Throughout 1991 & 1992, the overall cost of living in the Highlands and Islands was consistently 3-4% above the Scottish average. The Price Survey report for the summer of 1993, however, shows this difference to have widened to 6.6%. At this time, Coll was found to have been the 4th. most expensive area included in the survey (after three remote Shetland villages) whilst, once again, Wick was the cheapest.
Generally, the variation of prices from region to region can be taken as a function of remoteness and population size so that shops in a remote, sparsely populated area need to charge relatively high prices in order to stay in business.
To put it another way, if the remoteness and population densities of a number of locations remain substantially unchanged then their price differentials should also remain unchanged. Thus, if the average price of, say, fruit, rises throughout the Highlands & Islands, we might expect Coll fruit prices to similarly rise. Naturally, Coll being Coll, this doesn't appear to be the case and Coll prices generally fluctuate wildly over the years but not in step with the average prices for the Highlands & Islands. These variations are shown in the table below where all food categories except meat can be seen to have increased. Fruit & veg. in particular has become relatively expensive, being now nearly 30% above the average Highland & Island price. Fish and Drink/tobacco also show surprising increases, the prices of the former still being absurdly high in all the island communities.
The price of petrol has been rather more stable over the years although the most recent Price Survey (winter 93/94) comments that Coll petrol is now a massive 33% dearer than Edinburgh.
This same survey lists Coll prices for petrol, groceries and fruit & veg. as now being higher than any other location whilst our nearest major town, Oban, is practically the cheapest!