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Here’s How Much Grocery Prices Have Increased for Retirees in Every State

December 24, 2024

9 min Read

Written by Heather Taylor

Edited by Levi Leidy

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As food prices continue to climb with inflation, retirees in particular are feeling the cost pinch. But how much more does a retiree pay for groceries now than they did a decade ago?

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To find out, GOBankingRates reviewed the 2013 and 2023 cost-of-living index for groceries to find the average national grocery expenditure cost for retired individuals. The Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Inflation Calculator was then used to calculate what 2023 prices should look like based on the average groceries expenditures in 2013, which were then compared to actual 2023 prices for the difference.

In alphabetical order of U.S. states, this is how much grocery prices have gone up for retirees in the last decade.

Alabama

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,335.33
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,333.12
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $7,830.20
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $3,497.08

Alaska

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,925.10
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $5,099.32
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $13,702.85
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $8,603.53

Arizona

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,358.66
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,363.43
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $13,881.83
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $9,518.40

Arkansas

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,262.03
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,237.89
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $8,344.76
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $4,106.87

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California

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,465.28
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,501.94
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $22,237.77
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $17,735.83

Colorado

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,278.69
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,259.53
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $12,707.30
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $8,447.77

Connecticut

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $4,105.02
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $5,333.07
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $13,714.04
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $8,380.97

Delaware

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,748.50
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,869.89
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $10,850.42
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $5,980.53

District of Columbia (DC)

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,165.40
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,112.35
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $26,589.12
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $22,476.77

Florida

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,315.34
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,307.15
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $11,890.72
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $7,583.57

Georgia

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,228.71
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,194.60
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $8,747.45
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $4,552.85

Hawaii

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $4,111.69
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $5,341.73
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $35,023.37
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $29,681.64

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Idaho

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,132.08
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,069.07
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $10,738.56
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $6,669.49

Illinois

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,222.04
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,185.94
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $8,926.43
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $4,740.49

Indiana

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,108.76
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,038.77
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $8,478.99
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $4,440.22

Iowa

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,155.40
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,099.36
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $8,288.83
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $4,189.47

Kansas

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,292.02
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,276.85
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $7,539.36
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $3,262.51

Kentucky

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,148.74
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,090.71
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $8,244.08
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $4,153.37

Louisiana

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,235.37
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,203.26
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $9,127.78
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $4,924.52

Maine

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,825.14
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,969.46
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $13,132.36
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $8,162.90

Maryland

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,142.08
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,082.06
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $16,376.30
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $12,294.24

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Massachusetts

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,865.12
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $5,021.40
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $24,441.41
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $19,420.01

Michigan

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,192.06
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,146.99
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $8,624.41
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $4,477.42

Minnesota

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,478.61
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,519.26
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $9,183.71
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $4,664.45

Mississippi

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,175.40
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,125.34
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $7,930.87
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $3,805.53

Missouri

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,282.02
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,263.86
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $8,613.22
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $4,349.36

Montana

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,292.02
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,276.85
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $11,611.07
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $7,334.22

Nebraska

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,082.10
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,004.13
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $8,792.20
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $4,788.07

Nevada

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,272.02
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,250.87
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $12,013.76
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $7,762.89

New Hampshire

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $4,018.39
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $5,220.52
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $12,248.67
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $7,028.15

New Jersey

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,791.82
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,926.17
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $15,190.59
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $10,264.42

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New Mexico

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,108.76
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,038.77
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $9,765.38
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $5,726.61

New York

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,815.14
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,956.47
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $19,687.36
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $14,730.89

North Carolina

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,285.35
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,268.19
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $10,089.77
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $5,821.58

North Dakota

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,471.94
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,510.60
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $9,329.12
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $4,818.52

Ohio

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,188.72
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,142.65
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $9,083.03
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $4,940.38

Oklahoma

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,142.08
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,082.06
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $7,662.41
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $3,580.35

Oregon

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,421.96
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,445.67
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $15,246.52
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $10,800.85

Pennsylvania

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,395.31
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,411.04
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $9,161.33
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $4,750.29

Rhode Island

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $4,201.65
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $5,458.61
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $13,065.25
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $7,606.64

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South Carolina

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,355.32
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,359.09
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $9,675.89
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $5,316.80

South Dakota

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,358.66
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,363.43
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $9,743.01
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $5,379.58

Tennessee

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,252.03
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,224.90
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $9,217.26
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $4,992.36

Texas

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,225.38
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,190.28
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $9,295.57
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $5,105.29

Utah

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,322.00
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,315.80
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $12,382.90
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $8,067.10

Vermont

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,565.24
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,631.81
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $14,888.57
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $10,256.76

Virginia

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,305.34
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,294.16
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $11,823.60
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $7,529.44

Washington

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,388.64
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,402.38
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $14,396.38
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $9,994.00

West Virginia

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,248.70
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,220.57
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $7,483.43
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $3,262.86

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Wisconsin

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,305.34
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,294.16
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $9,474.54
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $5,180.38

Wyoming

Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2013 $): $3,315.34
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2013 (using 2023 $): $4,307.15
Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $8,948.80
Difference in 2023 grocery costs from 2013 grocery cost (in 2023 $): $4,641.65

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed the change in cost of groceries for retired residents for the last decade. First GOBankingRates found the 2023 and the 2013 cost of living index for groceries as sourced from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center. GOBankingRates found the average national expenditure cost for groceries as defined as “Food-at-Home ” from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for retired individuals for 2013 as well as 2023. The annual groceries cost of living was calculated and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Inflation Calculator the average groceries expenditure cost in 2013 can be calculated to show 2023 prices. These were then compared to the actual 2023 prices to find the difference in groceries prices for retired residents over the last decade. All data was collected and up to date as of March 11, 2024.

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