Retailers tie price of consumables to convenience. Hence the bodegas that charge $1 or even $1.50 for a 1/2 liter bottle of water, while the big box store gives

Retailers tie price of consumables to convenience. Hence the bodegas that charge $1 or even $1.50 for a 1/2 liter bottle of water, while the big box store gives you 35 of them for $6. (PS I personally use a reusable water bottle, filled from a home filter) When your city is transit-locked so no cars can get in, retailers will up their convenience charge, because they'll know that you have to spend 3 hours on the bus, and rent a ZipCar to get to Costco. And they'll also know you will only be able to bring home as much as you can fit in your fold up grocery cart. You really need to look no further than Manhattan, and one of the suburbs in Bergen County, NJ to see this effect in action.