18 Cities Where Grocery Prices Have Skyrocketed

While inflation has made nearly everything more expensive, the cost of groceries has been especially affected — prices for food increased 13.5% between August 2021 and August 2022, double the overall inflation rate.

Food costs have risen across the country, but some major cities are seeing steeper increases than others. Nadrich & Cohen looked at the food costs across seven basic grocery items — one dozen eggs, one loaf of bread, 1 gallon of whole milk, 16 ounces of local cheese, 1 pound of potatoes, 1 pound of apples and 1 pound of chicken — in the 50 most populous cities to find the places where prices have risen the most sharply from 2021 to 2023.

The total cost of these grocery staples has risen 25.9% across the U.S. as a whole, but in these 18 cities, it’s risen even more. Here’s a look at the cities where grocery prices have skyrocketed over the past two years.

• Cost of dozen eggs: $4.52 (54% increase since 2021)
• Cost of loaf of bread: $2.84 (5% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 gallon whole milk: $3.94 (15% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 16 oz. cheese: $7.37 (22% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. potatoes: $0.97 (2% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. apples: $2.43 (27% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. chicken: $6.37 (44% increase since 2021)
• Total cost: $28.41
• Percent increase since 2021: 26.9%

• Cost of dozen eggs: $3.27 (64% increase since 2021)
• Cost of loaf of bread: $2.79 (46% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 gallon whole milk: $3.85 (21% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 16 oz. cheese: $6.26 (0% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. potatoes: $1.19 (26% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. apples: $2.16 (17% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. chicken: $6.05 (52% increase since 2021)
• Total cost: $25.56
• Percent increase since 2021: 27.1%

• Cost of dozen eggs: $4.23 (33% increase since 2021)
• Cost of loaf of bread: $3.30 (16% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 gallon whole milk: $4.66 (21% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 16 oz. cheese: $6.82 (5% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. potatoes: $1.09 (6% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. apples: $2.23 (17% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. chicken: $7.40 (85% increase since 2021)
• Total cost: $29.71
• Percent increase since 2021: 27.3%

• Cost of dozen eggs: $3.40 (53% increase since 2021)
• Cost of loaf of bread: $2.08 (16% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 gallon whole milk: $3.86 (24% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 16 oz. cheese: $6.23 (35% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. potatoes: $0.77 (10% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. apples: $1.77 (24% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. chicken: $4.11 (19% increase since 2021)
• Total cost: $22.22
• Percent increase since 2021: 28.1%

• Cost of dozen eggs: $3.78 (79% increase since 2021)
• Cost of loaf of bread: $2.31 (16% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 gallon whole milk: $3.82 (40% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 16 oz. cheese: $5.33 (1% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. potatoes: $1.26 (46% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. apples: $2.60 (33% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. chicken: $5.05 (40% increase since 2021)
• Total cost: $24.13
• Percent increase since 2021: 30.2%

• Cost of dozen eggs: $3.92 (79% increase since 2021)
• Cost of loaf of bread: $2.47 (26% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 gallon whole milk: $3.66 (21% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 16 oz. cheese: $5.70 (42% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. potatoes: $1.29 (6% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. apples: $2.12 (5% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. chicken: $5.17 (24% increase since 2021)
• Total cost: $24.31
• Percent increase since 2021: 30.7%

• Cost of dozen eggs: $3.75 (91% increase since 2021)
• Cost of loaf of bread: $2.31 (7% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 gallon whole milk: $3.44 (37% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 16 oz. cheese: $5.25 (24% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. potatoes: $1.17 (1% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. apples: $1.77 (-3% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. chicken: $4.67 (44% increase since 2021)
• Total cost: $22.36
• Percent increase since 2021: 30.9%

• Cost of dozen eggs: $3.87 (76% increase since 2021)
• Cost of loaf of bread: $2.44 (32% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 gallon whole milk: $3.32 (19% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 16 oz. cheese: $4.90 (13% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. potatoes: $1.23 (33% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. apples: $2.07 (38% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. chicken: $4.90 (37% increase since 2021)
• Total cost: $22.71
• Percent increase since 2021: 32.4%

• Cost of dozen eggs: $4.97 (130% increase since 2021)
• Cost of loaf of bread: $2.61 (8% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 gallon whole milk: $3.67 (16% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 16 oz. cheese: $5.07 (-9% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. potatoes: $1.38 (30% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. apples: $2.38 (16% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. chicken: $6.36 (84% increase since 2021)
• Total cost: $26.42
• Percent increase since 2021: 32.9%

• Cost of dozen eggs: $4.00 (105% increase since 2021)
• Cost of loaf of bread: $2.15 (-9% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 gallon whole milk: $2.89 (21% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 16 oz. cheese: $4.46 (-6% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. potatoes: $1.42 (8% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. apples: $2.31 (69% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. chicken: $5.56 (85% increase since 2021)
• Total cost: $22.79
• Percent increase since 2021: 33%

• Cost of dozen eggs: $3.53 (107% increase since 2021)
• Cost of loaf of bread: $1.98 (14% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 gallon whole milk: $3.14 (19% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 16 oz. cheese: $5.31 (28% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. potatoes: $0.80 (9% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. apples: $1.83 (-1% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. chicken: $5.22 (54% increase since 2021)
• Total cost: $21.80
• Percent increase since 2021: 34.5%

• Cost of dozen eggs: $5.86 (76% increase since 2021)
• Cost of loaf of bread: $3.05 (23% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 gallon whole milk: $4.49 (26% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 16 oz. cheese: $6.74 (17% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. potatoes: $1.26 (36% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. apples: $2.40 (18% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. chicken: $7.07 (50% increase since 2021)
• Total cost: $30.86
• Percent increase since 2021: 35.4%

• Cost of dozen eggs: $4.64 (64% increase since 2021)
• Cost of loaf of bread: $2.41 (30% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 gallon whole milk: $4.01 (20% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 16 oz. cheese: $7.07 (21% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. potatoes: $1.07 (29% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. apples: $1.94 (21% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. chicken: $6.37 (58% increase since 2021)
• Total cost: $27.50
• Percent increase since 2021: 35.4%

• Cost of dozen eggs: $4.59 (126% increase since 2021)
• Cost of loaf of bread: $2.61 (25% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 gallon whole milk: $3.94 (13% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 16 oz. cheese: $6.34 (39% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. potatoes: $0.99 (18% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. apples: $1.77 (-9% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. chicken: $5.32 (44% increase since 2021)
• Total cost: $25.54
• Percent increase since 2021: 37%

• Cost of dozen eggs: $4.87 (95% increase since 2021)
• Cost of loaf of bread: $3.20 (65% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 gallon whole milk: $3.37 (19% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 16 oz. cheese: $6.26 (36% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. potatoes: $1.22 (38% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. apples: $1.91 (23% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. chicken: $4.31 (21% increase since 2021)
• Total cost: $25.12
• Percent increase since 2021: 40.5%

• Cost of dozen eggs: $5.66 (170% increase since 2021)
• Cost of loaf of bread: $2.69 (28% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 gallon whole milk: $4.07 (23% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 16 oz. cheese: $6.51 (21% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. potatoes: $0.98 (21% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. apples: $1.80 (13% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. chicken: $4.70 (46% increase since 2021)
• Total cost: $26.39
• Percent increase since 2021: 42.8%

• Cost of dozen eggs: $3.88 (51% increase since 2021)
• Cost of loaf of bread: $3.36 (51% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 gallon whole milk: $4.10 (29% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 16 oz. cheese: $7.93 (28% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. potatoes: $1.11 (31% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. apples: $2.21 (36% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. chicken: $7.29 (77% increase since 2021)
• Total cost: $29.87
• Percent increase since 2021: 44%

• Cost of dozen eggs: $4.14 (127% increase since 2021)
• Cost of loaf of bread: $2.45 (25% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 gallon whole milk: $3.79 (59% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 16 oz. cheese: $6.14 (25% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. potatoes: $1.43 (40% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. apples: $2.39 (27% increase since 2021)
• Cost of 1 lb. chicken: $5.93 (71% increase since 2021)
• Total cost: $26.26
• Percent increase since 2021: 50.6%

All data is sourced from Nadrich & Cohen.