In a world where the cost of living is constantly on the rise, Australians are no strangers to the occasional sticker shock.

Yet, the price of a cafe staple left customers and social media users in disbelief.

The humble sanga, which came with standard garnishing, is being sold for a jaw-dropping price.

An anonymous diner from Perth shared their discovery while browsing a delivery service app.

A ham and cheese toastie from an unnamed cafe came with an exorbitant price tag of $31.20.

The ham and cheese toastie consisted of the sandwich itself—sliced in half—along with a green salad and pickled vegetables.

A ham and cheese toastie from an unnamed cafe in Perth sparked a debate among consumers. Image Credit: Reddit/Affectionate_Run_672

The diner shared their astonishment through a post which read, '$32 ham toastie anyone?'

'I do know delivery apps add a surcharge and make everything more expensive, but it's ham and cheese.'

'I think this will be the moment that finally gets me to quit these apps for good,' they concluded.

The post immediately became a hotbed of discussion among Aussies.

'People need to stop paying these ridiculous prices,' one exclaimed.

'There is no universe in which I'd pay $32 for a ham toastie,' a second commenter wrote.

A third replied with, 'You could buy half a kilo of ham, a small Camembert wheel and a whole loaf of gourmet crusty bread for that much and make about eight of them for that price!'

The discussion also highlighted a growing frustration with delivery services.

'Gouging customers, restaurants, and delivery drivers is a s***** business model,' one voiced out.

'If you or anyone else bought it, they are the problem,' someone concluded.

However, not everyone was quick to blame the cafe.

There were a few commenters who, despite the price, admitted the toastie looked 'f****** excellent'.

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While startling, his incident is just a symptom of a more significant issue affecting the hospitality industry.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) reported a record number of 1,667 food services that collapsed in the past 12 months.

CreditorWatch Australia also forecasted that one in 13 hospitality businesses could fail in the coming year.

The financial strain on these cafes and restaurants has been so severe that the average price of a flat white could surge to $7.

According to Independent Food Distributors Australia's Chief Executive, Richard Forbes, businesses continue to grapple with a 30 per cent increase in food costs.

'We have seen the price of beverages and food rise over the last two or three years,' Mr Forbes shared.

'That's not going to get any better until we start doing something to rein in the costs of business.'

Key Takeaways

• A Perth local was shocked about a ham and cheese toastie priced at over $30 on a delivery service app.
• The hefty price tag of the toastie sparked outrage among Aussies, who thought that the price was unreasonable.
• Some people defended the high price and argued that the quality could justify it, while others criticised delivery apps for inflating food prices.
• Rising food costs and financial pressures on hospitality businesses led to significant price increases. Several consumer groups forecasted price surges as the industry continues to grapple with a cost-of-living crisis.

What are your thoughts on this toastie turmoil? Have you encountered similar instances of inflated food prices? Share your experiences and opinions in the comments below.

 

[BWP]

home made ham cheese with mustard... it was yummy and less than $2.00 plus I was given the Microwave toasty maker for my birthday, we haven't had takeaway or dined out in over a year because of the prices the pension only goes so far

 

[Suzanne rose]

This is one of the toasted sandwich I make.

1. Place two slices of bread on a flat surface ( soda bread is good ). Spread mustard on one slice of bread and mayonnaise on the other.
2. Add thin slices of ham, shredded cheese on top of the mustard and cover the cheese with the other slice of bread. In a nonstick pan over medium heat, add butter to melt.
3. In a shallow flattish bowl , add an egg and whisk until the egg whites and yolks are incorporated. Carefully dip the sandwich in on both sides. Once the butter has been melted, fry on both sides for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown on top.

 

[magpie1]

Paying that much for his toasted sandwich is just plain ridiculous.....he would be better off buying his own sandwich maker and cheese and ham and still have change left. Then he can make any variety of home made toasted sandwiches by the score and save heaps of money.

 

[Littleboy8]

You can’t beat the good old fashioned Aussie jaffle with baked beans yum

 

[Littleboy8]

This is one of the toasted sandwich I make.

1. Place two slices of bread on a flat surface ( soda bread is good ). Spread mustard on one slice of bread and mayonnaise on the other.
2. Add thin slices of ham, shredded cheese on top of the mustard and cover the cheese with the other slice of bread. In a nonstick pan over medium heat, add butter to melt.
3. In a shallow flattish bowl , add an egg and whisk until the egg whites and yolks are incorporated. Carefully dip the sandwich in on both sides. Once the butter has been melted, fry on both sides for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown on top.

I make those minus the porky pig oink oink

 

[David567]

While people are stupid enough to pay these prices, cafe's will keep charging these prices.

 

[Suzanne rose]

I make those minus the porky pig oink oink

If it for me then it's also minus the Ham.
My kids love the Ham except a son

 

[oldchook58]

People keep going back, that is why they keep the prices high.

I would never pay that for a ham and cheese toastie! $32? I would keep walking and buy the ingredients myself for a fraction of the toastie