These States Have the Lowest Grocery Costs on Average
Americans spend an average of $270.21 per week on groceries, although the numbers are lower for residents of Wisconsin, Iowa and Nebraska.
Household Pulse Survey data from the U.S. Census Bureau and analysis from HelpAdvisor looked at the cost of food prepared and eaten at home by nearly 80,000 households between October 18 and 30, 2023. Prices of goods and services to fall sharply in 2023 and 2024, following multi-decade highs inflationbut shoppers in some areas still Feel the sting of high prices in their grocery store run.
Main points
- Wisconsin, Iowa and Nebraska are among the states where residents spend the least on groceries.
- Grocery store prices may be affected by the cost of living in a given area.
States with lowest grocery costs
Residents of some states pay less than average at grocery stores. Here are the 10 states with the lowest grocery costs, and how much the average shopper spends each week in each state, according to HelpAdvisor’s analysis.
- Wisconsin: $221.46
- Iowa: $227.32
- Nebraska: $235.12
- Michigan: $236.38
- Indiana: $239.11
- West Virginia: $239.24
- New Hampshire: $239.33
- Missouri: $244.43
- Delaware: $246.21
- Montana: $246.42
Food grown or produced locally is often available at a cheaper price because you don’t have to pay for long-distance shipping.
What’s causing grocery bills to rise?
overall cost of living can push up food prices. This is because supermarkets often pass costs such as rent onto people in their areas. California residentsFor example, the maximum weekly payment is $297.72.
Families with children spend $331.94 per week, which is above average, as do families with more than 2 people. That’s 41% more than the cost of groceries for a household without children. A family of 4 people spends an average of $315.22 on groceries per week.
The exact cause is unknown, but Americans received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Households on benefits pay 16% more than those without benefits – with an average weekly grocery bill of $306.50. At the same time, families enjoying special benefits Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) This plan costs an average of $349.95 per week. Households with persons with disabilities report higher than average grocery costs.
bottom line
Your grocery bill will vary based on the cost of living in the city or state where you live. The exact makeup of your home will also have an impact on it. In addition to shopping on sales, buying in bulk, and using coupons, you can further lower your grocery bill by reading your bill carefully. Electronic scanners make the shopping experience faster, but they’re not perfect. Check your receipt to make sure any discounts you are counting on are registered correctly.