Not true, food shopping cost in Germany are way less then in the USA and in my dense neighborhood >20.000 people/km² I have 3 supermarkets (also baker, butcher, etc.) within 5 min bicycle ride.

> Where you’d be able to afford much less

When 75% of the west is overweight or obese, and when the leading causes of death are quite literally sloth and gluttony I think I'd take my chances... We're drown in insane quantity of low quality food and gadgets

I thought the US went into the opposite direction because of ruthless corporate profit optimization, zoning rules and city planning that fuels suburban sprawl?

Economies of scale do mean you can get a fluffy blanket imported from China at $5, less than the cost of a coffee at Starbucks, but for food necessities Walmart isn’t even that cheap or abundant compared to other chains.