The Average American Household Spends More Than $1,000 a Month on Groceries

• U.S. households spend an average of $270.21 per week on groceries, or roughly $1,080 per month.
  
  
• Average weekly grocery spending is highest in California ($297.72), Nevada ($294.76), Mississippi ($290.64) Washington ($287.67) and Florida ($287.27).
  
  
• Households in Wisconsin ($221.46), Iowa ($227.32) and Nebraska ($235.12) spend the least on groceries, on average.
  
  
• Households with children spend an average of $331.94 per week at the grocery store, or 41% more than households without children. 
  
  
• A four-person household spends an average of $315.22 per week on groceries.

While U.S. inflation slowed in 2023, grocery store cash registers continued running hot. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the consumer price index for food at home was up 1.7% year-over-year in November.

The overall average household spending on groceries is $1,080 per month, while an average four-person U.S. household is spending around $1,260 per month at the grocery store. That’s according to HelpAdvisor.com analysis of the most recent data from the U.S. Census Household Pulse Survey that measured the average amount of money spent on food prepared and eaten at home for the period of Oct. 18 to Oct. 30, 2023.

Our analysis of the data revealed the states and major metro areas where people are spending the most on groceries, along with some demographic breakdowns of grocery store spending, which we detail below.

Residents of California and Nevada report spending the most on groceries in the continental U.S., with averages of $297.72 and $294.76 per week, respectively.

The chart below shows the average weekly cost of groceries in every state.

Click on image to enlarge in a new tab

Mississippi ($290.64), Washington ($287.67) and Florida ($287.27) rounded out the top five most expensive states for groceries.

Residents of Wisconsin ($221.46), Iowa ($227.32) and Nebraska ($235.12) report the lowest amounts of average weekly spending on groceries.

The Census data included weekly grocery spending for the 14 largest metro areas in the U.S., and our analysis highlighted some of the disparities between city and state spending.

The chart below shows the average weekly grocery spending in some of the largest cities in the U.S.

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Miami, FL, reported the highest average weekly grocery spending of any major metro area at $327.89, or about 14% higher than Florida’s statewide average. Houston, TX, ($302.65) and Riverside, CA, ($300.50) also topped $300 per week in grocery spending.

The Census survey data revealed some of the demographic disparities in grocery spending throughout the U.S.

Race and Ethnicity

Americans of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity report the highest average weekly spending on groceries, at $325.67 per week.

Education

The survey data displayed an apparently direct correlation between average grocery spending and education level.

• Those with less than a high school education report the highest average spending level ($320.00 per week), followed by those with a high school diploma or GED ($274.96) and then those with some college or an associate’s degree ($268.19).
  
  
• Those with a bachelor’s degree or higher reported average weekly grocery spending of $258.42.

Government Assistance

Households that receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits report an average weekly grocery spending of $306.50, or about 16% higher than households that do not.

Households that receive benefits from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program spend an average of $349.95 per week, or roughly 32% higher than households that do not receive such benefits. 

Military Service

Military personnel on active duty spend an average of $305.13 per week on groceries, or about 13% higher than those not on active duty.

Disability

Households that include a person with a disability report consistently higher average grocery spending costs than households without members who have a disability. That includes those who cannot see (17% higher), cannot hear (19% higher), have difficulty with self care (7% higher) or have difficulty understanding or being understood (19% higher). 

Finances

Households that are not currently caught up on their mortgage or rent payment are paying 9% more per week for groceries than those who are current on their mortgage or rent.

The data used for this report came from the U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey, specifically Week 63 (Nov 8, 2023), the most recent data available.