Putting food on the table has become a challenge for many Americans. Millions have lost jobs because of the coronavirus pandemic and no longer have paychecks to help pay for groceries. In fact, a GOBankingRates survey found that 42% of respondents said they would spend any government stimulus money they got on groceries and other needs.
Even those who continue to work may be feeling a strain on their budgets from food costs. Before the pandemic began, food was the third-largest expense for American households, after housing and transportation, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, an analysis by The New York Times found that spending on groceries has climbed since the pandemic began as people have been forced to make more meals at home.
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To get an idea of how big of an expense groceries are for Americans, GOBankingRates identified where households are spending the most and least to put food on the table. First, GOBankingRates found the average annual U.S. household expenditure on food at home using the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2018 Consumer Expenditure Survey. Then, Sperling’s Best Places’ grocery cost index rating for the 50 biggest cities was used to calculate the average amount spent on groceries in each of those cities annually. GOBankingRates then calculated the average amount spent on groceries per paycheck in each city.
On average, Americans shell out $4,464 annually — $171.69 per paycheck — on food at home. Cities, where annual grocery spending was higher than the national average, were identified as cities that spend the most on groceries. Cities, where annual grocery spending was below the national average, were identified as cities that spend the least.
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It will probably come as no surprise that grocery spending is higher in cities where the cost of living is higher. However, you might be surprised by how much of a difference in spending there is between the city where people spend the most on groceries and the city where people spend the least. The average annual grocery spending in New York – the city with the highest spending – was $5,025; whereas, the average spending in Detroit – the city with the lowest spending – was $3,973.
See how much grocery spending varies from city to city and how it compares to your own grocery spending. If your spending is high, you might need to find ways to be more strategic about grocery purchases during the pandemic.
Last updated: May 3, 2021
