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Grocery prices in the United States are quite variable, depending on the state you live in. The gap is wide enough to add or subtract several hundred dollars or more from a year of food shopping. Grocery prices vary by nearly 40% across U.S. states, according to 2025 figures compiled by the Council for Community and Economic Research.
Imagine a bag of groceries that costs exactly $100 at the national average. In the cheapest state, that same basket rings up at around $94, and in the priciest, it's closer to $131. That means what state you live in can really impact your monthly food budget. How you tackle these high grocery prices will dramatically impact your monthly budget.
Here are the top 5 states where $100 buys you the most and the top 5 states where it buys you the least.
Editor's note: All figures come from a recent study by the Visual Capitalist, using data from the Council for Community & Economic Research.
The 5 cheapest states for groceries
5. Kansas
What $100 of groceries costs: $96
Kansas kicks off the cheapest five at about 4.1% below the national average, around $111 a week for groceries. The savings reach past the checkout, too. Kansas has the cheapest gas in the country at roughly $3.01 per gallon, and low wages, paired with a low cost of doing business, hold food prices down across the board.
4. Mississippi
What $100 of groceries costs: $96
Mississippi comes with a twist. Its groceries are among the cheapest in raw dollars, yet households spend 10.6% of their income on food, the highest in the nation, because incomes here are among the lowest in the country. Cheap shelf prices don't always mean an easy budget.
3. Oklahoma
What $100 of groceries costs: $95
Oklahoma ties Arkansas and Iowa for the lowest weekly grocery bill in the nation, around $111. Its price index sits roughly 4.6% below average. Short trips to farms and low operating costs do most of the work.
2. Texas
What $100 of groceries costs: $95
Texas ranks about 4.7% below the national average, the second-cheapest in the grocery price index. Efficient supply chains and a large farm base help, and the weekly bill lands near $112. A high-cost reputation doesn't always reach the grocery aisle.
1. Arkansas
What $100 of groceries costs: $94
Arkansas has the lowest grocery prices in the country, about 5.7% below the national average. A typical household spends roughly $111 a week at the store, tied for the lowest among states with Iowa and Oklahoma. Lower labor costs and nearby farms keep the registers friendly.
The 5 most expensive states for groceries
These five states charge the most for the very same cart, making them the priciest in the country.
5. Oregon
What $100 of groceries costs: $106
Oregon prices are roughly 5.5% above average, about $122 a week. Its low population density raises transportation costs, since trucks travel farther to reach fewer stores. Many trucks come from California, where high fuel prices drive costs up.
4. Washington
What $100 of groceries costs: $108
Washington sits about 8% above the national average, with a weekly grocery bill of around $126. Some of the highest fuel costs in the country push prices up, and urban markets like Seattle run higher still. Food economist David Ortega ties the West's higher bills to steep labor costs and commercial rent, plus thin competition in rural areas where a single chain can set the price.
3. California
What $100 of groceries costs: $109
California is the surprise. The state grows a huge share of the nation's produce, yet groceries still run about 9.3% above average, thanks to high labor and energy costs and pricey real estate. The weekly grocery bill sits at around $127. The upside is that higher local incomes soften the blow. Californians put just 6.8% of their income toward groceries, below the national average of 8.1% and far under Mississippi's 10.6%.
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2. Alaska
What $100 of groceries costs: $125
Alaska is the runner-up at 25% above average, with a weekly bill of $152. Prices swing wildly by location. A bag of chips that costs $6.79 in Anchorage will go for $10.49 in the rural town of Unalakleet. That weekly bill runs about $34 over the national average, and in roadless communities, the gap widens even more.
1. Hawaii
What $100 of groceries costs: $131
Hawaii tops the entire list. Its grocery prices run more than 31% above the national average, the highest in the country. A typical household spends about $157 a week, up nearly 10% in a single year. Most food arrives by ship, so dairy, bread, and poultry all carry a premium. Cornell economist Harry Kaiser points to transport as the main price driver. Since food is heavy and requires refrigeration, hauling it across an ocean runs up the bill.
Bottom line
Where you live changes the grocery math, sometimes by hundreds of dollars a year. But the sticker price is only half the story. Income decides whether a low bill feels low, which is why cheap-grocery Mississippi can squeeze residents harder than pricey California.
There is another hidden cost when it comes to groceries: food waste. The average American family of four throws away approximately $3,000 worth of uneaten groceries every year. This is a massive financial loss that easily eclipses the grocery price variance between the cheapest and most expensive states.
Taking steps to fix this through strategic meal planning and proper storage is the best way to maximize your grocery budget and keep more cash in your pocket.
More from FinanceBuzz:
- 12 ways to pocket up to $300.
- Are you a homeowner? Get a protection plan on all your appliances.
- 10 little weird hacks Costco shoppers should know.
- Learn how to escape the paycheck-to-paycheck grind.
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