9 States With the Lowest Grocery Costs

It’s no secret that grocery prices have been staggeringly high of late. And just when you hope we’ve rounded the corner, a not-so-surprising wave of grocery theft takes hold. Costs have risen so high that organized crime groups have resorted to stealing eggs by the truckload.

While the street value for heisted eggs is unclear, grocery prices have increased by roughly 25% since 2019, further straining consumer wallets.

But just like salaries and housing costs vary by state, grocery spending also changes. Many states offer substantially lower prices. Here’s a look at weekly grocery spending in nine of the country’s more affordable markets.

This heartland stand leads the nation in low grocery affordability, thanks to its strong agricultural industry. State farmers produce a vast and varied output of crops, enabling residents to benefit from lower supply chain costs for locally grown food.

Additionally, as a more sparsely populated state, North Dakota is more immune to demand-driven price surges that plague other markets.

Iowa is another state with deep farming roots. Its vast agricultural output of corn, grain, and soybeans keeps supply chain costs low.

Local production means reduced expenses for transportation and warehousing, resulting in lower grocery bills for residents.

Kansas residents enjoy some of the country’s lowest grocery costs thanks to its central location and thriving state farming economy. The state produces vast quantities of kitchen staples such as wheat, beef, and dairy, helping keep grocery bills down.

As a bonus, Kansas has a relatively low cost of living, making it one of the most affordable states in the country.

Like Kansas, Missouri is another Midwestern state that benefits from central transportation routes, low overall cost of living, and a strong agricultural economy. Poultry, cattle, hogs, and soybeans are key farm outputs.

The state’s tax policies also help grocery costs. Missouri has lower-than-average sales tax rates, keeping supermarket spending reasonable.

Nebraska is another Heartland state where shoppers can affordably buy groceries. As a major producer of beef, corn, and soybeans, residents enjoy cheaper access to locally produced foodstuffs.

Low housing costs — the median home sales price is $295,700, and the average rent is $1,402 — also leave more money in your wallet for the grocery bill.

This central Rust Belt state has a well-developed distribution network, which keeps logistic costs and food prices low. Local agricultural production of beef, pork, poultry, milk, and corn also contributes to grocery affordability.

As another perk, Indiana offers a highly competitive retail environment. Supermarkets compete hard to win consumer dollars.

While not widely considered a cheaper cost-of-living state, Ohioans benefit from low food prices. The state is a major producer of dairy, poultry, beef, pork, soybeans, and corn and also offers a highly crowded, consumer-driven marketplace.

Additionally, Ohio has several large grocery chains, such as Kroger, Heinen’s, and Riesbeck’s Food Markets. These chains keep prices stable for shoppers.

Known as the Dairy State, Wisconsinites enjoy low prices on milk, cheese, custard, and other dairy staples. Local production helps to keep grocery prices more moderate.

With a thriving transportation and distribution infrastructure, Michigan residents have relatively low grocery costs.

Beyond solid supply chain logistics, many locally produced fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy products keep prices manageable. Like Ohio, Michigan’s economy is intertwined with several state-headquartered grocery chains, such as Meijer and Spart Nash. Michiganders benefit from the rivalry through more competitive pricing.

While grocery bills have increased nationwide, many states have remained more affordable. Midwestern states, in particular, thanks to low-cost living, shorter supply chains, and strong local agricultural production.

Living in a state with lower food prices can reduce your grocery spending, but you don’t need to move to another state to reap the benefits. Strategic shopping habits include price comparison tools, loyalty apps, subscription discounts, and buying in bulk.

And you can slash your food bill by nearly 40% this very week: Stop wasting food. Shockingly, Americans waste 92 billion pounds of food annually, the equivalent of $473 billion worth of food. Meal planning, so you can eat your food before it goes bad, is a smart, money-saving move no matter where you live.