Yikes – FOOD PRICES!
Ouch…!!! The rising cost of food in the United States is hitting families hard, as inflation and supply chain issues have made trips to the grocery store noticeably more expensive.
Across the country, the average amount people spend on groceries varies quite a bit, depending on factors like local living costs, transportation expenses, and how easy it is to access food suppliers.
Here’s the list – from most expensive to least expensive. How’s your state doing..?
- Hawaii: $333.88
- Alaska: $328.71
- California: $297.72
- Nevada: $294.76
- Mississippi: $290.64
- Washington: $287.67
- Florida: $287.27
- New Mexico: $286.39
- Texas: $286.19
- Louisiana: $282.95
- Colorado: $279.98
- Oklahoma: $279.16
- Utah: $278.41
- Georgia: $278.32
- New Jersey: $274.69
- Massachusetts: $271.98
- Arizona: $271.84
- Alabama: $271.64
- Tennessee: $270.45
- Illinois: $269.47
- New York: $266.40
- North Carolina: $266.23
- Maryland: $266.11
- Connecticut: $265.90
- North Dakota: $265.11
- Arkansas: $260.91
- Virginia: $259.76
- Idaho: $257.54
- South Dakota: $256.48
- Rhode Island: $255.86
- Washington, D.C.: $254.70
- Kentucky: $254.57
- South Carolina: $254.36
- Wyoming: $254.24
- Ohio: $253.74
- Kansas: $250.88
- Minnesota: $250.56
- Maine: $249.91
- Vermont: $249.38
- Oregon: $249.38
- Pennsylvania: $249.09
- Montana: $246.42
- Delaware: $246.21
- Missouri: $244.43
- New Hampshire: $239.33
- West Virginia: $239.24
- Indiana: $239.11
- Michigan: $236.38
- Nebraska: $235.12
- Iowa: $227.32
- Wisconsin: $221.46
* Source: U.S. Census Bureau
What’s Going On?
Regional Differences:
Hawaii and Alaska have the highest weekly grocery bills—$333.88 and $328.71, respectively.
That’s largely because of the costs involved in transporting goods to these far-off states.
On the flip side, states in the Midwest like Iowa ($227.32) and Wisconsin ($221.46) have some of the lowest grocery costs, thanks to their proximity to farms and generally lower living expenses.
Urban vs. Rural Living:
Big cities come with bigger price tags. In urbanized states like California ($297.72) and New York ($266.40), groceries are more expensive due to higher demand, pricey real estate, and longer supply chains for fresh produce.
Meanwhile, rural states like Nebraska ($235.12) and Kansas ($250.88) enjoy more affordable groceries, benefiting from nearby farms and smaller towns.
Southeast and Gulf States:
Mississippi ($290.64), Louisiana ($282.95), and Texas ($286.19) sit somewhere in the middle-to-high range.
While these states often grow a lot of their own food, issues like regional supply chain inefficiencies and higher food service taxes can drive up costs.
Northeast States:
Places like New Jersey ($274.69) and Massachusetts ($271.98) land in the mid-to-high range for grocery spending. These areas have higher costs of living and often rely on importing goods from faraway regions, which adds to grocery prices.
Why It Matters
For families, getting savvy about grocery shopping is more important than ever.
Bulk buying, meal planning, and checking out local farmers’ markets are all great ways to keep costs down while still eating well.
As food prices stay unpredictable, finding ways to stretch every dollar matters more than ever – and one way to do it is to eat healthy!