US states' grocery prices ranked from most expensive to cheapest
Daniel Coughlin
27 February 2019
How retail food prices differ across America
Whether you pay through the nose for groceries or save a fortune on your food bills depends in a major way on the state you're living in. Typical grocery prices vary wildly in different locations across America. With this in mind, we've ranked the states by grocery prices, from most expensive to cheapest, based on data from the Missouri Economic Research & Information Center's (MERIC) Cost of Living index for 2018.
Cheapest nationwide grocery stores
Before we look at each state in terms of overall retail food prices, it's worth highlighting the cheapest stores for groceries across America as a whole. Bargain-hunters on a tight budget should head to Aldi, which boasts locations in 35 states, though given it's a small-box, limited-assortment chain, variety isn't its strong point.
Cheapest nationwide grocery stores
If you're buying in bulk, big-box warehouse membership chain Costco is calling your name. The budget retailer has 533 outlets in a total of 44 states. Walmart-owned Sam's Club offers similar bulk deals and has 599 membership warehouse clubs in 44 states, but a recent study by Consumer Reports found that Costco has the edge in terms of prices.
Cheapest nationwide grocery stores
For those who prefer not to buy in bulk, trusty Walmart has Supercenters as well as smaller Express and convenience stores in every state (but none in New York City, Detroit, San Francisco, Seattle or Boston), and offers a wider variety of products than Aldi at similar rock-bottom prices, though not as incredibly cheap.
Cheapest nationwide grocery stores
Available in 49 states, Target's grocery section comes a close second to Walmart in terms of prices. Out of the higher-end supermarket chains, Kroger, which has locations in 35 states, is super-competitive price-wise and offers decent coupon deals. Aldi-owned Trader Joe's tends to be the most wallet-friendly for quality products. Its stores span 40 states. Now let's look at typical grocery prices in each state and DC.
Most expensive: DC
Grocery prices in the federal capital are an eye-watering 27.7% higher than the national average. Everything from labor costs to the price of real estate is high in DC, and these costs are passed on to the customer. No wonder DC tops the nation for coupon-clipping. The seat of government is brimming with expensive chains like Whole Foods, Giant, and Dean & Deluca, but only has one Aldi and two Walmart stores.
50) Hawaii
A combination of high staffing overheads, excessive real estate prices and hefty import costs make Hawaii the most expensive state in America for groceries. Even familiar names like Walmart and Safeway have higher prices in the Aloha State compared to the mainland. Budget-minded shoppers tend to stick to Walmart or local convenience store chain ABC Stores, which is relatively affordable.
49) Connecticut
The overall cost of living in Connecticut is high, and groceries certainly don't tend to come cheap in the affluent state. Prices tend to be highest in Stamford. Regional chains Stop & Shop and Big Y are on the expensive side, though more competitively priced retailers like BJ's Club, Walmart and Trader Joe's have a fairly strong presence in the state.
48) Massachusetts
Staying in wealthy New England, Massachusetts is almost as expensive as neighboring Connecticut when it comes to grocery prices. This is down to high overheads compared to other states in America. If you're in the state and can't get to a Costco, BJ's Club, Walmart or Aldi, head to either Price Rite or Market Basket. They offer outstanding value for money according to watchdog the Boston Consumers’ Checkbook.
47) Rhode Island
The smallest state has some of the biggest grocery prices in the country. Prices tend to be highest in Providence, but wherever you go in the state you can expect to pay top dollar for food. Fortunately, there are nine Aldi stores in the state and four BJ's Club big-box warehouse locations, and regional chain Market Basket and local favorite Dave's Marketplace have great deals.
46) Maine
The typical Mainer spends over than a third more on groceries than the average American. Residents of the northern state have to contend with higher prices, but they also have more expensive tastes too – after all, New England seafood and staples like maple syrup are anything but cheap. For bargain-seekers, BJ's Club, Walmart and Market Basket offer the most competitive prices.
45) Alaska
Like Hawaii, the Frontier State imports much of its food, which translates to higher prices for shoppers. Alaska may have plenty of fish and wild game, but the lion's share of its fresh vegetables, fruit and farmed meat have to be shipped in from afar. Prices are highest at convenience stores in remote areas, and lowest at chains like Walmart and Fred Meyer in the state's cities.
44) New Hampshire
Shoppers in New Hampshire shell out 14.2% above the nationwide average for groceries typically. The Manchester-Nashua metro area is the state's most expensive place for retail food. The most affordable chains overall in the Granite State include New England stalwart Market Basket, not to mention BJ's Club, Aldi and Walmart.
43) Oregon
Oregon has the most expensive groceries in the west, aside from Alaska, with shoppers in the state paying just under 13% more for food than the average American. Luckily, like other states, Oregon has plenty of budget stores for people who don't want to splurge. They range from WinCo to reliable nationwide chains such as Walmart.
42) New York
Groceries are costly throughout New York State, but verge on the exorbitant in New York City, which lacks Walmart or any other good budget supermarket chains for that matter, apart from Aldi, which only has one store in Manhattan. In fact, retail food in the Big Apple costs up to 39% more than the national average, according to the Council for Community and Economic Research.
41) Delaware
Delaware is another expensive state for groceries, which are 12% pricier than the nationwide average. Plus, a recent analysis by 24/7 Wall St. revealed that Wilmington, Delaware has the most expensive milk prices in the country. Shoppers there pay a painful $3.87 on average for a half gallon, making the dairy product a serious cash cow (pun intended) for retailers in the state.
40) California
Grocery prices in California are higher than the national average but, as is the case in many other states, they differ dramatically from location to location. High labor and real estate costs have pushed prices sky-high in the San Francisco Bay Area for instance, while lower overheads and intense competition keep prices down in other areas such as Sacramento and San Diego.
39) New Jersey
New Jersey may not be quite as pricey for groceries as neighboring New York, but shoppers there still pay almost 11% more than the nationwide average for their food. Local chain Kings Food Markets, along with Acme and Whole Foods Market, are the most expensive, though they do offer superior quality, while German newcomer Lidl, BJ's Club, Costco, Aldi, Walmart, and Target offer the best cheap deals.
38) Minnesota
Over in Minnesota, groceries cost a good 9.1% more than the countrywide average. Fareway Stores, a chain that also operates in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and South Dakota, has some of the most competitive prices, along with the usual suspects such as Walmart and Aldi, though the majority of Aldi locations are concentrated in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metro area.
37) Maryland
Grocery prices are also higher than the national average in Maryland, which is almost on a par with Minnesota in this respect. Taking into account the most popular chains in the state, Aldi comes out tops for low prices. You really can't beat it for bargains. On the other end of the scale, Wegmans and Weis tend to be the most expensive.
36) Washington
Washington may not be as expensive as Oregon in terms of grocery prices, but shoppers in the state nevertheless pay over the odds for their food compared to the average American. Needless to say, prices are highest in budget-busting Seattle. On a positive note, last November voters in the state passed Initiative 1634, a ballot measure banning new local taxes on groceries, which should help keep prices down.
35) Vermont
Mirroring the situation in other northern states, grocery prices in Vermont are higher than the nationwide average. For those on a strict budget, the cheapest chains include Costco, Walmart, Price Chopper and Hannaford, but they are often beaten on price by Vermont's farmers' markets, especially for organic produce. The Green Mountain State has more farmers' markets per capita than any other, and competition is fairly fierce.
34) South Carolina
Southern states tend to be cheaper for groceries, but South Carolina is one of the exceptions to the rule. A basket of groceries comes in at 4.7% more expensive than the price the average American would pay. Prices are on a whole higher at local and regional chains like Harris Teeter, and lower at major national players like Walmart.
33) Montana
Montana is also an expensive state for groceries. Shopping for food there costs 4.6% more than the nationwide average. Still, there are great bargains to be had for people in the know. Aside from Walmart, Costco and Sam's Club, frugal shoppers may want to mosey on down to Missoula's Orange Street Food Farm and Mr. Thrifty Foods in Billings.
32) Nevada
The cost of living is generally high in Nevada and groceries come in at above the national average. Prices tend to be steepest in Reno and Las Vegas. If you live in the state or are planning a cheap vacation there, the most affordable chains include Smith's, which beat Walmart on price in a recent analysis by KTNV Las Vegas, along with WinCo.
31) West Virginia
West Virginia is far from being an affluent state, but its grocery prices are relatively expensive. Be that as it may, mobile search-and-discovery app Foursquare has found that the most popular grocery store chain in the state is Food Lion, which compares favorably on price with national discount chains like Aldi and Walmart.
30) Ohio
Living or visiting Ohio? Groceries in the Buckeye State are slightly more pricey than the nationwide average. Local newspaper Dayton Daily News compared a cart of groceries from the state's three main supermarket chains – Aldi, Walmart and Kroger – and found that Aldi is the cheapest overall.
29) North Carolina
Groceries are more expensive than the national average in North Carolina too, but only by 0.5%. German discount chain Lidl, which a Jefferies Insights study found is up to 9% cheaper than Walmart and even more affordable than Aldi, now has three locations in the state, making it the number one destination for shoppers on a tighter budget.
28) Virginia
Groceries are cheaper by 0.2% over the border in Virginia, but still a shade above the nationwide average. Research by 24/7 Wall St. discovered that the area near DC has the most expensive groceries in the state. Still, Virginians have plenty of budget options to choose from, including newbie Lidl, Aldi, Walmart and Costco.
27) Colorado
Shoppers in Colorado pay just over the national average for groceries. A while back, local TV channel KMGH-TV ran a comparison of four of the state's major supermarket chains and Walmart came out on top for low prices, followed by Target, King Soopers and Safeway.
26) Utah
Groceries come in at just below the countrywide average in the Beehive State, but only by a tiny 0.2%. Groceries are taxed at a reduced rate of 3% in Utah, but if a food item is combined with a non-food item, a so-called 'bundled transaction', then the rate jumps to 4.65%, so you should purchase food and non-food items separately in the state if you want to save money.
25) Kentucky
Kentucky shoppers pay less than the national average for groceries, but prices differ across the state, and an investigation conducted last October by the Courier Mail found that in Louisville, prices for staple items vary strikingly from location to location, even within the same chain. The cheapest supermarkets to stock up on food in the state include Aldi, Walmart and Save-A-Lot.
24) South Dakota
Grocery prices in South Dakota are 1% below the national average typically, according to the MERIC index. Sunshine Foods is one of the most popular chains in the state, but it isn't the cheapest. South Dakotans on a budget should drop their cash at Aldi, Walmart, Costco, Fareway Stores or Hy-Vee.
23) Pennsylvania
Shoppers in Pennsylvania also pay below the national average for their groceries. For extreme bargain-hunters, Grocery Outlet is worth a visit. It carries heavily discounted, overstocked and closeout products from big-brand and private label suppliers that are sold at massively knocked-down prices. In addition to Pennsylvania, the chain has stores in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Nevada.
22) North Dakota
North Dakota beats its southern namesake on price when it comes to groceries. Shoppers in the state pay 1.3% below the countrywide average, compared to South Dakota's 1%. Hornbacher's offers quality but not the lowest prices. For coupon shoppers, Cash Wise Foods has some terrific deals. Otherwise, shoppers on a shoestring should stick to tried-and-tested budget chains like Walmart and Costco.
21) Illinois
The market is reasonably competitive in Illinois, with shoppers paying below the nationwide average for their groceries. Whole Foods is by far the priciest option in the state, but does offer decent value for money given the quality of its products. Warehouse chain Woodman's Foods, which also operates in Wisconsin, is a local favorite, and ideal for shoppers on a more modest budget.
20) Florida
Groceries in Florida cost 1.8% below the national average, and recent price wars have slashed food bills for many shoppers there. Trader Joe's has a number of locations dotted around the Sunshine State and is cheapest for higher-end products, particularly organic meat and produce. If money's tight, Costco, Walmart, Winn-Dixie and Publix are the chains to stock up in.
19) Idaho
Idaho's shoppers don't pay over the odds for groceries, which contributes to the state's low cost of living. Albertsons has a relatively large amount of locations in the state and offers quality fare, but for those on a budget WinCo and reliable Walmart are better bets, though Fred Meyer has good deals on meat.
Joint 17) Wisconsin
Wisconsin natives have benefited from lower prices over the past year. Kroger, for example, reduced prices on thousands of products at its Pick n' Save, Metro Market and Copps stores in the state, presumably in an effort to compete more favorably with budget chains like Walmart, Costco and the popular Woodman's Foods.
Joint 17) Georgia
Georgia is one of six states where German discount chain Lidl now has a presence, which is excellent news for shoppers on a budget. The chain has three locations in Atlanta and one in Augusta. Other chains for economical food include Aldi, Walmart, Sam's Club, Publix and Sprouts Farmers Market.
Joint 15) Louisiana
Overall, groceries are 3% more affordable in Louisiana compared to the US average, but location means everything. By way of example, according to 24/7 Wall St. it costs a jaw-dropping $4.31 to buy a dozen eggs in Thibodaux-Lafourche, which means the parish has the most expensive egg prices in the nation.
Joint 15) Alabama
Grocery prices in Alabama mimic those in Louisiana, with shoppers in both states typically paying 3% below the nationwide average. Unlike other states, however, Walmart isn't necessarily the most inexpensive place to stock up. A study by AL.com found that Fresh Market is cheapest for a basket of staples, followed by Western, Publix, Walmart and the good ol' Piggly Wiggly.
14) Indiana
Indiana is another cheaper than average state to purchase groceries. In terms of supermarket chains, the cheapest are Aldi and Walmart. Midwest chain Meijer has its fans, but prices there are higher, though the quality of its product is a cut above, especially the supermarket's fresh produce and meat.
13) Arkansas
Grocery prices in Arkansas are more affordable still. The most expensive chains include Whole Foods of course, as well as Brookshire's, but quality is high. Budget-minded shoppers who are more concerned with price are well-catered for in the state, which boasts Aldi, Walmart, Sam's Club and more.
12) Iowa
Iowans don't do too badly at all when it comes to saving money on groceries – the state is America's 12th cheapest overall for retail food. As well as Aldi, Walmart and warehouse membership chains like Costco, the regional Fareway Stores is fantastic for wallet-friendly groceries.
11) Arizona
Arizonans do even better than shoppers in Iowa, paying 0.8% less for their groceries. The much-anticipated arrival of Aldi, which is expected to launch in the Grand Canyon State by the summer, should help push prices down even further. Right now, shoppers looking to save cash on their food shopping can choose from Walmart, WinCo, Costco, Sam's Club and Target.
Joint 9) Nebraska
Walmart dominates the market for groceries in the state of Nebraska, where retail food prices are 5.4% lower than the national average. Shoppers who like to save money on their grocery bill can also head to Aldi, Hy-Vee and Trader Joe's, as well as Fresh Thyme Farmers Market, which is a relative newcomer in the state.
Joint 9) Michigan
Grocery shoppers in Michigan also pay significantly less for their groceries. Though stores are fewer and further between in rural areas, the state has a multitude of chains, from the expensive to the cheap, including Kroger, Albertsons, Walmart, Aldi and Costco, with BJ's Club opening two locations in Michigan this year.
8) New Mexico
Down in New Mexico, groceries typically cost 5.8% less than the national average, which brings down the cost of living very nicely there. Big players in the Land of Enchantment include Costco, Walmart, Smith's and Sprouts Farmers Market, along with Trader Joe's, Albertsons and Target.
7) Tennessee
Groceries are slightly more affordable still in Tennessee, with shoppers paying 5.9% less for retail food than the countrywide average. Like other states, Tennessee has a variety of national and regional chains. Interestingly, wine has only been available to purchase from supermarkets there since 2016, and sales of the alcoholic beverage were outlawed on Sunday until the start of this year.
6) Texas
As well as having the cheapest gas in the US, Texas also has some of the most affordable grocery prices, which are typically 6% lower than the nationwide average. The state's cities are notable for their budget grocery stores, which offer very competitive prices, though several popular chains, including Brookshire's and Randalls, tend to be on the expensive side.
5) Kansas
While Kansas has the second-highest food sales tax in the country at 6.5%, groceries are refreshingly affordable in the state. Dillons, a division of Kroger, stocks quality products at competitive prices, and Kansas Grown Farmer's Market in Wichita is superb for fresh, local produce. For the lowest prices however, Aldi and Walmart are hard to beat.
4) Missouri
Missouri has the cheapest grocery prices in the Midwest. Shoppers in the state pay 7% less than the countrywide average for their retail food. Budget chains in the state range from big-box, warehouse stores like Costco and Sam's Club to non bulk-buy supermarkets like Walmart, Aldi and Save-A-Lot.
3) Wyoming
Wyoming is the third cheapest state for groceries, but stores tend to be thin on the ground, and parts of Wyoming have even been described as food deserts. This essentially means that Wyoming residents have to pay extra for gas and drive miles to their nearest store, so what they save on their grocery bill goes in a large part on fuel for their vehicle.
2) Oklahoma
An economical place to stock up on food, Oklahoma has America's second cheapest grocery prices. Popular supermarket chains in the state include the homegrown Homeland, as well as Albertsons and Whole Foods, but the cheapest prices are to be found at Aldi, Walmart, Target and Sam's Club, while the state's second Costco is due to open this May in Oklahoma City.
Cheapest: Mississippi
Unbelievably, Mississippi has the highest food sales tax in America at 7%. Yet despite this, the state still manages to have the cheapest groceries in the nation. Heaven for those on a tiny budget, Mississippi is blessed with a plethora of big chains and local stores offering rock-bottom prices, including Walmart, Wayne Lee's, Winn-Dixie and Save-A-Lot.
Now take a look at the minimum wage in every state and DC in 2019
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