Seems like these days, a simple trip to the grocery store has started to feel like a bit of a wallet workout, doesn’t it? We all know what it’s like to squint at those prices and silently question if they’ve climbed again since our last visit.
To uncover how people are dealing with grocery inflation, we surveyed 1,003 Americans. We also studied grocery store prices across 50 U.S. cities to determine how much Americans should budget to afford only the essentials.
Armed with all this new knowledge, we’ll be whipping up some fresh, budget-friendly recipes. We’re ready to help you make delicious meals for your families, even amid tough grocery shopping trips.
Key Findings
- Nearly one in four Americans have used savings to pay for groceries in the past year.
- Half of Americans say they’ve clipped coupons to combat rising grocery costs.
- The most expensive cities to feed a family of four on only essential grocery items per month are Honolulu, HI ($1,510.89); Boston, MA ($1,280.39); and New York City, NY ($1,277.53).
Top Ways to Fight Grocery Prices
In the past year, 50% of shoppers have clipped coupons to cut down on rising costs, while others are cutting non-essentials entirely.
Since 2020, grocery costs have skyrocketed by over 25%. Naturally, folks are tightening their wallets. While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for saving money, our survey data shows some pretty savvy strategies. The top three ways consumers are cutting costs are couponing (50%), limiting brand name buys (49%), and cutting back on snacks (47%). Baby boomers were most likely to stop splurging on name brands at 55%, while Gen Z is most likely to combat grocery inflation by buying in bulk (49%), boosting Costco to #3 on the list of budget-friendly stores. Walmart holds the #1 spot, with Aldi right behind at #2.
Half of Americans say they’ve clipped coupons to combat rising prices. But if hunting for coupons isn’t your jam, then maybe you’re a part of the 10% of Americans growing their food at home. Fresh tomatoes straight from the garden? Yes, please! We also uncovered that families of four were 21% more likely to swipe a credit card for purchases and were 19% more likely to travel further to cheaper stores than those living alone. And let’s be honest, who wants to spend hours in the kitchen after driving further for groceries? That’s where our easy and quick recipes come in handy.
Budgeting for Essential Food Items
Grocery prices vary heavily depending on where you live, so Americans must set their unique budgets based on location and family size. But no matter where you are, with some creativity and smart shopping, you can still whip up quick dinners without breaking the bank.
We gathered grocery prices from Numbeo and prepared a super handy shopping list with the basics. This list includes enough food to provide two adults with 2,300 calories per day, with portions adjusted for two kiddos. Food items included were: milk, white bread, white rice, eggs, cheese, chicken, beef, apples, bananas, oranges, tomatoes, potatoes, onion, and lettuce.
Based on USDA’s thrifty food plan, an average family of four (two adults and two kids aged 9-11) costs about $1,000 a month to feed as of December 2024. Honolulu, HI, topped the charts, with essential groceries costing over $1,500. Meanwhile, the most budget-friendly city is Little Rock, AR, which costs around $790 a month.
After learning how much it takes to feed a family of four in each city, we wanted to show individual prices for these essential items in the most and least budget-friendly cities. For example, a gallon of regular milk is 148% more expensive in Honolulu, HI, compared to Indianapolis, IN. Crazy, right? Similarly, beef costs 33% more in New York City than in Little Rock, AR.
Methodology
To explore the cost of food in America, we surveyed 1,003 Americans. Additionally, we analyzed grocery prices across 50 U.S. cities. We compiled data on essential items from Numbeo and holiday foods from local stores via Instacart in-store pickup, adjusting prices to exclude the 15% markup. To determine the only essential grocery budgets for families of four, we used AI to create a shopping list of basic food items that would provide two adults with 2,300 calories per day. Portions were then reduced accordingly for children.
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