Average Grocery Cost Per Month: Americans Spend $677, Up 31% Since 2019

The average grocery cost per month for a U.S. household is $677 as of 2025, up 31% from $515 in 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Expenditure Series. Factoring in July inflation data, which shows that grocery prices rose 2.7% from the previous year, households now spend an estimated $695 a month on groceries. That estimate reflects price changes and doesn't account for corresponding changes in what households buy or how much they buy, so current actual grocery spending could be higher or lower.

With grocery spending rising for consecutive years, families are likely looking for ways to save. Grocery rewards credit cards can offset some grocery spending, and work best when paired with more comprehensive budgeting and savvy shopping habits.

Grocery spending varies by household size and location, and those factors help explain the difference between the national average and an individual's own bill.

Grocery spending by household size: One-person households spend $283 a month on groceries

The average grocery cost for a one-person household was $283 per month in 2024, compared to $856 for a household of five or more people, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, which is the only federal source that provides grocery spending by household size.

Grocery spending steadily increases with household size; the largest jump occurs between a one-person household ($283) and two-person households ($507). After that, grocery spending increases by about $125 per additional person per month.

The USDA's Thrifty Food Plan is a commonly cited alternative measure, but it doesn't show actual household grocery spending. The Thrifty Food Plan is the cheapest of four food plans built by USDA that create a nutritious diet. It is used to set Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) allotments and may not reflect average monthly grocery costs. For a reference family of two adults and two children, the Thrifty Food Plan cost $1,023 a month in June 2026, up 22% from June 2021.

Grocery spending over time: Spending per household rose every year from 2019 to 2025

Average grocery spending has been on the rise for years, with the sharpest increase occurring between 2019 and 2020, when spending rose 8% from $515 to $557. Grocery prices have risen every year since then, although cost increases cooled in 2024 and 2025 to just 2% and 1% respectively.

Those figures aren't adjusted for inflation -- they're what households actually paid for groceries at the time. Adjusting for inflation tells a different story.

In inflation-adjusted dollars, grocery spending hardly changed for two decades, then quickly increased after the pandemic. Average monthly grocery costs peaked in 2021, at $714, a $46 increase from 2019, then fell in 2022 to $673. That's despite grocery inflation staying red-hot, suggesting that households dealt with rising prices by cutting back on quantity or quality. By 2025, average grocery spending rose modestly to $677 a month.

Looking ahead, USDA estimates that grocery prices will rise 2.5% in 2026 and 2.1% in 2027, although the forecast range for 2027 is between a 3.4% decline and a 10.5% increase. Based on those forecasts and USDA's 2025 monthly spending amount, the average grocery cost per month could amount to $694 in 2026 and $709 in 2027, though 2027 carries a wide range -- roughly $670 to $767.

That forecast assumes egg prices continue to fall while beef prices continue to rise, as supply remains constrained due to small cattle herd size. Additional factors include uncertainty over the economy overall, and trade policy specifically.

Grocery spending and inflation by item: Eggs swung from 2025's biggest increase to a sharp 2026 drop

Grocery spending, of course, depends on the items purchased, and some have been on the rise like beef and vegetables. Others have actually seen prices decline in 2026, such as eggs, which were 30% cheaper in July than a year ago, after prices rose 22% in 2025. That year, eggs were the largest driver of food inflation, and since then have experienced the sharpest price decline. Dairy and fresh vegetables saw their price changes flip as well, while beef prices have been rising since 2025.

Overall grocery prices rose 2.3% in 2025, actually below the 20-year historical average of 2.6%. However, the product-level data shows that what makes it on a shopping list matters more than the headline national numbers.

Grocery spending by state: From $151 in Oklahoma to $384 in Washington state

Average monthly grocery costs vary widely by state. Oklahoma spends the least per person per month on groceries, at $151, while Washington state spends the most, at $384 on average per person.

In addition to Washington, the states rounding out the top five in grocery spending per person are New Hampshire ($352), Hawaii ($330), Maine ($330), and Alaska ($319). Hawaii and Alaska's costs likely reflect added shipping costs.

After Oklahoma, the states that spend the least per person on groceries each month are West Virginia ($195), Washington, D.C. ($202), Mississippi ($206), and Michigan ($232).

Grocery rewards cards and budgeting apps can help offset rising costs

A few resources can help households manage the cost of groceries. Grocery-focused rewards cards offer cash back specifically on grocery purchases, and sometimes other categories like gas. Budgeting apps can track grocery spending against a set monthly target. Having a holistic picture of total household spending can identify other savings to offset the rising grocery prices.

Still, household size, location, and shopping preferences influence how any individual's grocery bill might diverge from the national average. Consumers also have to deal with factors outside of their control which influence prices, like avian flu outbreaks and the size of the cattle herd, but grocery rewards cards, budgeting apps, and intentional shopping can help manage unpredictability.