To find out where people pay the most for food every month, we looked at grocery costs in each state’s most populous city.
The Average Monthly Cost of Groceries in the U.S. in 2025
Shows the top 10 states with the most and least expensive average monthly grocery costs in the United States. Hawaii is the most expensive at $499 per month and there is a three-way tie for the least expensive at $347 per month for Utah, Arizona and Georgia. The average monthly cost for groceries in the United States in 2025 is $370 per month, per person.
The data in this map is based on 2025 numbers. See methodology for more details.
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The average cost of groceries in America in 2025 is $370 per month per person.1 However, this number can vary greatly depending on factors like age and personal eating habits. Location is another important—though potentially surprising—factor in determining food costs. Groceries cost more in some US cities and states than others.
To find out where people pay the most for food every month, we looked at grocery costs in each state’s most populous city. We found that residents in the Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina area of Hawaii pay the most for food every month ($536 per person), while people living in Butler County, Kentucky pay the least ($285 per person).
Keep reading to learn more about food costs across the country and to see where your state ranks.
Key findings
- The average Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina resident pays $536.40 for groceries every month, more than anyone else in the US.
- People in Hawaii spend nearly 35% more on food than the average American.
- In addition to Hawaii, four other states face food costs that are at least 10% higher than the national average: Alaska (19.73%), Rhode Island (13.78%), Vermont (12.97%), and Massachusetts (10.27%).
- An area’s population size doesn’t seem to greatly influence food costs. Densely populated cities and smaller metros both show up evenly throughout our rankings.
- States with lower average food costs tend to be located in the south and Midwest, while states with higher average food costs tend to be located along the west coast and in New England.
- On average, grocery bills account for 8%–11% of a household's monthly expenses (including housing, transportation, healthcare, utilities, taxes, childcare, and other necessities).
- The typical American family spends $169 on food per child per month.
Locations with the highest and lowest food costs in the U.S.
The following averages are based on data from metropolitan areas in each state. We do not currently have data on rural food prices and spending.
Each price reflects the average monthly cost of food for one individual in that state.
States with the highest food costs
- Hawaii: $499
- Alaska: $443
- Rhode Island: $421
- Vermont: $418
- Massachusetts: $408
- Maine: $405
- Connecticut: $401
- New Hampshire: $399
- (TIE) New Jersey, California, and Washington: $390
- (TIE) Oregon, New York, and Idaho: $386
States with the lowest food costs
- Texas: $320
- Kentucky: $327
- Indiana: $328
- Arkansas: $331
- West Virginia: $334
- Mississippi: $338
- Oklahoma: $341
- (TIE) South Carolina, Michigan, and Ohio: $344
- Missouri: $345
- (TIE) Georgia, Utah, and Arizona: $347
U.S. metros with the highest food costs
- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, Hawaii: $536
- Butte County, Idaho: $492
- San Francisco, California: $480
- Honolulu, Hawaii: $461
- Peach County, Georgia: $460
- Barnstable Town, Massachusetts: $459
- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, California: $457
- Napa, California: $454
- Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska: $451
- San Benito County, California: $449
U.S. metros with the lowest food costs
- Butler County, Kentucky: $285
- Washington County, Indiana: $286
- Grant County, Kentucky: $291
- Union County, Indiana: $292
- Poinsett County, Arkansas: $294
- (TIE) Victoria, Texas and Clarendon County, South Carolina: $295
- (TIE) Lampasas County, Texas and Atacosa County, Texas: $296
- (TIE) Sullivan County, Indiana, Lincoln County, Georgia, Chester County, South Carolina, and McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas: $298
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Food costs across the US
State | Avg. monthly food cost per person | % above or below national avg. per person | Avg. monthly food cost per child | Number of metros analyzed |
| Alabama | $365 | ↓1.35% | $166 | 18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $443 | ↑19.73% | $202 | 3 |
| Arizona | $347 | ↓6.22% | $159 | 7 |
| Arkansas | $331 | ↓10.54% | $151 | 12 |
| California | $390 | ↑5.41% | $178 | 30 |
| Colorado | $382 | ↑3.24% | $175 | 8 |
| Connecticut | $401 | ↑8.38% | $183 | 11 |
| Delaware | $375 | ↑1.35% | $171 | 3 |
| Florida | $385 | ↑4.05% | $176 | 29 |
| Georgia | $347 | ↓6.22% | $158 | 27 |
| Hawaii | $499 | ↑34.86% | $227 | 2 |
| Idaho | $386 | ↑4.32% | $176 | 11 |
| Illinois | $353 | ↓4.59% | $160 | 21 |
| Indiana | $328 | ↓11.35% | $149 | 26 |
| Iowa | $358 | ↓3.24% | $164 | 15 |
| Kansas | $361 | ↓2.43% | $165 | 8 |
| Kentucky | $327 | ↓11.62% | $149 | 15 |
| Louisiana | $348 | ↓5.95% | $159 | 16 |
| Maine | $405 | ↑9.46% | $186 | 8 |
| Maryland | $371 | ↑0.27% | $170 | 9 |
| Massachusetts | $408 | ↑10.27% | $186 | 17 |
| Michigan | $344 | ↓7.03% | $157 | 20 |
| Minnesota | $378 | ↑2.16% | $173 | 13 |
| Mississippi | $338 | ↓8.65% | $154 | 13 |
| Missouri | $345 | ↓6.76% | $157 | 15 |
| Montana | $358 | ↓3.24% | $163 | 4 |
| Nebraska | $354 | ↓4.32% | $161 | 8 |
| Nevada | $374 | ↑1.08% | $171 | 3 |
| New Hampshire | $399 | ↑7.84% | $182 | 7 |
| New Jersey | $390 | ↑5.41% | $179 | 11 |
| New Mexico | $358 | ↓3.24% | $164 | 4 |
| New York | $386 | ↑4.32% | $176 | 16 |
| North Carolina | $355 | ↓4.05% | $162 | 33 |
| North Dakota | $359 | ↓2.97% | $165 | 3 |
| Ohio | $344 | ↓7.03% | $157 | 19 |
| Oklahoma | $341 | ↓7.84% | $156 | 10 |
| Oregon | $386 | ↑4.32% | $177 | 8 |
| Pennsylvania | $362 | ↓2.16% | $165 | 22 |
| Rhode Island | $421 | ↑13.78% | $192 | 3 |
| South Carolina | $344 | ↓7.03% | $157 | 18 |
| South Dakota | $364 | ↓1.62% | $167 | 4 |
| Tennessee | $351 | ↓5.14% | $160 | 20 |
| Texas | $320 | ↓13.51% | $146 | 41 |
| Utah | $347 | ↓6.22% | $158 | 7 |
| Vermont | $418 | ↑12.97% | $191 | 1 |
| Virginia | $358 | ↓3.24% | $163 | 20 |
| Washington | $390 | ↑5.41% | $178 | 15 |
| West Virginia | $334 | ↓9.73% | $152 | 17 |
| Wisconsin | $361 | ↓2.43% | $165 | 20 |
| Wyoming | $355 | ↓4.05% | $162 | 2 |
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Methodology
We collected housing, food, transportation, healthcare, other necessities, and taxes from the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) by metro area. EPI bases its food cost data from the US Department of Agriculture's national low-cost food plan and adjusts the costs based on information from Feeding America's map and Meal Gap data.
To get the prices closer to current day pricing we applied a 3% increase to all values as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics increase in cost of living from September 2024 to September 2025 For Utilities, we use our own Utilities 101 data by state and applied to the metro areas. Ranking is then applied from least expensive to most expensive area by family size and for all family sizes and areas.
Additional food costs like restaurant bills were not included in these prices. Costs reflect how much food is required for a nutritional diet.
Sources
Written by
With over eight years of experience as a content writer, Cathy has a knack for untangling complex information. Her natural curiosity and ability to empathize help Cathy offer insightful, friendly advice. She believes in empowering readers who may not feel confident about a purchase, project, or topic. Cathy earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Indiana University Southeast and began her professional writing career immediately after graduation. She is a certified Safe Sleep Ambassador and has contributed to sites like Safety.com, Reviews.com, Hunker, and Thumbtack. Cathy’s pride and joy is her Appaloosa “Chacos.” She also likes to crochet while watching stand-up comedy specials on Netflix.
