What that means is, while the products themselves cost the stores the same amount to buy inventory, it costs them more to actually provide them to customers.
Rent is higher, both for retail space, and storage space. Labor is more expensive,because workers living in cities need higher wages to live. Transportation is more expensive, because railways and large trucks are more difficult (or impossible) to use in downtown areas. And lastly, the owners need to make more to live in these same conditions.
Probably the largest factor is cost of overhead.
What that means is, while the products themselves cost the stores the same amount to buy inventory, it costs them more to actually provide them to customers.
Rent is higher, both for retail space, and storage space. Labor is more expensive,because workers living in cities need higher wages to live. Transportation is more expensive, because railways and large trucks are more difficult (or impossible) to use in downtown areas. And lastly, the owners need to make more to live in these same conditions.