Grocery budget calculator
Monthly cost of food at home from the USDA food plans, September 2026, adjusted for household size.
How much should your family spend on groceries?
Add everyone who eats at home. Based on USDA food plans, September 2026.
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Monthly grocery budget by household
| Household | Thrifty | Low-cost | Moderate-cost | Liberal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 adult | $305 | $332 | $404 | $516 |
| Couple | $630 | $653 | $808 | $1,008 |
| Family of 3 (child 4–5) | $799 | $812 | $1,004 | $1,244 |
| Family of 4 (kids 6–8, 9–11) | $1,024 | $1,127 | $1,389 | $1,682 |
| Family of 5 (kids 2–3, 6–8, 12–13) | $1,152 | $1,278 | $1,557 | $1,887 |
| Retired couple (51–70) | $569 | $625 | $777 | $933 |
How the numbers work
The USDA prices a healthy diet for each age and sex at four levels: thrifty, low-cost, moderate-cost and liberal. Costs assume a four-person household; the USDA suggests adding 20% for one person, 10% for two, 5% for three, and subtracting 5% for five or six people and 10% for seven or more. We use the low-cost plan as a realistic target, because the thrifty plan is the bare minimum used for SNAP benefits.
Source: USDA Food Plans: Cost of Food Reports. Thrifty figures are for the mainland U.S.; the other plans are U.S. averages. Alaska and Hawaii cost more.