Amazing prices in Venezuela
You work all month, and with the money you earn, you can only afford to buy a bucket of paint. Carlos Garcia Rawlins, a Reuters photographer, could not resist and decided to show the whole world sky-high, simply mind-blowing prices in Venezuela. He took pictures of various goods, and next to them indicated their price in US dollars at the official rate ($1 is approximately 6.3 Venezuelan bolívars), and called his project "Venezuelan surreal prices."
(Total 17 photos)
1. A kilogram of fresh carrots costs 19.05 US dollars or 762 Russian rubles (at the rate of 40 rubles for 1 dollar). (Photo: Carlos Garcia Rawlins/REUTERS).
Since April 2013, after former Prime Minister Nicolas Maduro became president of Venezuela, the economic situation in the country has been steadily deteriorating. Inflation is on the rise (more than 60 percent), stores have empty shelves, and there are no essential goods. Food shortages forced the government to introduce strict sales rationing. Moreover, when buying from Venezuelan citizens, fingerprints will be checked to avoid buying the same goods in larger quantities than allowed by law. The country is steadily plunging into a deep economic crisis. And this despite the fact that Venezuela is the first country in the world in terms of oil reserves (Statistical Review of World Energy 2014). According to the data for the beginning of 2013, Venezuelan oil reserves amount to 298.35 billion barrels, while in Russia - 93.03 billion barrels.
2. Sneakers that cost $1,198 or 47,920 Russian rubles. (Photo: Carlos Garcia Rawlins/REUTERS).
The minimum wage in Venezuela is 4,252 bolivars, or $675 at the official rate. However, on the black market, one dollar is worth 100 bolivars, so in market terms, the minimum wage is only $42.5 (according to Reuters).
3. Levi's jeans, which cost $793 in Caracas or 31,720 rubles. (Photo: Carlos Garcia Rawlins/REUTERS).
Inflation in Venezuela is one of the highest in all of South America. There are practically no food products, medicines, spare parts for cars on sale.
4. A bucket of paint for $528 or 21,120 rubles. (Photo: Carlos Garcia Rawlins/REUTERS).
With the deterioration of the economic situation, the crime situation in the country has also increased. According to the UN, Caracas is the second most murderous city in the world.
5. A box of pencils for $115 or 4,600 rubles. (Photo: Carlos Garcia Rawlins/REUTERS).
Increasingly, the country began to experience interruptions in the supply of electricity, water, transport, education and healthcare. The government is clearly not coping with the crisis, and every day the situation in Venezuela is getting worse.
6. Dog food in Venezuela costs $272 or 10,880 rubles. (Photo: Carlos Garcia Rawlins/REUTERS).
Socialism came out sideways in Venezuela.
7. A can of Coca-Cola costs $5.56 or 222 rubles. (Photo: Carlos Garcia Rawlins/REUTERS).
8. Big Mac from McDonald's in Caracas costs $14.6 or 584 rubles. (Photo: Carlos Garcia Rawlins/REUTERS).
9. Pliers for $121. Those. The Venezuelan minimum wage can buy 5 pliers. (Photo: Carlos Garcia Rawlins/REUTERS).
10. The hair dryer costs $697 or 27,880 rubles. (Photo: Carlos Garcia Rawlins/REUTERS).
11. You can get a blender for only $595, but what do you put in it? (Photo: Carlos Garcia Rawlins/REUTERS).
12. One tire costs $753, for 4 you need to spend $3012 and work on them for the minimum wage for almost five months. (Photo: Carlos Garcia Rawlins/REUTERS).
13. A Samsung TV costs $5,476 or 219,040 rubles. (Photo: Carlos Garcia Rawlins/REUTERS).
14. Saucepan for $ 507 - you need a whole month to eat only one carrot (only 8.8 kilograms) to buy this wonderful saucepan. (Photo: Carlos Garcia Rawlins/REUTERS).
15. A Barbie doll costs $194 or 7,760 Russian rubles. Having children in Venezuela is an unaffordable luxury. (Photo: Carlos Garcia Rawlins/REUTERS)
16. The brush costs almost $25. (Photo: Carlos Garcia Rawlins/REUTERS).
17. The light bulb costs $13. And why buy it at all if the electricity is going to be turned off soon. (Photo: Carlos Garcia Rawlins/REUTERS).