Instant coffee prices soared 8 times! Myanmar prices soared, people complained: drugs are not so expensive

The article highlights the significant rise in the prices of daily consumer goods and beverages in Myanmar's tea shops, with a cup of milk tea going from 250 kyats in 2021 to between 1,000 and 2,000 kyats currently due to raw material shortages and currency depreciation. In contrast, the cost of drugs, including ephedrine tablets, has drastically reduced, with prices now similar to a cup of tea, and more young people are reportedly using these substances due to their easy availability.

In addition, the price of drinks in tea shops has also increased significantly. In 2021, the price of a cup of milk tea was 250 kyats, but now it has risen to between 1,000 and 2,000 kyats. A shopkeeper said: "The wholesale price is 16,000 kyats per box and the retail price is 800 kyats per pack, but even so it is not cost-effective to sell. Everything is rising in price, from toothpaste, soap to shampoo. Sales have not stopped, but some people originally bought 10 packs and now only buy 6 packs." The main reason for the increase in the price of instant coffee is the shortage of raw materials needed to produce coffee and the depreciation of the kyat, which has led to inflation and general price increases. However, in sharp contrast to the soaring prices of daily consumer goods, the price of drugs has dropped significantly. According to Yangon Minggaradong A resident of the township said that the price of a pack of coffee is comparable to that of drugs. "A cup of regular instant ...