From budget-friendly to pricey: Where grocery bills are highest and lowest in the US
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The price of food has always been a mirror of how people live, and lately, that reflection is looking sharper than ever.
Across America, shoppers are noticing that their grocery bills tell a bigger story—one about income gaps, regional costs, and the lingering effects of inflation.
Some cities are managing to keep that total at checkout under control, while others are watching their grocery budgets stretch tighter each month. The question, then, isn’t just how much groceries cost, but how much of people’s income they take up.
A new WalletHub study compared grocery expenses across 100 major US cities by measuring the cost of 26 common grocery items against each city’s median household income.
The results reveal a striking divide: Detroit ranks highest in grocery spending, with residents devoting 3.78% of their monthly income to food, while Fremont, California, sits at the bottom at just 0.96%.
Cities like Cleveland, Birmingham, and Newark also topped the list of places where groceries eat the largest share of income.
WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo explained that it’s not necessarily because food costs more in these areas but because incomes are significantly lower.
Some of the most expensive cities “are a lot of Rust Belt cities and a lot of formerly thriving cities where the factory jobs have left,” he said.
Food costs have risen nationwide, making this financial strain even harder to manage for families on limited budgets.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, grocery prices climbed 0.6% from July to August—the fastest monthly rise in three years—and are now 29% higher than before the pandemic.
Purdue University professor Joseph Balagtas told USA TODAY that while everyone feels the pinch, “the pinch is often felt more by lower-income shoppers.”
Also read: How rising prices are quietly shaping your everyday spending habits
Regional differences also play a role: the price of a pound of ground beef, for instance, was 24% higher in 2024 in the western US than in the South.
For shoppers like Dallas resident Samantha Black, those increases have meant tough choices. Her family of five now spends about $600 a month on groceries, compared with $400 last year.
“You can’t cut out groceries,” she said. “So we cut back on eating out.” Black’s city ranked No. 39 in the study—right in the middle—highlighting that even in moderately priced areas, families are adjusting to higher food costs in creative ways, from meal planning to bulk shopping.
At the other end of the spectrum, high-income cities like Fremont, San Jose, and San Francisco reported the lowest grocery spending relative to income. While prices at California stores remain high, residents’ earnings often keep pace with those costs.
Also read: Looking to save on groceries? These 6 chains offer the best deals across the US
Cities like Gilbert and Chandler, Arizona, and Seattle also landed near the bottom of the list, suggesting that higher wages, not cheaper groceries, make food spending feel less burdensome.
As Lupo noted, “While California grocery costs can be high, incomes are also higher and cost of living is higher.”
The findings underline a clear economic reality: where you live affects not only how much you spend but how far your dollar stretches.
For some, a full cart of groceries represents security and stability; for others, it’s a weekly reminder of how close the margins have become.
Read next:
Do rising grocery costs affect how you shop or what you buy? Which city do you think has the fairest food prices right now? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
Across America, shoppers are noticing that their grocery bills tell a bigger story—one about income gaps, regional costs, and the lingering effects of inflation.
Some cities are managing to keep that total at checkout under control, while others are watching their grocery budgets stretch tighter each month. The question, then, isn’t just how much groceries cost, but how much of people’s income they take up.
A new WalletHub study compared grocery expenses across 100 major US cities by measuring the cost of 26 common grocery items against each city’s median household income.
The results reveal a striking divide: Detroit ranks highest in grocery spending, with residents devoting 3.78% of their monthly income to food, while Fremont, California, sits at the bottom at just 0.96%.
Cities like Cleveland, Birmingham, and Newark also topped the list of places where groceries eat the largest share of income.
WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo explained that it’s not necessarily because food costs more in these areas but because incomes are significantly lower.
From budget-friendly to pricey: Where grocery bills are highest and lowest in the US. Image source: Tara Clark / Unsplash
Some of the most expensive cities “are a lot of Rust Belt cities and a lot of formerly thriving cities where the factory jobs have left,” he said.
Food costs have risen nationwide, making this financial strain even harder to manage for families on limited budgets.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, grocery prices climbed 0.6% from July to August—the fastest monthly rise in three years—and are now 29% higher than before the pandemic.
Purdue University professor Joseph Balagtas told USA TODAY that while everyone feels the pinch, “the pinch is often felt more by lower-income shoppers.”
Also read: How rising prices are quietly shaping your everyday spending habits
Regional differences also play a role: the price of a pound of ground beef, for instance, was 24% higher in 2024 in the western US than in the South.
For shoppers like Dallas resident Samantha Black, those increases have meant tough choices. Her family of five now spends about $600 a month on groceries, compared with $400 last year.
“You can’t cut out groceries,” she said. “So we cut back on eating out.” Black’s city ranked No. 39 in the study—right in the middle—highlighting that even in moderately priced areas, families are adjusting to higher food costs in creative ways, from meal planning to bulk shopping.
At the other end of the spectrum, high-income cities like Fremont, San Jose, and San Francisco reported the lowest grocery spending relative to income. While prices at California stores remain high, residents’ earnings often keep pace with those costs.
Also read: Looking to save on groceries? These 6 chains offer the best deals across the US
Cities like Gilbert and Chandler, Arizona, and Seattle also landed near the bottom of the list, suggesting that higher wages, not cheaper groceries, make food spending feel less burdensome.
As Lupo noted, “While California grocery costs can be high, incomes are also higher and cost of living is higher.”
The findings underline a clear economic reality: where you live affects not only how much you spend but how far your dollar stretches.
For some, a full cart of groceries represents security and stability; for others, it’s a weekly reminder of how close the margins have become.
Read next:
- The credit card that could save you hundreds on groceries in 2025
- Save more, spend smarter: A senior’s guide to safe shopping apps
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