Average Cost Of Groceries By State [2023] - Zippia (2024)

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:

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:

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:

Cost of Groceries By State FAQ

1. How much should a two-person household spend on groceries?

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   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.

2. 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.

3. 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

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   • 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

4. 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.