Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

BoredPanda Add post form topAdd Post
Tooltip close

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

Here’s How Much Money You Need To Buy Different Everyday Items In Venezuela (11 Pics)
User submission
5.8K
158.7K

This Is How Much Money You Need To Buy Simple Goods In Venezuela After Hyperinflation Hit

Here’s How Much Money You Need To Buy Different Everyday Items In Venezuela (11 Pics)Crazy Amounts Of Money Needed To Buy Everyday Items In Venezuela (11 Pics)Someone Showed How Much Money You Need To Buy Everyday Items In Venezuela, And We Wish They Were KiddingHere Is How Much Simple Household Goods Cost In Hyperinflation-Affected VenezuelaThese Pictures Of Piles Of Cash Next To Items Of Their Worth Capture The Hyperinflation Crisis In VenezuelaThis Is How Much Money You Need To Buy Simple Goods In Venezuela After Hyperinflation HitThis Is How Much Everyday Items Cost In Venezuela As Hyperinflaton Nears 1.000.000%These Photos Show The Ridiculous Amount Of Cash Needed To Buy Everyday Items In VenezuelaHere’s How Much Money You Need To Buy Different Everyday Items In Venezuela (11 Pics)Here’s How Much Money You Need To Buy Different Everyday Items In Venezuela (11 Pics)
ADVERTISEMENT

Imagine that you go out for a meal, and by the time you have finished eating it, its price has doubled. That is the reality of hyperinflation, the result of printing too much money for the size of the economy, making cash essentially worthless.

Crisis-stricken Venezuela is currently in the grip of hyperinflation, the worst case seen since Zimbabwe in 2007-09. By the end of the year, the inflation rate is predicted to top 1 million percent, a staggering large number which the government have attempted to curb by slashing 5 zeros off of the national currency, the Bolivar, and introducing new notes. For some time there will be a mix of notes in circulation, leading to confusing situations about the true price of items and making transactions a nightmare, particularly for poor Venezuelans who don’t have a bank account. These people have been forced to carry around huge piles of cash to buy even the most basic of household goods.

Can you imagine having to pay millions for a roll of toilet paper, that has an actual value of around $0.40 USD? To give you an idea of what this actually looks like, Venezuelan photographer Carlos Garcia Rawlins took pictures of essential items like tomatoes and nappies, together with the cash needed to purchase them. Prices shown are from the time the pictures were taken, the situation is so volatile they are likely to be very different now. The images are shocking, and vividly illustrate the sheer scale of the grave economic crisis that hyperinflation has brought to this once wealthy nation.

ADVERTISEMENT

Scroll down below to check out the pictures for yourself, and for more information about the crisis in Venezuela, you can start with articles here, here and here. It is a complex situation that needs a deeper understanding than  simplistically declaring that ‘this is what socialism brings.’ Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Crisis-stricken Venezuela is currently in the grip of hyperinflation

A 2.4 kg chicken is pictured next to 14,600,000 bolivars, its price and the equivalent of 2.22 USD

These pictures show how little the national currency, the Bolivar, is worth

A toilet paper roll next to 2,600,000 bolivars, its price and the equivalent of 0.40 USD

Those without a bank account have to carry around huge piles of cash to buy even the most basic of household goods

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

A kilogram of carrots next to 3,000,000 bolivars, its price and the equivalent of 0.46 USD

A package of pads is pictured next to 3,500,000 bolivars, its price and the equivalent of 0.53 USD

A package of diapers next to 8,000,000 bolivars, its price and the equivalent of 1.22 USD

The prices shown here are from the time the pictures were taken, the situation is so volatile they are likely to be very different now

A kilogram of cheese next to 7,500,000 bolivars, its price and the equivalent of 1.14 USD

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

A package of 1kg of rice next to 2,500,000 bolivars, its price and the equivalent of 0.38 USD

A bar of soap next to 3,500,000 bolivars, its price and the equivalent of 0.53 USD

A kilogram of meat next to 9,500,000 bolivars, its price and the equivalent of 1.45 USD

A kilogram of tomatoes next to 5,000,000 bolivars, its price and the equivalent of 0.76 USD

A package of 1kg of pasta next to 2,500,000 bolivars, its price and the equivalent of 0.38 USD

ADVERTISEMENT

Pressure is increasing on President Maduro to find a solution, as protests begin in the streets of Caracas

ADVERTISEMENT

Here’s what people had to say

ADVERTISEMENT

159Kviews

Share on Facebook
Gerda

Gerda

Author, Community member

Read more »

This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

Read less »
Gerda

Gerda

Author, Community member

This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

What do you think ?
Add photo comments
POST
Ellis
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This isn’t about socialism or communism, this is a humanitarian crisis. Imagine what it’s like to live in a place where the money you spend on a bar of soap is the equivalent of what you would spend two, three decades ago on an apartment or villa. It is incredibly sad and costing many peoples lives (but people rather ignore that fact and rather focus on talking political agendas).

Hans
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Besides, it is an example of incompetent leadership. Yet people like Erdogan in Turkey and Trump in the US interfere with the work of their central banks. Manipulation of what is governed by basic economic laws will eventually backfire, and it is always the population paying for it.

Load More Replies...
Ladies and Gentlemen
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is a documentary created on current situation in Venezuela by channel VOX, go watch it on YouTube. Its heartbreaking to see what is going on there.

Claudio Goncalves
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm currently living this hell, can someone please take me out of here? here is some prices updated Aug. 21, they might vary depending the state: 2.5 Kg Chicken - 30.000.000,00 Toilet Paper - 4.000.000,00 Diapers - 30.000.000,00 1 Kg cheese - 25.000.000,00 1 Kg Rice - 14.000.000,00 1 Kg meat - 28.000.000,00 1 Kg pasta - 7.000.000,00

Load More Comments
Ellis
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This isn’t about socialism or communism, this is a humanitarian crisis. Imagine what it’s like to live in a place where the money you spend on a bar of soap is the equivalent of what you would spend two, three decades ago on an apartment or villa. It is incredibly sad and costing many peoples lives (but people rather ignore that fact and rather focus on talking political agendas).

Hans
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Besides, it is an example of incompetent leadership. Yet people like Erdogan in Turkey and Trump in the US interfere with the work of their central banks. Manipulation of what is governed by basic economic laws will eventually backfire, and it is always the population paying for it.

Load More Replies...
Ladies and Gentlemen
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is a documentary created on current situation in Venezuela by channel VOX, go watch it on YouTube. Its heartbreaking to see what is going on there.

Claudio Goncalves
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm currently living this hell, can someone please take me out of here? here is some prices updated Aug. 21, they might vary depending the state: 2.5 Kg Chicken - 30.000.000,00 Toilet Paper - 4.000.000,00 Diapers - 30.000.000,00 1 Kg cheese - 25.000.000,00 1 Kg Rice - 14.000.000,00 1 Kg meat - 28.000.000,00 1 Kg pasta - 7.000.000,00

Load More Comments
Related on Bored Panda
Related on Bored Panda
Trending on Bored Panda
Also on Bored Panda