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GOBankingRates

Heather Taylor

Here’s How Much More You Are Paying for Groceries in Your State

DenisTangneyJr Sean Pavone GOBankingRates Hawaii California

You might think states like Hawaii and California would have the most unaffordable grocery costs in the nation. However, new data from GOBankingRates reveals the most expensive states for groceries aren’t necessarily the states with the highest cost of living. Of the 10 costliest states, seven are in the Sun Belt.

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To find out which states have the most unaffordable grocery prices, GOBankingRates analyzed each state’s various food expenditures using the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. Using the grocery cost-of-living index, the average grocery cost was calculated for each location along with the one-year change in dollar amount and percentages. From there, the percentage of median household income spent on total food at home costs was calculated. The states are organized from highest to lowest percent of household median income spent on food at home.

Key Findings

Mississippi and West Virginia have the most unaffordable grocery costs in America. Grocery costs eat up 10% of your paycheck in these surprising two states.
Seven of the 10 most expensive states for groceries are in the Sun Belt: Mississippi (#1), Arkansas (#3), Louisiana (#4), New Mexico (#6), Alabama (#7), Oklahoma (#8) and South Carolina (#10).
Hawaii and California didn’t rank anywhere near the 10 most expensive states for grocery costs. Hawaii came in 22nd, with 8% of income going toward groceries, while California was 42nd at 6%.
Grocery costs have increased the most in South Dakota over the last year. The one-year change is 12.56% from 2024 to 2025.

Here’s how much of your income goes toward groceries in every state.

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DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto

1. Mississippi

% of income going toward groceries: 10.57%
2025 average grocery cost: $5,805
2024 average grocery cost: $5,492
1-year percentage change: 5.70%

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2. West Virginia

% of income going toward groceries: 10.11%
2025 average grocery cost: $5,853
2024 average grocery cost: $5,646
1-year percentage change: 3.67%

3. Arkansas

% of income going toward groceries: 9.79%
2025 average grocery cost: $5,756
2024 average grocery cost: $5,429
1-year percentage change: 6.03%

4. Louisiana

% of income going toward groceries: 9.75%
2025 average grocery cost: $5,853
2024 average grocery cost: $5,481
1-year percentage change: 6.80%

5. Kentucky

% of income going toward groceries: 9.67%
2025 average grocery cost: $6,035
2024 average grocery cost: $5,692
1-year percentage change: 6.03%

6. New Mexico

% of income going toward groceries: 9.54%
2025 average grocery cost: $5,926
2024 average grocery cost: $5,498
1-year percentage change: 7.79%

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7. Alabama

% of income going toward groceries: 9.52%
2025 average grocery cost: $5,908
2024 average grocery cost: $5,543
1-year percentage change: 6.57%

8. Oklahoma

% of income going toward groceries: 9.11%
2025 average grocery cost: $5,793
2024 average grocery cost: $5,441
1-year percentage change: 6.47%

9. Montana

% of income going toward groceries: 9.05%
2025 average grocery cost: $6,325
2024 average grocery cost: $5,777
1-year percentage change: 9.49%

10. South Carolina

% of income going toward groceries: 8.96%
2025 average grocery cost: $5,986
2024 average grocery cost: $5,663
1-year percentage change: 5.71%

11. Florida

% of income going toward groceries: 8.87%
2025 average grocery cost: $6,362
2024 average grocery cost: $6,000
1-year percentage change: 6.04%

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12. Alaska

% of income going toward groceries: 8.83%
2025 average grocery cost: $7,887
2024 average grocery cost: $7,249
1-year percentage change: 8.81%

13. Tennessee

% of income going toward groceries: 8.72%
2025 average grocery cost: $5,853
2024 average grocery cost: $5,538
1-year percentage change: 5.70%

14. Ohio

% of income going toward groceries: 8.65%
2025 average grocery cost: $6,029
2024 average grocery cost: $5,640
1-year percentage change: 6.89%

15. South Dakota

% of income going toward groceries: 8.64%
2025 average grocery cost: $6,259
2024 average grocery cost: $5,560
1-year percentage change: 12.56%

16. Missouri

% of income going toward groceries: 8.49%
2025 average grocery cost: $5,853
2024 average grocery cost: $5,475
1-year percentage change: 6.91%

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17. Indiana

% of income going toward groceries: 8.47%
2025 average grocery cost: $5,932
2024 average grocery cost: $5,549
1-year percentage change: 6.90%

christiannafzger / Getty Images/iStockphoto

18. Idaho

% of income going toward groceries: 8.47%
2025 average grocery cost: $6,319
2024 average grocery cost: $5,908
1-year percentage change: 6.96%

19. North Carolina

% of income going toward groceries: 8.46%
2025 average grocery cost: $5,914
2024 average grocery cost: $5,612
1-year percentage change: 5.38%

20. Maine

% of income going toward groceries: 8.46%
2025 average grocery cost: $6,071
2024 average grocery cost: $5,789
1-year percentage change: 4.88%

21. Michigan

% of income going toward groceries: 8.41%
2025 average grocery cost: $5,986
2024 average grocery cost: $5,600
1-year percentage change: 6.89%

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22. Hawaii

% of income going toward groceries: 8.29%
2025 average grocery cost: $8,147
2024 average grocery cost: $7,437
1-year percentage change: 9.56%

SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto

23. Vermont

% of income going toward groceries: 8.25%
2025 average grocery cost: $6,440
2024 average grocery cost: $6,057
1-year percentage change: 6.34%

24. Wyoming

% of income going toward groceries: 8.24%
2025 average grocery cost: $6,168
2024 average grocery cost: $5,720
1-year percentage change: 7.83%

25. Nevada

% of income going toward groceries: 8.24%
2025 average grocery cost: $6,229
2024 average grocery cost: $5,885
1-year percentage change: 5.83%

26. Arizona

% of income going toward groceries: 8.07%
2025 average grocery cost: $6,204
2024 average grocery cost: $5,766
1-year percentage change: 7.61%

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27. Kansas

% of income going toward groceries: 8.04%
2025 average grocery cost: $5,841
2024 average grocery cost: $5,406
1-year percentage change: 8.04%

28. Nebraska

% of income going toward groceries: 7.98%
2025 average grocery cost: $5,986
2024 average grocery cost: $5,657
1-year percentage change: 5.82%

29. Wisconsin

% of income going toward groceries: 7.97%
2025 average grocery cost: $6,029
2024 average grocery cost: $5,589
1-year percentage change: 7.87%

30. Georgia

% of income going toward groceries: 7.92%
2025 average grocery cost: $5,914
2024 average grocery cost: $5,549
1-year percentage change: 6.57%

31. Iowa

% of income going toward groceries: 7.92%
2025 average grocery cost: $5,793
2024 average grocery cost: $5,509
1-year percentage change: 5.15%

32. Oregon

% of income going toward groceries: 7.91%
2025 average grocery cost: $6,362
2024 average grocery cost: $6,057
1-year percentage change: 5.04%

33. Pennsylvania

% of income going toward groceries: 7.75%
2025 average grocery cost: $5,896
2024 average grocery cost: $5,657
1-year percentage change: 4.21%

34. North Dakota

% of income going toward groceries: 7.75%
2025 average grocery cost: $5,884
2024 average grocery cost: $5,418
1-year percentage change: 8.60%

35. Texas

% of income going toward groceries: 7.60%
2025 average grocery cost: $5,799
2024 average grocery cost: $5,481
1-year percentage change: 5.81%

36. New York

% of income going toward groceries: 7.45%
2025 average grocery cost: $6,301
2024 average grocery cost: $5,925
1-year percentage change: 6.34%

37. Delaware

% of income going toward groceries: 7.31%
2025 average grocery cost: $6,059
2024 average grocery cost: $5,846
1-year percentage change: 3.65%

38. Illinois

% of income going toward groceries: 7.30%
2025 average grocery cost: $5,962
2024 average grocery cost: $5,595
1-year percentage change: 6.57%

39. Minnesota

% of income going toward groceries: 6.96%
2025 average grocery cost: $6,095
2024 average grocery cost: $5,823
1-year percentage change: 4.68%

40. Rhode Island

% of income going toward groceries: 6.94%
2025 average grocery cost: $5,992
2024 average grocery cost: $5,811
1-year percentage change: 3.12%

41. Washington

% of income going toward groceries: 6.90%
2025 average grocery cost: $6,549
2024 average grocery cost: $6,022
1-year percentage change: 8.75%

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42. California

% of income going toward groceries: 6.84%
2025 average grocery cost: $6,586
2024 average grocery cost: $6,370
1-year percentage change: 3.38%

Muhammad Zulkifal / Getty Images/iStockphoto

43. Colorado

% of income going toward groceries: 6.72%
2025 average grocery cost: $6,210
2024 average grocery cost: $5,743
1-year percentage change: 8.14%

44. Virginia

% of income going toward groceries: 6.58%
2025 average grocery cost: $5,986
2024 average grocery cost: $5,680
1-year percentage change: 5.39%

45. Connecticut

% of income going toward groceries: 6.55%
2025 average grocery cost: $6,144
2024 average grocery cost: $5,851
1-year percentage change: 5.00%

46. Utah

% of income going toward groceries: 6.47%
2025 average grocery cost: $5,938
2024 average grocery cost: $5,572
1-year percentage change: 6.57%

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47. Maryland

% of income going toward groceries: 6.26%
2025 average grocery cost: $6,362
2024 average grocery cost: $6,108
1-year percentage change: 4.16%

48. New Hampshire

% of income going toward groceries: 6.25%
2025 average grocery cost: $5,980
2024 average grocery cost: $5,697
1-year percentage change: 4.97%

49. New Jersey

% of income going toward groceries: 6.15%
2025 average grocery cost: $6,210
2024 average grocery cost: $5,943
1-year percentage change: 4.51%

50. Massachusetts

% of income going toward groceries: 6.13%
2025 average grocery cost: $6,216
2024 average grocery cost: $5,954
1-year percentage change: 4.41%

Methodology: The breakdown of food expenditures was found using the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey and, using the grocery cost-of-living index, the average grocery cost was calculated for each location. The 1-year change in dollar amount and percentages was calculated. The percentage of median household income that is spent on the total food at home costs was calculated and the states were sorted to show the highest to lowest percent of household median income that is spent on food at home. All data was collected on and is up to date as of July 8, 2025.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Here’s How Much More You Are Paying for Groceries in Your State

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