Food is necessary for survival, but it can also seem like a luxury item depending on where you shop or dine. In some cities, food is much more expensive than in others.
Buying food from a grocery store or supermarket is more common than going out to eat, simply because more can be bought per dollar. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Expenditure Survey found that Americans spent $52.4 billion on groceries alone in 2016.
But that money isn’t always evenly distributed. Grocery prices can vary a lot between urban areas. That price difference can be influenced by a number of factors, including the median household income of the area and proximity to the food source.
Just as the price of groceries can vary by city, grocery expenditure also varies considerably by region. Consumers in the western U.S. paid an average of $4,447 for groceries, according to a 2015-2016 survey. But people in the South paid just $3,776 for the same types of products.
Food spending in the Northeast and Midwest fell in between those figures, with average expenditures of $4,031 and $4,052 per person per year, respectively.
To determine which urban areas pay the most for groceries, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the grocery items index from The Council for Community and Economic Research for U.S. urban areas.
Click here to see the places that spend the most on groceries.
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology.
Source: Thinkstock
50. Yakima, WA
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $775
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.65
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $2.55
> Median household income: $42,978
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49. Albany, NY
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $778
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.62
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $2.70
> Median household income: $59,916
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48. Raleigh, NC
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $784
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.59
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $3.07
> Median household income: $66,944
Source: Nick Fox / Shutterstock.com
47. Flagstaff, AZ
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $781
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.59
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $2.78
> Median household income: $50,341
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46. Chicago, IL
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $783
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.44
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $3.24
> Median household income: $61,606
Source: Thinkstock
45. Olympia, WA
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $784
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.69
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $2.36
> Median household income: $61,605
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44. Akron, OH
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $789
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.57
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $3.26
> Median household income: $46,838
Source: Thinkstock
43. Hartford, CT
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $792
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.57
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $2.76
> Median household income: $64,578
Source: Michael / Wikimedia Commons
42. Kankakee, IL
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $793
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.49
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $3.00
> Median household income: $50,144
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Source: Thinkstock
41. Yuma, AZ
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $794
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.52
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $2.84
> Median household income: $43,346
Source: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com
40. Tallahassee, FL
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $796
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.63
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $3.06
> Median household income: $44,800
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39. Baltimore, MD
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $801
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.55
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $2.62
> Median household income: $66,837
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38. Burlington-Chittenden County, VT
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $804
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.59
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $2.72
> Median household income: $58,139
Source: Jon Bilous / Shutterstock.com
37. Alexandria, VA
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $813
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.50
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $2.53
> Median household income: $89,134
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Source: Thinkstock
36. Cleveland, OH
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $817
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.60
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $3.20
> Median household income: $49,994
Source: Marcbela / Wikimedia Commons
35. Framingham-Natick, MA
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $815
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.54
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $3.03
> Median household income: $85,118
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Source: Thinkstock
34. Providence, RI
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $816
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.53
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $2.63
> Median household income: $54,841
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33. Mount Vernon-Skagit County, WA
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $814
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.73
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $2.84
> Median household income: $48,184
Source: jdwfoto / Shutterstock.com
32. Pittsfield, MA
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $818
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.62
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $2.87
> Median household income: $43,683
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31. Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $820
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.69
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $2.71
> Median household income: $59,162
Source: Terrance Emerson / Shutterstock.com
30. Stockton, CA
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $822
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.68
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $2.69
> Median household income: $45,304
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Source: Thinkstock
29. Orange County, CA
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $826
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.69
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $2.74
> Median household income: $76,509
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28. San Diego, CA
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $828
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.69
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $2.71
> Median household income: $63,939
Source: Andriy Blokhin / Shutterstock.com
27. Las Cruces, NM
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $830
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.68
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $2.72
> Median household income: $41,093
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26. Bethesda-Gaithersburg-Frederick MD
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $833
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.53
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $2.65
> Median household income: $144,772
Source: Thinkstock
25. New Haven, CT
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $833
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.74
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $2.85
> Median household income: $61,947
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24. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria DC-VA
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $834
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.53
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $2.85
> Median household income: $94,230
Source: Thinkstock
23. Bakersfield, CA
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $831
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.64
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $2.87
> Median household income: $51,071
Source: Toribio93 / Shutterstock.com
22. Sacramento, CA
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $832
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.67
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $2.76
> Median household income: $59,632
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Source: Thinkstock
21. Arlington, VA
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $840
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.50
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $3.13
> Median household income: $105,763
Source: Thinkstock
20. Philadelphia, PA
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $841
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.59
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $3.53
> Median household income: $38,253
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19. St. Cloud, MN
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $842
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.61
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $3.09
> Median household income: $49,267
Source: Thinkstock
18. Manchester, NH
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $843
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.51
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $2.91
> Median household income: $61,119
Source: SEASTOCK / Shutterstock.com
17. Everett, WA
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $839
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.73
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $2.77
> Median household income: $49,578
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Source: Josemaria Toscano / Shutterstock.com
16. Portland, OR
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $840
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.69
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $2.64
> Median household income: $59,676
Source: John Wollwerth / Shutterstock.com
15. Beaufort, SC
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $849
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.59
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $3.31
> Median household income: $57,048
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Source: Thinkstock
14. Sarasota, FL
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $875
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.64
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $3.25
> Median household income: $43,244
Source: barbsimages / Shutterstock.com
13. Stamford, CT
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $887
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.67
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $3.17
> Median household income: $79,359
Source: evenfh / Shutterstock.com
12. Seattle, WA
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $913
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.70
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $2.89
> Median household income: $70,594
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11. Brooklyn, NY
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $914
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.72
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $3.30
> Median household income: $48,201
Source: Joseph Sohm / Shutterstock.com
10. Fairbanks, AK
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $920
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.88
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $2.80
> Median household income: $67,294
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9. San Francisco, CA
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $933
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.79
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $3.05
> Median household income: $81,294
Source: Christopher Boswell / Shutterstock.com
8. Oakland, CA
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $934
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.79
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $3.06
> Median household income: $54,618
Source: Rocky Grimes / Shutterstock.com
7. Anchorage, AK
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $952
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.88
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $3.23
> Median household income: $75,463
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6. Manhattan, NY
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $962
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.61
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $3.53
> Median household income: $72,871
Source: emperorcosar / Shutterstock.com
5. Juneau, AK
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $998
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.92
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $2.99
> Median household income: $85,125
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4. Sunnyvale, CA
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $1,042
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $0.67
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $4.03
> Median household income: $105,401
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3. Hilo, HI
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $1,070
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $1.34
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $4.14
> Median household income: $52,070
Source: Warren Metcalf / Shutterstock.com
2. Kodiak, AK
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $1,105
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $1.30
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $4.14
> Median household income: $70,128
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Source: Izabela23 / Shutterstock.com
1. Honolulu, HI
> Avg. homeowner’s monthly grocery bill: $1,164
> Avg. price, bananas, 1 lb.: $1.21
> Avg. price, frozen meal: $3.63
> Median household income: $72,533
Detailed Findings & Methodology:
Six of the 10 most expensive cities for buying groceries in the country aren’t in the lower 48 states. Both Hawaiian urban areas and all four Alaskan urban areas made the top ten, likely because the states are much farther away from the places where the food is actually produced. That leads to logistical difficulties shipping foods long distances, especially produce that expires quickly, resulting in added costs for consumers.
Those difficulties are compounded by the Jones Act, a 20th-century law that says only American ships can carry goods between American ports. Any other countries hoping to ship to Alaska or Hawaii would have to pay rerouting costs, which get passed onto consumers.
Many of the other cities towards the top of the list have some of the highest median household incomes in the nation, which indicates people in those communities can afford pricier groceries. The Sunnyvale, California, area has the highest grocery prices of anywhere in the contiguous 48 states and it also has the highest median household income in the nation at more than $121,000.
Many staple foods common to American kitchens are pegged pretty closely to the overall price of groceries. Foods like sausage, cereal, and lettuce are strongly correlated with the grocery price index. However, for other foods proximity to production can impact the price people have to pay. For instance, six of the 10 cheapest places to buy ground beef are located in states that raise the most cattle and calves.
It’s not just farmers that can affect prices though, politicians have an affect as well. A California law, which took effect in 2015, requires farmers to give chickens more space and bans eggs from farms that don’t meet its standards. That extra cost for farmers may have inflated egg prices in the Golden State.
It can be easy to overlook grocery indexes, but the differences in grocery prices really start to hit home when you look at individual foods and how much their prices vary based on location.
A box of cereal goes for an average price of $7.22 in Hilo, Hawaii, but the mean cost of cereal in Jackson-Madison County, Tennessee, is just $2.06. To get a half gallon of milk to go with that cereal, Hilo residents will pay more than $3, but Jackson residents will pay less than $2.
A pound of bananas is just $0.41 in Dubuque, Iowa, the lowest in the nation. But in Hilo, bananas are $1.34, more than triple that price.
To identify which cities spend the most on food, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the grocery items index created by The Council for Community and Economic Research for all of America’s urban areas. We also retrieved the average price of frozen meals and lbs. of bananas, as well as the typical homeowner’s monthly grocery bill from C2ER. The median household income for each of the cities was retrieved from the Census’ American Community Survey.
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