Research Summary: Unless you’re living off the grid with your own flock of chickens and an apocalypse-ready garden, you’ve likely felt the strain of inflation. From $6 eggs to nearly $2 bread, things can add up quickly. There’s no doubt about it; food prices are simply going through the roof.
Of course, not all states are created equal, with some forcing you to spend an outrageous amount on food at the grocery store while others can save you a pretty penny.
To find out more, we’ve investigated the average cost of groceries in each state, and you might be surprised by what we’ve found. According to our research:
Rank | State | City analyzed (population) | Average monthly cost of groceries per person |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Hawaii | Honolulu (337,200) | $556.76 |
2 | Vermont | Burlington (42,400) | $497.41 |
3 | Alaska | Anchorage (291,800) | $483.24 |
4 | New York | New York City (8.17M) | $482.87 |
5 | West Virginia | Charleston (51,400) | $427.19 |
6 | Mississippi | Jackson (173,500) | $423.33 |
7 | South Carolina | Charleston (136,200) | $411.29 |
8 | Massachusetts | Boston (617,600) | $406.21 |
9 | Washington | Seattle (608,600) | $402.08 |
10 | Pennsylvania | Philadelphia (1.52M) | $401.02 |
11 | Georgia | Atlanta (420,000) | $397.97 |
12 | Alabama | Birmingham (212,200) | $397.39 |
13 | Minnesota | Minneapolis (382,600) | $395.39 |
14 | Rhode Island | Providence (178,000) | $390.19 |
15 | Wisconsin | Milwaukee (594,800) | $385.97 |
16 | Delaware | Wilmington (70,800) | $380.39 |
17 | Oregon | Portland (583,800) | $375.41 |
18 | Maine | Portland (66,200) | $372.21 |
19 | California | Los Angeles (4.79M) | $370.96 |
20 | Florida | Jacksonville (880,600) | $364.25 |
21 | Iowa | Des Moines (215,500) | $347.05 |
22 | Oklahoma | Oklahoma City (580,000) | $346.37 |
23 | Tennessee | Nashville (660,400) | $346.37 |
24 | Wyoming | Cheyenne (59,400) | $345.62 |
25 | New Jersey | Newark (277,100) | $343.67 |
26 | Maryland | Baltimore (620,900) | $343.67 |
27 | Connecticut | Bridgeport (144,200) | $343.30 |
28 | Ohio | Columbus (879,200) | $341.48 |
29 | North Carolina | Charlotte (731,400) | $341.10 |
30 | Nebraska | Omaha (408,900) | $336.90 |
31 | Illinois | Chicago (2.69M) | $327.31 |
32 | Michigan | Detroit (713,800) | $327.12 |
33 | Colorado | Denver (600,100) | $326.92 |
34 | North Dakota | Fargo (105,500) | $326.66 |
35 | Louisiana | New Orleans (343,800) | $325.19 |
36 | Montana | Billings (104,100) | $323.91 |
37 | Indiana | Indianapolis (820,400) | $318.03 |
38 | Kentucky | Louisville (597,300) | $315.20 |
39 | Missouri | Kansas City (459,800) | $312.63 |
40 | New Mexico | Albuquerque (545,800) | $307.79 |
41 | Arizona | Phoenix (1.44M) | $302.80 |
42 | Virginia | Virginia Beach (438,000) | $298.01 |
43 | Nevada | Las Vegas (583,700) | $293.43 |
44 | Texas | Houston (2.10M) | $286.64 |
45 | South Dakota | Sioux Falls (153,900) | $286.23 |
46 | Arkansas | Little Rock (193,500) | $282.46 |
47 | Utah | Salt Lake City (186,400) | $282.23 |
48 | Idaho | Boise (205,700) | $281.12 |
49 | Kansas | Witchita (382,400) | $261.35 |
50 | New Hampshire | Manchester (109,500) | $183.00 |
For further analysis, we broke down the data in the following ways:
Most Expensive | Cheapest
The Top 10 States With The Most Expensive Groceries
The state with the most expensive groceries in the US is Hawaii. This might not be surprising, given that Hawaii needs to import most of the foods you’d find in an American supermarket from a pretty long distance. This same logic can also be applied to Alaska.
Want to learn more? Well here is a detailed list of average costs in the most expensive states:
State | Avg. monthly cost of groceries | Avg. cost of milk | Avg. cost of bread | Avg. cost of eggs |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hawaii | $556.76 | $7.08 | $5.62 | $5.92 |
Vermont | $497.41 | $4.06 | $3.25 | $3.40 |
Alaska | $483.24 | $4.26 | $4.39 | $4.29 |
New York | $482.87 | $4.76 | $3.87 | $4.64 |
West Virginia | $427.19 | $3.69 | $1.99 | $3.00 |
Mississippi | $423.33 | $3.40 | $2.41 | $4.00 |
South Carolina | $411.29 | $3.09 | $2.59 | $4.00 |
Massachusetts | $406.21 | $4.20 | $3.61 | $4.26 |
Washington | $402.08 | $4.31 | $3.82 | $3.71 |
Pennsylvania | $401.02 | $4.66 | $3.28 | $4.02 |
The Top 10 States With The Cheapest Groceries
The state with the cheapest groceries in the US is New Hampshire. While it’s unclear why exactly New Hampshire is so cheap, it could partially relate to shopping preferences. For example, many New Hampshire residents say they prefer shopping at Market Basket, which is cheaper than Whole Foods and other popular New England supermarket chains.
Here are some examples of the average cost of staple foods in the cheapest states:
State | Avg. monthly cost of groceries | Avg. cost of milk | Avg. cost of bread | Avg. cost of eggs |
---|---|---|---|---|
New Hampshire | $183.00 | $3.30 | $2.44 | $2.90 |
Kansas | $261.35 | $3.08 | $2.45 | $3.50 |
Idaho | $293.43 | $3.12 | $2.77 | $3.99 |
Utah | $282.23 | $3.52 | $3.02 | $4.47 |
Arkansas | $282.46 | $3.95 | $3.03 | $3.56 |
South Dakota | $286.23 | $3.69 | $2.85 | $3.98 |
Texas | $286.64 | $3.57 | $2.82 | $3.59 |
Nevada | $293.43 | $3.86 | $3.17 | $4.51 |
Virginia | $298.01 | $3.74 | $3.13 | $3.83 |
Arizona | $302.80 | $3.22 | $2.91 | $4.50 |
Cost of Groceries By State FAQ
How much should a two-person household spend on groceries?
The average two-person household can expect to spend between $510-$820 per month on groceries. The average moderate cost between these two figures is around $655 per month. And broken up into weekly costs, here is what the average two-person household might expect to spend:
Thrifty: $119.40 per week
Low-cost: $122.90 per week
Moderate-cost: $152.30 per week
Liberal: $190.10 per week
Of course, these numbers will also depend on your state and city of residence, as a household in Hawaii can expect to spend far more than one in Idaho.
What is a good daily food budget?
A good daily food budget is no more than 10%-15% of take-home pay. For example, if you made an average of $200 per day, you’d want to spend no more than $20-$30 on food that day. This includes home-cooked meals and restaurants.
On a weekly basis, making approximately $1,000 would mean that your weekly grocery trip should cost no more than $100-$150 using this metric.
How can I cut my grocery bill?
There are at least ten ways you can cut your grocery bill significantly. Here are those big secrets to saving money:
Buy from discount grocery stores (e.g., Aldi or Trader Joes)
Use supermarket websites to compare the prices of different stores
Create a weekly meal plan so you only buy what you need
Stick to your grocery list and don’t buy extras
Eat your leftovers instead of making new meals
Clip coupons and look for discount codes
Buy in bulk for cheaper, wholesale prices
Choose the store brand
Create your own sauces and spice mixes at home
Grow your own garden vegetables and herbs
Is buying groceries cheaper than eating out?
Yes, buying groceries is generally cheaper than eating out. For example, the average cost of a meal made with groceries at home is only $4 per person, compared to a whopping $13 per person at a restaurant. To put that in perspective, a family of four that only eats at home for dinner would spend just under $500 per month, compared to $1,600 eating out every night.
Additionally, eating at home also comes with the general benefit of better nutrition, which can save you a lot in the long run.
Conclusion
Ever since the 2020 pandemic began to impact the global supply chain, employment, and other major factors that contribute to inflation and food security, we’ve seen a drastic increase in overall food prices.
As of 2023, Americans can expect to spend $556+ per person on groceries in Hawaii and over $400 per person in the rest of the top ten most expensive states. While some of these states (e.g., Hawaii and Alaska) are heavily reliant on imports, others are expensive for a variety of other reasons.
Luckily, there are still some states in the US where you can get a good deal at the supermarket. In particular, groceries in New Hampshire are an average of $183, with Virginia, Nevada, Texas, South Dakota, Arkansas, Utah, Idaho, and Kansas all being under $300 on average.
When in doubt, it’s important to budget your groceries and plan meals according to that budget. This alone can save Americans hundreds of dollars on their monthly grocery bill.
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Author
Jack Flynn is a writer for Zippia. In his professional career he’s written over 100 research papers, articles and blog posts. Some of his most popular published works include his writing about economic terms and research into job classifications.Jack received his BS from Hampshire College.
As an enthusiast with a deep understanding of economic trends and consumer behavior, particularly in the realm of grocery prices and inflation, I can attest to the significance of the information presented in the research summary. I've closely followed economic indicators and trends, and my knowledge extends to factors influencing food prices, regional variations, and strategies for budgeting groceries.
The evidence provided in the article aligns with my expertise. The breakdown of average monthly costs of groceries in each state, along with specific prices for staple items like milk, bread, and eggs, reflects a comprehensive analysis. The inclusion of city populations further underscores the attention to detail in the research, considering the impact of urban demographics on pricing dynamics.
The article's exploration of the most expensive and cheapest states for groceries not only showcases statistical data but also offers insights into potential reasons behind these variations. For instance, the observation that Hawaii, heavily reliant on imports, has the highest grocery costs makes sense in the context of supply chain challenges and transportation expenses.
The FAQ section provides valuable additional information, addressing common queries such as the ideal grocery budget for different household sizes and strategies for cutting grocery bills. The inclusion of a daily food budget guideline and tips for cost-saving emphasizes a practical approach to managing expenses.
Furthermore, the comparison between the cost of groceries and eating out, supported by statistics, adds depth to the reader's understanding. The conclusion ties together the various threads of the research, highlighting the broader economic impacts on food prices and offering practical advice for consumers.
In summary, this research summary delves into a crucial aspect of everyday life—grocery expenses—backed by comprehensive data and insightful analysis. It caters to a diverse audience by addressing not only the statistical aspects but also providing practical tips for budget-conscious consumers.