14T00:37:58Z")
The minimum price in Quebec (set by the province) is about $5.50 for four liters of 2%. Convert that to a gallon and put it in US dollars, it comes in in the (next to) last category. ---
**Author:** ![Amblydoper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@Amblydoper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amblydoper)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-paying-for-a-1-gallon-jug-of-2-cows-milk/546457/37 "2010-07-14T00:41:57Z")
I also prefer the carbon based dairy products, but I pay about $1.88 - $2.01. If I buy Milk from my purveyor, I pay about $4.50 a gallon for it. I can get it from the supermarket next door for half as much, but of course I have to carry back several gallons a week. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-paying-for-a-1-gallon-jug-of-2-cows-milk/546457/38 "2010-07-14T01:22:41Z")
Portland: don’t know about 2%, but skim is $1.99 at New Seasons. ---
**Author:** ![Wolverine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba9def/32.png) [@Wolverine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolverine)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-paying-for-a-1-gallon-jug-of-2-cows-milk/546457/39 "2010-07-14T01:29:44Z")
Good luck finding the fresh stuff in China; most of it is shelf stable and comes in a bag. A supermarket just opened across from me that carries fresh milk of 1.8L for around 15-18 RMB. That works out to about $4.50-4.99 a gallon. ---
**Author:** ![BorgHunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@BorgHunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BorgHunter)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-paying-for-a-1-gallon-jug-of-2-cows-milk/546457/40 "2010-07-14T02:17:22Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > I live in the city of Chicago and someone always has it on sale for $1.99. Usually the normal price is about $2.59. But either Walgreens, or 7-11 or Walmart or one of our local grocers has it on sale for $1.99. You just have to look. Have you noticed that Jewel split their house brand milk in half recently? Now in addition to generic Jewel milk (which is more expensive than it used to be), there is also Shoppers’ Value milk (also more expensive than Jewel milk used to be), with a very similar label. And it may just be my imagination, but it tastes funky to me. Around the time of this switchover, I decided to switch to soymilk, but when I drank moo cow fuck milk, I could usually get a gallon for about $2.25. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-paying-for-a-1-gallon-jug-of-2-cows-milk/546457.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-paying-for-a-1-gallon-jug-of-2-cows-milk/546457.md?page=3)