Study finds that Californians spend the most on groceries in America (2024)
New research suggests that the average American household spends more than $1,000 per month on groceries, and for Golden State residents, that number may likely be higher.
That number increases when children are factored in; HelpAdvisor found that households with children spend an average of $331.94 a week at the store, or 41% higher than households without children.
Weekly grocery prices vary widely across the country, the study found, and California topped the list of most expensive places to buy food with a household average of $297.72 per week, or $27.51 more than the average for the 48 continental states.
The Golden State’s easterly neighbor, Nevada, is not far behind; residents of the Silver State fork over roughly $294.76 a week at the grocery store, enough to rank second in the nation.
Rounding out the top five most expensive are Mississippi ($290.64); Washington ($287.67) and Florida ($287.27).
Rank
State
Avg. cost
1.
California
$297.72
2.
Nevada
$294.76
3.
Mississippi
$290.64
4.
Washington
$287.67
5.
Florida
$287.27
6.
New Mexico
$286.39
7.
Texas
$286.19
8.
Louisiana
$282.95
9.
Colorado
$279.98
10.
Oklahoma
$279.16
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Wisconsinites spend $76 less at the grocery store per week than their California counterparts; their average weekly grocery bill is $221.46, the study found.
The cheapest states to purchase foodstuffs are all located in the Midwest, HelpAdvisor research suggests, with Iowa, Nebraska, Michigan and Indiana households all spending under $240 at the store on average per week.
When broken down by city, three California municipalities are unsurprisingly featured in the top 10 most expensive cities to go to the grocery store; Riverside, San Francisco and Los Angeles ($300.50, $298.44 and $295.33, respectively) rank as the third, fourth and fifth-most economically unfriendly places to buy food in the country.
The most expensive city in America to buy groceries in is Miami, HelpAdvisor found, with grocery bills there costing residents an average of $327.89, or about 14% higher than Florida’s statewide average.
Rank
City
Avg. cost
1.
Miami
$327.89
2.
Houston
$302.65
3.
Riverside
$300.50
4.
San Francisco
$298.44
5.
Los Angeles
$295.33
6.
Seattle
$289.23
7.
New York
$282.60
8.
Dallas
$282.21
9.
Chicago
$278.91
10.
Atlanta
$277.54
Data displayed “an apparently direct correlation” between average grocery spending and education level, according to the study’s findings.
“Those with less than a high school education report the highest average spending level with $320 per week, followed by those with a high school diploma or GED at $274.96 per week and then those with some college or an associate’s degree at $268.19,” researchers said. “Those with a bachelor’s degree or higher reported average weekly grocery spending of $258.42.”
Other factors that may influence grocery spending are race and ethnicity, as well as military service, government financial assistance and the presence of individuals that have disabilities, researchers said.
Even though U.S. inflation slowed in 2023, grocery store cash registers “continued running hot,” HelpAdvisor said, which could correlate with the consumer price index for food at home increasing 1.7% year-over-year in November.
More information on the HelpAdvisor study can be found here.
Weekly grocery prices vary widely across the country, the study found, and California topped the list of most expensive places to buy food with a household average of $297.72 per week, or $27.51 more than the average for the 48 continental states.
What are the average grocery and food costs in California? According to a study by the United States Census Bureau, Californians pay more for their weekly groceries than any other state. The average American family spends around $270 a week on groceries, but Californians spend nearly $298 on a weekly basis.
The study, which relies on data from Oct. 18, 2023 to Oct. 30, 2023, says that rising costs of living in the areas, paired with increased housing prices, reflect the amount that residents are forced to pay during each visit to the store.
Americans spent more money at restaurants than at grocery stores in 2022, which partially can be attributed to rising food prices, a University of Cincinnati economist told Spectrum News. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Americans spent 20% more at restaurants than on groceries last year.
At $297.72 per week on average, households in California spend more on groceries than any other state. HelpAdvisor also found that California features three out of the five most expensive cities in the US for grocery shopping.
According to several studies on cost of living, Hawaii is the most expensive U.S. state to live in. Prices are typically double in Hawaii compared to those on the mainland, and the continued rise in inflation is making costs ranging from housing to health care much more expensive.
To determine which states are the most affordable, the research team at USA TODAY Homefront looked at the cost of living by state. Utah came out on top as the most affordable state, thanks to manageable health care costs. On the other hand, the high homeownership costs landed New York as the least affordable state.
While California ranks third-most expensive for a single adult to live comfortably at $113,652, it only ranks fifth-most expensive for two working adults raising two children. The total family income should be at least $276,724 in the latter case.
Groceries are exempt from sales tax in California. This includes both unprepared and prepared foods. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. For example, candy, soft drinks, and prepared foods that are served in restaurants are taxable.
No one pays more for food than residents of Miami, where groceries cost 20% more than the national average and the cost of living is 14% higher than in the country as a whole. For context as to just how expensive groceries are in Miami, the HelpAdvisor study found that Florida is the No.
Logan Mohtashami, lead analyst for HousingWire, a trade publication for mortgage, real estate, and housing professionals told USA TODAY that California has been ineffective in lowering the cost of living because not enough homes are being built. That means there is more demand for homes than supply.
Considering the Thrifty and Liberal plan averages, the monthly grocery cost for an adult male falls between $275.63 and $434.33, while the average for an adult female ranges from $238.46 to $384.93.
The decision between eating out and cooking at home ultimately depends on individual circ*mstances, including budget, time availability, dietary preferences, and lifestyle. If you're looking to save money and improve your diet, cooking at home is likely the better option.
The president does not control grocery prices in the U.S. Instead, “prices generally are set by sellers, and price change typically comes from market forces,” according to Steve Reed, an economist at the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Average grocery costs are considerably different across various state borders. For example, Oklahoma is the state with the cheapest groceries, while New York is one of the most expensive places to buy groceries.
Walmart is the largest supermarket chain in the United States, and indeed the world, with a global turnover of $611.3 billion (€556.45 billion) in the year to end 31 January 2023, of which 69% was generated in its Walmart US business*, resulting in a total US turnover of $421.8 billion (€388.4 billion).
According to a new survey from the Census Bureau, Floridians spend on average, $287 each week on groceries. Placing the state fifth on the list for the highest average grocery bill in the country. Researchers say that prices are going up because of a combination of factors including inflation and supply chain issues.
Introduction: My name is Edwin Metz, I am a fair, energetic, helpful, brave, outstanding, nice, helpful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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