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Here's How Much the Average American Over 75 Spends on Groceries Each Month

Grocery bills look a little different once you're past 75. Here's what the government's spending data shows.

By Josh Koebert , Edited by Laura Hohenstein

Updated Nov. 9, 2026

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How to save money on groceries is one of those things everybody talks about, but it's hard to know what normal costs actually look like for your age group. Are you spending more than most people your age, or less?

Turns out there's solid data on exactly this question, broken down by age. Here's what it shows for households 75 and up, and how that compares to younger households.

Editor's note: Figures come from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Surveys, 2024 data year. Monthly amounts are calculated by dividing the annual figures by 12.

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How much do households over 75 spend on groceries per month?

Average monthly spending: $391

Households 75 and up spent an average of about $391 a month on food at home, or groceries, in 2024. That works out to $4,696 for the year, according to the BLS Consumer Expenditure Surveys.

For context, total average spending for households 75 and up came to $55,834 a year in 2024, or about $4,653 a month.

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Are grocery costs increasing for households over 75?

Yes, grocery spending moved higher for this group. Households 75 and up spent an average of $391 a month on groceries in 2024, up from $360 a month in 2023, based on BLS figures.

On an annual basis, that's $4,696 in 2024 compared with $4,321 in 2023. Total spending for this group also rose, from $53,031 in 2023 to $55,834 in 2024.

How grocery spending compares for households ages 65 to 74 and 75 and up

Households just a bit younger, ages 65 to 74, spent more on groceries. That group averaged $470 a month, or $5,642 a year, on food at home in 2024.

Compare that with the $391 a month, or $4,696 a year, averaged by households 75 and up. Total spending points the same way: households 65 to 74 averaged $5,446 a month overall, versus $4,653 a month for households 75 and up.

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How grocery spending for households over 75 compares with other age groups

Zooming out, all U.S. households averaged $519 a month on groceries in 2024, or $6,224 a year. That's more than the $391 a month averaged by households 75 and up.

Households ages 55 to 64 averaged $515 a month on groceries, or $6,174 a year, in 2024.

Ways to trim your grocery bill

Plan meals around what's on sale that week instead of shopping from a fixed list.
Buy proteins like meat, poultry, fish, and eggs in bulk when prices dip, and freeze the extra.
Compare store brands with name brands on staples like cereals, bakery items, and dairy.
Track a month of receipts to see which categories, like fruits and vegetables or other packaged foods, take the biggest bite.
Ask your local grocery store about senior discount days or loyalty programs.

Bottom line

Households 75 and up spent an average of about $391 a month on groceries in 2024, alongside total average spending of $4,653 a month. That grocery figure moved up from $360 a month in 2023, and the group's total spending rose too. This increase in expenses might leave some households looking for ways to save money on bills.

That being said, compared with other age groups, households 75 and up averaged less on groceries than households 65 to 74 at $470 a month, households 55 to 64 at $515 a month, and all households at $519 a month.

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