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Comment by racl101 | Hacker News Reader

I've heard from a Mexican buddy that Coca Cola is cheaper in Mexico than drinking water.

That’s a myth. In many parts of Mexico, if not everywhere, water treatment is bad and drinking tap water is not advised, so you buy purified water.

It cost around 10 pesos (50 cents) to fill a 19 liter (5 gallon) jug. That’s cheaper than a single 12oz can of coca cola

What's with the $5/5 gallon reference in the article? I thought that seemed expensive.

That’s not accurate. At least in the majority of the city. You can buy a brand new 5 gallon garrafón for $65mxn ~ $3.25. You can fill one up from empty for ~$35mxn.

https://larevistadelsureste.com/chamula-el-pueblo-que-mas-co...

"A key reason for the rise in consumption is its availability and, in many cases, its lower cost compared to drinking water. In many rural communities in Chiapas, access to safe drinking water is limited, local stores are well-stocked with Coca-Cola, and the company's marketing campaigns have ensured that the drink is always within everyone's reach."

It’s simply not true. Not in any place I’ve ever seen in all the years I’ve been in Mexico.

Coca Cola should just make a new formula that doesn't have any flavoring, carbonation, or sweetener. That should be even cheaper.

They can call it Dasani and sell it for more than they charge for the sweetened flavored carbonated beverage.

Soft drinks get carbonation and syrup added and are bottled close to point of use (because that's cheaper and better than shipping the finished product) so they're subject to local potable water costs. Unless government is distorting thing that just doesn't make sense.

It's not cheaper. However, Coca-Cola does consume an enormous quantity of water and it is popular and it does drive the cost of water up. I'd prolly be pissed too if I were mexican.

I've never seen this

Been a resident of Mexico for nearly 20 years now, and no, coca cola is emphatically not cheaper than drinking water. This nonsense myth needs to die.

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