Average grocery cost per month, by household size
Monthly groceries for 1 to 6 people, two ways: what the USDA says a nutritious home-cooked diet costs, and what households actually spend.
Checked October 22, 2026
Average grocery cost per month by number of people
Each size has its own page with the math. The USDA figures use the typical household described on that page.
| People | USDA Thrifty | USDA Low-Cost | USDA Moderate-Cost | USDA Liberal | BLS 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $305 to $383 | $332 to $381 | $404 to $478 | $516 to $584 | $283 |
| 2 people | $630 | $653 | $808 | $1,008 | $507 |
| 3 people | $821 | $898 | $1,091 | $1,337 | $633 |
| 4 people | $1,024 | $1,127 | $1,389 | $1,682 | $725 |
| 5 people | $1,152 | $1,241 | $1,530 | $1,853 | $856 |
| 6 people | $1,315 | $1,405 | $1,727 | $2,092 | $856 |
The page for two people also covers how a couple splits the bill.
How the USDA numbers are built
The USDA prices each person by age and sex for a household of 4, adds them up, then adjusts for the size of the household: 1 person, add 20 percent; 2 people, add 10 percent; 3 people, add 5 percent; 4 people, no adjustment; 5 people, subtract 5 percent; 6 people, subtract 5 percent. All meals and snacks are made at home, so restaurants are extra.
Questions people ask
What is the average grocery cost per month?
It depends on how many people eat. On the USDA's September 2026 food plans it runs from $305 to $383 for 1 person on the Thrifty plan to $2,092 for a family of 6 on the Liberal plan. Households in the BLS survey spent $283 a month for 1 person and $725 for 4 in 2024.
Why do the USDA and BLS numbers differ?
The USDA prices a nutritious diet with every meal made at home. The BLS reports what households said they spent on food at home. One is a recipe, the other a receipt.
Is food cost the same as grocery cost?
Not always. Food cost can include restaurants and takeout. The numbers here are food at home only, so eating out comes on top.
How does the USDA adjust for household size?
Its reports say to add up each person's cost, then add 20 percent for 1 person, add 10 percent for 2, add 5 percent for 3, no adjustment for 4, and subtract 5 percent for 5 or 6.
How often are the USDA numbers updated?
Every month. This page uses the September 2026 reports, issued in October 2026.
Sources
3 sources · read October 22, 2026
Every number on this page comes from fns-prod.azureedge.us and bls.gov. If a source has changed since, the source is right.
- 1USDA: Official USDA Food Plans, Cost of Food at Home at Three Levels, U.S. Average, September 2026fns-prod.azureedge.us
- 2USDA: Official USDA Thrifty Food Plan, U.S. Average, September 2026fns-prod.azureedge.us
- 3U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Consumer Expenditure Surveys, Table 1400, Size of consumer unit, 2024bls.gov
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