One way to fight inflation is to cut back on your spending. When gas prices shoot higher, you drive less. When concert tickets soar, you simply listen to music at home.
However, it’s not so easy to get around the rising prices of groceries. After all, we have to eat to live.
If you are really desperate to cut supermarket costs, you could always move. In some cities, groceries are uber-expensive. In other places, they seem downright cheap by comparison.
Recently, The Council for Community and Economic Research looked at 320 million grocery prices derived from 1.5 trillion historical data points in 261 urban areas of the U.S.
Based on that information, the council determined the places with the most expensive groceries — and the places where groceries are most affordable.
5. San Francisco
This urban area’s cost of living index for groceries: 122.8 (22.8% higher than the national average) as of the first quarter of 2024
In California, grocery stores have to pay extra for prime real estate. That’s especially true in San Francisco.
Rising wages in the Golden State, high taxes and strict health regulations also translate into higher costs for grocers that often are passed on to customers.
4. Honolulu
This urban area’s cost of living index for groceries: 124.1 (24.1% higher than the national average) as of the first quarter of 2024
It’s no secret why you get a bad dose of sticker shock at Honolulu grocery stores: Hawaii is pretty isolated.
That means many products must be shipped from the mainland U.S. to the island of Oahu, and that raises costs for everyone.
3. Anchorage, Alaska
This urban area’s cost of living index for groceries: 125.5 (25.5% higher than the national average) as of the first quarter of 2024
Getting groceries to market is no easy task in Alaska. Many foods come in by boat, making them expensive.
However, since many of these boats arrive in Anchorage, prices here might be a bit lower than you will find in other parts of the state.
2. Fairbanks, Alaska
This urban area’s cost of living index for groceries: 126.5 (26.5% higher than the national average) as of the first quarter of 2024
Once food arrives by boat in Anchorage, it must be hauled deeper into Alaska’s interior communities, such as Fairbanks. That adds to the cost of groceries in such places.
Many foods also come into Alaska by plane, which also pushes prices higher.
1. Juneau, Alaska
This urban area’s cost of living index for groceries: 127.4 (27.4% higher than the national average) as of the first quarter of 2024
As in Anchorage and Fairbanks, grocery shoppers in the state capital, Juneau, have to suffer through higher prices simply because of the cost to ship food into the state.
A couple years ago, the Juneau Empire newspaper determined that local residents can often get the best deal by shopping at Fred Meyer.
Urban areas where groceries are most affordable
Here are the most affordable urban areas, with their cost of living indices for groceries, in the U.S.:
- Decatur, Illinois: 78.8
- Ponca City, Oklahoma: 79.4
- Edinburg, Texas: 80.9
- Pittsburg, Kansas: 81.8
- Richmond, Indiana: 81.9
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