Y’all, a grocery cart can put a dent in your budget before you even reach the checkout. You head in for dinner ingredients and a few basics, and suddenly you’re wondering whether that cheese comes with its own payment plan.
But grocery affordability depends on more than the price of milk, bread, and eggs. How much you earn matters, too.
WalletHub’s updated Cities Where People Spend the Most & Least on Groceries report examines where everyday grocery purchases place the greatest strain on household income. Its findings offer a reminder that the same shopping list can feel very different from one community to another.
How WalletHub Compared Grocery Affordability
WalletHub compared the prices of 26 common grocery items across 100 of the largest U.S. cities, then measured their combined cost against each city’s median monthly household income.
These percentages describe the study’s basket of groceries—not the share of income families spend on all their groceries each month. The ranking measures affordability relative to income, rather than simply identifying the highest shelf prices.
Cities Where Groceries Take the Biggest Bite
Detroit ranked first, followed by Cleveland and Birmingham.
| Rank | City | Grocery basket cost as a share of median monthly household income |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detroit, MI | 4.03% |
| 2 | Cleveland, OH | 3.93% |
| 3 | Birmingham, AL | 3.45% |
| 4 | Toledo, OH | 3.20% |
| 5 | Newark, NJ | 3.15% |
| 6 | Baton Rouge, LA | 3.11% |
| 7 | Buffalo, NY | 3.10% |
| 8 | Memphis, TN | 3.07% |
| 9 | Cincinnati, OH | 3.05% |
| 10 | Hialeah, FL | 2.99% |
Source: WalletHub’s grocery affordability comparison.
A lower price tag doesn’t automatically make an item affordable. When household income is limited, even a reasonably priced grocery basket can stretch the budget.
Cities Where the Same Basket Takes a Smaller Share
At the other end of the ranking, Fremont had the lowest percentage, followed by San Jose and San Francisco.
| Overall rank* | City | Grocery basket cost as a share of median monthly household income |
|---|---|---|
| 91 | Scottsdale, AZ | 1.46% |
| 92 | Plano, TX | 1.46% |
| 93 | Seattle, WA | 1.44% |
| 94 | Huntington Beach, CA | 1.42% |
| 95 | Santa Clarita, CA | 1.34% |
| 96 | Gilbert, AZ | 1.32% |
| 97 | Irvine, CA | 1.21% |
| 98 | San Francisco, CA | 1.10% |
| 99 | San Jose, CA | 1.07% |
| 100 | Fremont, CA | 0.91% |
No. 1 represents the highest grocery cost relative to income; No. 100 represents the lowest.
Source: WalletHub.
That doesn’t mean these cities have the cheapest groceries—or that every resident finds shopping affordable. The comparison uses median household income, so individual experiences will vary.
Give Your Grocery Budget a Plan
You can’t control every price on the shelf, but you can make your next shopping trip more intentional. Start with these practical habits.
Shop Your Kitchen First
Check the pantry, refrigerator, and freezer before making your list. Build a meal around what needs to be used, whether that’s half a bag of rice or vegetables hiding in the crisper.
Buying something you already own is an easy way to spend money twice.
Plan Meals That Share Ingredients
Choose meals that put the same ingredients to work in different ways. Spinach might go into an omelet, pasta, and a sandwich. Leftover roasted chicken could become tomorrow’s lunch.
Your meal plan doesn’t have to be fancy. It needs to fit your schedule and your family’s appetite.
Set a Spending Limit Before Shopping
Decide what you can spend, then make a list that fits. Leave a little room for price differences or a forgotten essential.
Keeping a running total can help you make adjustments before checkout.
Compare Unit Prices
A bigger package or sale sign doesn’t always mean a better deal. Compare the price per ounce, pound, or item when choosing between sizes and brands.
Try store brands for products where the label matters less to you. You can keep your favorites while finding savings elsewhere.
Make Discounts Work for Your List
Check weekly ads, digital coupons, and free loyalty offers for things you already need.
A bargain that adds an unnecessary purchase to your cart still costs money. The coupon should support your plan, not write it.
Buy Only What You Can Use
Bulk purchases and marked-down groceries can be useful when you have a plan for them. Consider storage space, portions, and how quickly your household will use the food.
A giant package isn’t much of a bargain if half ends up in the trash.
Leave Room for a Little Joy
Here at Champagne Style Bare Budget, saving money should help you enjoy your life. Maybe that means keeping your favorite coffee and choosing store-brand cereal. Maybe it means planning one comforting dinner instead of buying ingredients for five ambitious recipes you won’t have time to cook.
Start with one change: check your pantry, make a list, or compare a few prices. Give yourself a grocery plan that supports both your budget and your real life.
What’s your favorite way to stretch your grocery dollars without giving up the foods you love?
