Groceries Are Eating Up Your Paycheck -- But How Much Depends on Where You Live

Special Report

Published: June 2, 2025 7:42 am

24/7 Wall St. Insights

Americans spent $4,312 on groceries per capita in 2023.
Grocery costs vary from state to state, ranging from $3,274 to $5,507.
While grocery expenses track with cost of living, many of the highest-spending states are in rural, otherwise inexpensive regions.
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A gallon of milk shouldn’t feel like a luxury — but in some states, it practically is. The New York Times reported on Americans dyeing potatoes instead of eggs this past Easter, as egg prices soared to historic highs. Grocery costs are rising faster than inflation, and Americans are spending more than ever just to keep the fridge full.

Annual grocery expenditures were $4,312 per capita in 2023, up 33.6% from 2018. In some states, grocery expenditures were higher than $5,000 per capita in 2023. And while grocery prices track with cost of living, many of the states where Americans are spending the most on groceries are otherwise inexpensive areas. Many of the states with the highest grocery expenditures are in rural, sparsely populated regions. A closer look at the data reveals the states spending the most on groceries.

To determine the states spending the most on groceries, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on personal consumption expenditures from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. States were ranked based on annual personal expenditure on food and beverages purchased for off-premises consumption per capita in 2023. Expenditure totals were adjusted for population using data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

50. Oklahoma

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $3,274 per capita
Cost of living: -11.7% less than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $13.3 billion
Total population: 4.1 million
Other major spending categories: Motor vehicles and parts, gasoline and other energy goods, clothing and footwear, food services and accommodations, health care, recreational goods and vehicles

49. Tennessee

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $3,576 per capita
Cost of living: -7.5% less than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $25.5 billion
Total population: 7.1 million
Other major spending categories: Clothing and footwear, food services and accommodations, financial services and insurance, gasoline and other energy goods, motor vehicles and parts, furnishings and durable household equipment

48. Arkansas

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $3,590 per capita
Cost of living: -13.5% less than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $11.0 billion
Total population: 3.1 million
Other major spending categories: Gasoline and other energy goods, financial services and insurance, clothing and footwear, furnishings and durable household equipment, recreational goods and vehicles, health care

47. South Dakota

Panorama of Rapid City, South Dakota, USA by Sopotnicki

Panorama of Rapid City, South Dakota, USA (Shutterstock.com) by Sopotnicki

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $3,620 per capita
Cost of living: -11.9% less than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $3.3 billion
Total population: 919,318
Other major spending categories: Health care, furnishings and durable household equipment, recreation services, transportation services, clothing and footwear, food services and accommodations

46. Minnesota

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $3,721 per capita
Cost of living: -1.6% less than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $21.4 billion
Total population: 5.7 million
Other major spending categories: Recreational goods and vehicles, motor vehicles and parts, financial services and insurance, health care, gasoline and other energy goods, clothing and footwear

45. North Dakota

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $3,794 per capita
Cost of living: -11.4% less than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $3.0 billion
Total population: 783,926
Other major spending categories: Recreational goods and vehicles, health care, financial services and insurance, motor vehicles and parts, clothing and footwear, furnishings and durable household equipment

44. Idaho

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $3,813 per capita
Cost of living: -8.6% less than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $7.5 billion
Total population: 2.0 million
Other major spending categories: Recreational goods and vehicles, gasoline and other energy goods, motor vehicles and parts, housing and utilities, furnishings and durable household equipment, transportation services

43. Maryland

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $3,832 per capita
Cost of living: +4.0% more than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $23.7 billion
Total population: 6.2 million
Other major spending categories: Clothing and footwear, housing and utilities, recreation services, recreational goods and vehicles, transportation services, food services and accommodations

42. Alabama

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $3,833 per capita
Cost of living: -10.0% less than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $19.6 billion
Total population: 5.1 million
Other major spending categories: Motor vehicles and parts, gasoline and other energy goods, clothing and footwear, recreational goods and vehicles, furnishings and durable household equipment

41. Utah

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $3,878 per capita
Cost of living: -5.0% less than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $13.3 billion
Total population: 3.4 million
Other major spending categories: Recreational goods and vehicles, furnishings and durable household equipment, motor vehicles and parts, transportation services, gasoline and other energy goods, housing and utilities

40. Nebraska

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $3,904 per capita
Cost of living: -9.6% less than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $7.7 billion
Total population: 2.0 million
Other major spending categories: Motor vehicles and parts, gasoline and other energy goods, financial services and insurance, health care, transportation services, recreational goods and vehicles

39. Arizona

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $3,923 per capita
Cost of living: +1.1% more than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $29.2 billion
Total population: 7.4 million
Other major spending categories: Housing and utilities, transportation services, food services and accommodations, furnishings and durable household equipment, motor vehicles and parts, recreation services

38. Missouri

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $3,975 per capita
Cost of living: -8.2% less than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $24.6 billion
Total population: 6.2 million
Other major spending categories: Gasoline and other energy goods, motor vehicles and parts, financial services and insurance, health care, recreation services, transportation services

37. Wisconsin

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $4,022 per capita
Cost of living: -6.9% less than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $23.8 billion
Total population: 5.9 million
Other major spending categories: Gasoline and other energy goods, motor vehicles and parts, recreational goods and vehicles, financial services and insurance, health care, furnishings and durable household equipment

36. Mississippi

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $4,022 per capita
Cost of living: -12.7% less than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $11.8 billion
Total population: 2.9 million
Other major spending categories: Gasoline and other energy goods, clothing and footwear, motor vehicles and parts, health care, food services and accommodations

35. New Mexico

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $4,031 per capita
Cost of living: -9.6% less than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $8.5 billion
Total population: 2.1 million
Other major spending categories: Gasoline and other energy goods, food services and accommodations, motor vehicles and parts, housing and utilities, health care

34. Indiana

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $4,033 per capita
Cost of living: -7.8% less than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $27.7 billion
Total population: 6.9 million
Other major spending categories: Health care, gasoline and other energy goods, motor vehicles and parts, recreational goods and vehicles, furnishings and durable household equipment

33. Louisiana

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $4,034 per capita
Cost of living: -11.7% less than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $18.4 billion
Total population: 4.6 million
Other major spending categories: Motor vehicles and parts, health care, gasoline and other energy goods, clothing and footwear, food services and accommodations, financial services and insurance

32. Iowa

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $4,067 per capita
Cost of living: -11.2% less than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $13.0 billion
Total population: 3.2 million
Other major spending categories: Gasoline and other energy goods, motor vehicles and parts, recreational goods and vehicles, transportation services, health care

31. Illinois

Rudy Balasko / Shutterstock.com by Rudy Balasko

Rudy Balasko / Shutterstock.com (Shutterstock.com) by Rudy Balasko

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $4,119 per capita
Cost of living: -1.1% less than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $51.7 billion
Total population: 12.5 million
Other major spending categories: Clothing and footwear, transportation services, recreational goods and vehicles, financial services and insurance, food services and accommodations, furnishings and durable household equipment

30. Texas

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $4,123 per capita
Cost of living: -2.8% less than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $125.8 billion
Total population: 30.5 million
Other major spending categories: Motor vehicles and parts, clothing and footwear, recreation services, financial services and insurance, food services and accommodations, recreational goods and vehicles

29. Michigan

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $4,172 per capita
Cost of living: -5.8% less than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $41.9 billion
Total population: 10.0 million
Other major spending categories: Financial services and insurance, gasoline and other energy goods, recreational goods and vehicles, clothing and footwear, housing and utilities

28. Ohio

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $4,173 per capita
Cost of living: -8.2% less than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $49.2 billion
Total population: 11.8 million
Other major spending categories: Health care, recreational goods and vehicles, gasoline and other energy goods, recreation services, furnishings and durable household equipment

27. Pennsylvania

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $4,201 per capita
Cost of living: -2.5% less than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $54.5 billion
Total population: 13.0 million
Other major spending categories: Recreational goods and vehicles, financial services and insurance, health care, furnishings and durable household equipment, gasoline and other energy goods, clothing and footwear

26. Kentucky

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $4,226 per capita
Cost of living: -9.5% less than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $19.1 billion
Total population: 4.5 million
Other major spending categories: Gasoline and other energy goods, health care, motor vehicles and parts, recreation services, food services and accommodations

25. Delaware

Wilmington Delaware skyline by Tim Kiser (User:Malepheasant)

Wilmington Delaware skyline (BY-SA 2.5) by Tim Kiser (User:Malepheasant)

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $4,237 per capita
Cost of living: -0.7% less than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $4.4 billion
Total population: 1.0 million
Other major spending categories: Health care, furnishings and durable household equipment, food services and accommodations, gasoline and other energy goods, housing and utilities, clothing and footwear

24. North Carolina

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $4,272 per capita
Cost of living: -5.9% less than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $46.3 billion
Total population: 10.8 million
Other major spending categories: Recreational goods and vehicles, furnishings and durable household equipment, motor vehicles and parts, clothing and footwear, recreation services

23. New York

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $4,278 per capita
Cost of living: +7.6% more than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $83.7 billion
Total population: 19.6 million
Other major spending categories: Clothing and footwear, health care, financial services and insurance, food services and accommodations, transportation services, housing and utilities

22. West Virginia

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $4,288 per capita
Cost of living: -10.2% less than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $7.6 billion
Total population: 1.8 million
Other major spending categories: Health care, gasoline and other energy goods, motor vehicles and parts, financial services and insurance, housing and utilities

21. South Carolina

A Multitude of Evening Colors by fran.trudeau

A Multitude of Evening Colors (CC BY-SA 2.0) by fran.trudeau

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $4,293 per capita
Cost of living: -6.8% less than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $23.1 billion
Total population: 5.4 million
Other major spending categories: Gasoline and other energy goods, motor vehicles and parts, clothing and footwear, housing and utilities, food services and accommodations

20. Virginia

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $4,389 per capita
Cost of living: +0.7% more than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $38.3 billion
Total population: 8.7 million
Other major spending categories: Recreation services, clothing and footwear, housing and utilities, recreational goods and vehicles, food services and accommodations

19. New Jersey

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $4,432 per capita
Cost of living: +8.9% more than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $41.2 billion
Total population: 9.3 million
Other major spending categories: Clothing and footwear, furnishings and durable household equipment, housing and utilities, financial services and insurance, recreation services, health care

18. Georgia

Night skyline of Atlanta, Geor... by Free Public Domain Illustrations by rawpixel

Night skyline of Atlanta, Geor... (CC BY 2.0) by Free Public Domain Illustrations by rawpixel

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $4,444 per capita
Cost of living: -3.3% less than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $49.0 billion
Total population: 11.0 million
Other major spending categories: Transportation services, clothing and footwear, motor vehicles and parts, gasoline and other energy goods, recreation services

17. Connecticut

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $4,474 per capita
Cost of living: +3.7% more than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $16.2 billion
Total population: 3.6 million
Other major spending categories: Financial services and insurance, transportation services, furnishings and durable household equipment, recreation services, housing and utilities, clothing and footwear

16. Rhode Island

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $4,518 per capita
Cost of living: +1.4% more than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $5.0 billion
Total population: 1.1 million
Other major spending categories: Transportation services, food services and accommodations, recreation services, housing and utilities, health care

15. Kansas

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $4,526 per capita
Cost of living: -10.0% less than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $13.3 billion
Total population: 2.9 million
Other major spending categories: Motor vehicles and parts, financial services and insurance, furnishings and durable household equipment, health care, gasoline and other energy goods

14. Washington

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $4,543 per capita
Cost of living: +8.6% more than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $35.5 billion
Total population: 7.8 million
Other major spending categories: Transportation services, recreational goods and vehicles, recreation services, housing and utilities, furnishings and durable household equipment

13. Nevada

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $4,562 per capita
Cost of living: -3.0% less than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $14.6 billion
Total population: 3.2 million
Other major spending categories: Furnishings and durable household equipment, recreation services, housing and utilities, food services and accommodations, financial services and insurance

12. California

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $4,708 per capita
Cost of living: +12.6% more than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $183.4 billion
Total population: 39.0 million
Other major spending categories: Clothing and footwear, recreation services, food services and accommodations, housing and utilities, transportation services, health care

11. Florida

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $4,736 per capita
Cost of living: +3.5% more than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $107.1 billion
Total population: 22.6 million
Other major spending categories: Furnishings and durable household equipment, housing and utilities, financial services and insurance, food services and accommodations, recreational goods and vehicles

10. Alaska

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $4,798 per capita
Cost of living: +1.7% more than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $3.5 billion
Total population: 733,406
Other major spending categories: Health care, recreation services, recreational goods and vehicles, transportation services, food services and accommodations, furnishings and durable household equipment

9. Massachusetts

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $4,870 per capita
Cost of living: +8.2% more than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $34.1 billion
Total population: 7.0 million
Other major spending categories: Transportation services, housing and utilities, financial services and insurance, health care, recreation services, food services and accommodations

8. Wyoming

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $4,896 per capita
Cost of living: -9.2% less than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $2.9 billion
Total population: 584,057
Other major spending categories: Financial services and insurance, clothing and footwear, motor vehicles and parts, gasoline and other energy goods, transportation services

7. Colorado

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $4,922 per capita
Cost of living: +1.4% more than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $28.9 billion
Total population: 5.9 million
Other major spending categories: Furnishings and durable household equipment, recreation services, housing and utilities, food services and accommodations, recreational goods and vehicles, clothing and footwear

6. Oregon

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $4,933 per capita
Cost of living: +4.7% more than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $20.9 billion
Total population: 4.2 million
Other major spending categories: Furnishings and durable household equipment, recreational goods and vehicles, clothing and footwear, food services and accommodations, housing and utilities

5. Montana

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $4,957 per capita
Cost of living: -9.8% less than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $5.6 billion
Total population: 1.1 million
Other major spending categories: Motor vehicles and parts, recreation services, gasoline and other energy goods, transportation services, recreational goods and vehicles

4. Vermont

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $5,107 per capita
Cost of living: -3.4% less than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $3.3 billion
Total population: 647,464
Other major spending categories: Motor vehicles and parts, health care, food services and accommodations, recreation services, gasoline and other energy goods

3. Maine

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $5,279 per capita
Cost of living: -2.9% less than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $7.4 billion
Total population: 1.4 million
Other major spending categories: Gasoline and other energy goods, recreation services, food services and accommodations, motor vehicles and parts, health care

2. New Hampshire

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $5,396 per capita
Cost of living: +5.3% more than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $7.6 billion
Total population: 1.4 million
Other major spending categories: Motor vehicles and parts, furnishings and durable household equipment, financial services and insurance, housing and utilities, clothing and footwear

1. Hawaii

Personal grocery expenditure, adjusted for population: $5,507 per capita
Cost of living: +8.6% more than national average
Total grocery expenditure : $7.9 billion
Total population: 1.4 million
Other major spending categories: Food services and accommodations, housing and utilities, transportation services, recreation services, clothing and footwear

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