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Here Is How Much Gen Z Pays for Groceries in Every State

January 1, 2025

7 min Read

Written by Nicole Spector

Edited by Molly Sullivan

Young woman with red hair shopping for groceries.

Brothers91 / Getty Images/iStockphoto

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Gen Z is generally more optimistic about their financial futures than older generations, and it’s not just because they’re seeing the world through the rose-colored glasses of youth; it’s also because they’re proactively managing their money by investing and saving. Still, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows for Gen Z. Like every other age group, Gen Z has their fair share of financial challenges. They also are combatting the rising costs of food.

Though groceries prices are soaring across the U.S., we see the monthly amount fluctuate state by state, and, interestingly enough, by generation. In a new study, GOBankingRates analyzed each U.S. state to find the average monthly grocery costs and other necessary monthly expenditures for Gen Z. The states below are ranked to show the most expensive to cheapest in terms of the monthly cost of groceries for Gen Z.

50. Hawaii

Household median income: $94,814
Total cost of living annually: $90,385
Total cost of groceries annually: $4,425

49. Alaska

Household median income: $86,370
Total cost of living annually: $59,009
Total cost of groceries annually: $4,398

48. California

Household median income: $91,905
Total cost of living annually: $68,604
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,755

47. Maryland

Household median income: $98,461
Total cost of living annually: $55,027
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,651

46. Vermont

Household median income: $74,014
Total cost of living annually: $54,596
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,604

45. Oregon

Household median income: $76,632
Total cost of living annually: $53,828
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,601

44. Idaho

Household median income: $70,214
Total cost of living annually: $49,510
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,564

43. Washington

Household median income: $90,325
Total cost of living annually: $55,555
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,560

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42. Massachusetts

Household median income: $96,505
Total cost of living annually: $67,117
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,553

41. New Jersey

Household median income: $97,126
Total cost of living annually: $55,171
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,550

40. New York

Household median income: $81,386
Total cost of living annually: $59,249
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,520

39. Florida

Household median income: $67,917
Total cost of living annually: $49,126
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,513

38. Montana

Household median income: $66,341
Total cost of living annually: $45,432
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,469

37. Delaware

Household median income: $79,325
Total cost of living annually: $48,215
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,463

36. Maine

Household median income: $68,251
Total cost of living annually: $53,252
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,459

35. Nevada

Household median income: $71,646
Total cost of living annually: $49,222
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,456

34. Connecticut

Household median income: $90,213
Total cost of living annually: $53,108
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,446

33. Minnesota

Household median income: $84,313
Total cost of living annually: $45,720
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,426

32. Rhode Island

Household median income: $81,370
Total cost of living annually: $52,485
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,412

31. Colorado

Household median income: $87,598
Total cost of living annually: $48,599
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,405

30. Arizona

Household median income: $72,581
Total cost of living annually: $53,492
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,389

29. Kentucky

Household median income: $60,183
Total cost of living annually: $44,665
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,368

28. New Hampshire

Household median income: $90,845
Total cost of living annually: $53,876
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,365

27. Virginia

Household median income: $87,249
Total cost of living annually: $48,215
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,365

26. Nebraska

Household median income: $71,722
Total cost of living annually: $44,905
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,355

25. Pennsylvania

Household median income: $73,170
Total cost of living annually: $45,576
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,355

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24. Ohio

Household median income: $66,990
Total cost of living annually: $45,097
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,335

23. West Virginia

Household median income: $55,217
Total cost of living annually: $40,443
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,328

22. Wyoming

Household median income: $72,495
Total cost of living annually: $44,521
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,325

21. South Carolina

Household median income: $63,623
Total cost of living annually: $45,816
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,321

20. North Carolina

Household median income: $66,186
Total cost of living annually: $46,728
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,318

19. Illinois

Household median income: $78,433
Total cost of living annually: $45,480
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,308

18. Michigan

Household median income: $68,505
Total cost of living annually: $43,609
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,308

17. Utah

Household median income: $86,833
Total cost of living annually: $50,470
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,281

16. Indiana

Household median income: $67,173
Total cost of living annually: $43,321
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,278

15. Georgia

Household median income: $71,355
Total cost of living annually: $43,609
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,251

14. Tennessee

Household median income: $64,035
Total cost of living annually: $43,561
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,251

13. Wisconsin

Household median income: $72,458
Total cost of living annually: $44,761
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,251

12. Alabama

Household median income: $59,609
Total cost of living annually: $42,026
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,247

11. New Mexico

Household median income: $58,722
Total cost of living annually: $44,665
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,234

10. Iowa

Household median income: $70,571
Total cost of living annually: $42,746
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,230

9. Texas

Household median income: $73,035
Total cost of living annually: $43,993
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,230

8. South Dakota

Household median income: $69,457
Total cost of living annually: $43,753
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,224

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7. Missouri

Household median income: $65,920
Total cost of living annually: $42,506
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,214

6. Louisiana

Household median income: $57,852
Total cost of living annually: $43,945
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,210

5. Mississippi

Household median income: $52,985
Total cost of living annually: $42,074
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,210

4. Kansas

Household median income: $69,747
Total cost of living annually: $41,738
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,193

3. North Dakota

Household median income: $73,959
Total cost of living annually: $43,801
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,187

2. Arkansas

Household median income: $56,335
Total cost of living annually: $42,458
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,183

1. Oklahoma

Household median income: $61,364
Total cost of living annually: $40,923
Total cost of groceries annually: $3,183

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed each U.S. state to find the average monthly expenses and the highest expenditure cost for different generations. First, GOBankingRates found information on each state including; total population, population ages 65 and over, total households, household median income all sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. The cost of living indexes for each state as sourced from Missouri Economic Research Information Center. For each cost of living index the average expenditure cost can be calculated using the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey 2602 for different generations. The generations are defined as; Gen Z born between 1997 or later, millennials born between 1981-1997, Gen X born between 1965-1980 and boomers born between 1946-1964. This calculation gives the average expenditure cost of living for each generation in each state. Using the average home value as sourced from Zillow Home Value Index for August 2024, assuming a 10% down payment, and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage cost can be calculated. Using the average mortgage and expenditure costs the total cost of living can be calculated for each state and for each generation. The highest expenditure index and average monthly cost were also shown to find the highest expenditure cost for each state. The states were sorted to show the cheapest to most expensive total cost of living. The data was collected on and is up to date as of Aug. 24, 2024.

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