I’ve lived across America (which is very different from Monaco I’m sure) and no one has ever asked me about what the grocery stores are like, nor has it come up. I don’t think it’d even be something I’d think about when moving unless it’s VERY different.
Discussing housing, citizenship, government, all seems quite relevant to living. The “vibe” and what to expect as the culture seems quite relevant.
Because grocery prices across EU/Europe vary by a huge margin, and going out for a drink /coffee even more. Nowadays things are getting similar due to poor countries getting better, and old powers stagnating in comparison.
Logistics and what is produced nearby used a big factor (also local brands, different countries used to mean different brands), again due to trade agreements (trade between EU countries) and infrastructure improvements.
So you won't find a lot a price and availability difference in what you used to find pre-euro, but there's still some difference, just not as choking.
Also, USA salaries tend on the bigger side, and USA food is also cheaper do to loads of subsidies and bad regulation(so, sugary, worse quality checks, but cheaper), corporation centralisation (EU is made of different countries which used to mean different food corps as well), so the grocery experience is not as relevant.
I went to Canada a few years ago, and I HAD to visit a Walmart (my friend who had moved there said he did the same when he arrived).
So wondering about daily life is legitimate.
I was somehow disappointing, however.
It turns out a Walmart is a supermarket, like in any other place.
So it's indeed not news worthy.
Discussing housing, citizenship, government, all seems quite relevant to living. The “vibe” and what to expect as the culture seems quite relevant.