A mix of inflation, supply-chain disruptions and an increased demand have caused food prices to steadily rise since the beginning of the pandemic. While inflation has come down from last summer's high, some Americans continue to feel the effects of price hikes at the grocery store. The average American household spends more than $1,000 per month on groceries, according to Census Bureau's Household pulse survey. But that number varies depending on where you live and how many family members you're feeding.
The averagefamily spendsabout $270 at the grocery store per week, but that number increases when children are taken into account. Families with kids spend an average of $331 a week on groceries or 41% more than families without kids.
Residents in these states spend the most on groceries
California was at the top of the list for most expensive places to buy groceries, with the average household purchasing $297 worth of groceries per week. Neighboring state, Nevada follows closely behind with the average household spending $294 a week.
The Midwest was home to states with lower-than-average grocery bills: Iowa, Nebraska, Michigan and Indiana households spent less than $240 at the store on average each week, according to the Census Bureau.
Which cities have the most costly groceries?
Miami may be one of the most expensive cities in the U.S. to buy groceries: The average household spends about $327 a week on groceries which is 14% higher than Florida's statewide average, according to an analysis from HelpAdvisor of the Census Bureau data.
Three of the top 10 most expensive cities for groceries are in California: Riverside, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Rising costs of living and increased housing prices in California reflect the hefty price residents pay at the grocery store.
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How was the data collected?
Data comes from the U.S. Census Household Pulse Survey, which asked respondents –18 and older – the average amount of money spent on food prepared and eaten at home. The data was measured between Oct. 18 and Oct. 30, 2023.
HelpAdvisor analyzed the most recent available data from the Household Pulse Survey and provides a full report on the demographics and grocery spending habits of Americans.
FAQs
New census data shows the average American household is spending about $270 a week on groceries, or more than $1000 a month.
How much do Americans spend on groceries each year? ›
Average monthly food spending: $779 (13% increase)
Food spending includes groceries and food away from home, which is any food that you pay someone else to prepare for you. Average food spending increased 13% from 2021 to 2022. On average, Americans spent $779 per month on food in 2022 and $9,343 over the full year.
Where are groceries most expensive in the US? ›
1. California
At $297.72 per week on average, households in California spend more on groceries than any other state. HelpAdvisor also found that California features three out of the five most expensive cities in the US for grocery shopping.
How much does the average person pay for groceries a month? ›
What does the average U.S. household spend on groceries per month? According to 2022 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is the most recent available, the average spending on food at home is $5,703 annually, or about $475 per month for U.S. households.
How much does the average family of 5 spend on groceries a week? ›
Weekly grocery prices vary widely across the country, the study found, and California topped the list of most expensive places to buy food with a household average of $297.72 per week, or $27.51 more than the average for the 48 continental states.
How much does a family of 3 spend on groceries? ›
Quick FAQ: What is the Average Grocery Cost Per Month in the United States? The average monthly grocery bill of a family of three in the US is $902. This assumes that the household consists of two adults and one child and follows the July 2023 Official USDA Moderate Food Plan.
Which country spends the least on food? ›
The US spends the least at 6.4%, Singapore spends the second lowest amount at 6.7%. Canada spends 9.1% on food, while Australia spends 9.8%. Nigeria spends over half of household income on food, and there are nine other countries that spend over 40% on food.
How much do most Americans spend on groceries? ›
Single-person households, as you might expect, spent the least on food: $5,235 in 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Two-person households spent $9,363, up from $8,242 in 2021. The national average for three-person households was $11,158.
What do people spend the most money on? ›
Average American household expenses
According to the BLS survey, the largest expenditures were housing and transportation, which comprised 26 percent and 13 percent of people's pay, respectively. Another big spending category was food, to which 10 percent was devoted.
Where is food the cheapest in USA? ›
According to MarketForce Information's 2024 U.S. Grocery Panel Study, these are the 10 grocery stores that offer the most value for your money, according to shoppers.
- WinCo Foods. ...
- Giant Eagle. ...
- Market Basket. ...
- Wegman's. ...
- ALDI. ...
- BJs. ...
- Costco. ...
- Sam's Club.
Cheapest Foods to Live On:
- Oatmeal.
- Eggs.
- Bread.
- Rice.
- Bananas.
- Beans.
- Apples.
- Pasta.
Most Expensive States for Groceries in 2024
- 1. California. In California, the average weekly grocery spending is $297.72. ...
- Nevada. While Nevada isn't always known for its high cost of living, grocery spending here is still some of the highest in the country at $294.76 per week.
- Mississippi. ...
- Washington. ...
- Florida.
What Is the Average Cost of Groceries Per Month? The average U.S. household spends $7,316 on food every year, according to a recent Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) consumer expenditure survey. That amount — about $609.67 a month, or $152.42 each week — represents nearly 12% of consumers' income.
Is $200 a month enough for groceries for one person? ›
* YES! It is possible to eat healthy for $200 a month. 30 Days on $200 shopping list is intended for one person.
What is the 50 30 20 rule? ›
The 50/30/20 budget rule states that you should spend up to 50% of your after-tax income on needs and obligations that you must have or must do. The remaining half should be split between savings and debt repayment (20%) and everything else that you might want (30%).
What is a realistic grocery budget for one person? ›
The average food budget for a single person is between $250 and $300 a month, but that's just a guideline. If you can buy meals at a discount or visit family and eat with them, you might be able to spend less. Figure out the budget that works for you.
What is the average cost of groceries per week for 2 adults? ›
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.
What is a reasonable grocery budget? ›
By Household Size
According to the USDA guidelines, you might spend $979 a month on a thrifty plan, $1,028 on a low-cost plan, $1,252 on a moderate-cost plan and $1,604 on a liberal plan. The USDA guidelines can provide a starting point for a food budget, but they don't consider all the variables that can affect cost.
