Two-tier pricing is something that I have been thinking about lately. For those of you who haven’t experienced it firsthand, it essentially means that locals and ex-pats/tourists are charged different prices for the same items and services (with the ex-pat inevitably paying more). In my (limited) experience, it isn’t uncommon in the developing world. At times, it is subtle: the price you pay on an item in the market largely depends on your bargaining skills. Someone else may get a better price, but it is unlikely that you will immediately notice this. At other times, it is blatant, such as when tourist attractions charge tourists far more than locals, or tourists are given restaurant menus with higher prices for the same items.