If you're planning a post-retirement move and looking for the cheapest places to retire, the grocery prices in these cities might make you reconsider.
Grocery prices are surging everywhere, but some cities have been hit harder than others. To figure out which places are feeling the pinch the most, I analyzed the latest grocery pricing data from the Council for Community and Economic Research to identify the 10 cities where residents are paying even more than the national average at the grocery store.
I also gathered data on median incomes for each city to estimate how much of a household's income was going toward putting food on the table, and the numbers might surprise you.
How high grocery costs stack up against expert recommendations
Financial experts typically recommend that you spend no more than 10% to 15% of your take home pay on groceries. That's your after-tax income.
Almost none of these cities met that benchmark. Using pretax income data, nine of 10 cities had average monthly grocery costs that exceeded 15% of household income — meaning the share of take-home pay going toward food is even higher.
The USDA's monthly cost of food reports outline what a balanced, nutritious diet should cost nationwide. Based on the latest USDA food plan report, a four-person household should spend from $1,013.20 to $1,668.20 per month, depending on how thrifty they want to be.
But in all these cities, the average monthly grocery bill is closer to the USDA’s "liberal plan," the agency's most generous estimate for a healthy monthly food budget, than it is to the "thrifty" estimate.
See which cities made the list and how much residents spend to keep their kitchens stocked.
Honolulu, Hawaii
- 36.3% more expensive
- Average monthly grocery spend: $1,674
- Median household income: $86,169
- Grocery spend to income: 23.32%
Living full-time in paradise will cost you. Residents of Honolulu pay 36.3% more than the national average to eat.
On average, households earn $86,169 per year and spend $20,094 of that on groceries every year. That's over 23% of income going toward food.
Juneau, Alaska
- 28.9% more expensive
- Average monthly grocery spend: $1,627
- Median household income: $101,661
- Grocery spend to income: 19.21%
Three Alaskan cities made the list for most expensive groceries, and Juneau's food bill was the highest of the three. Residents here pay 28.9% more than the national average. A typical household brings home $101,661 before taxes and spends $19,524 of that on groceries.
That makes it even less affordable than Honolulu in terms of how much income goes toward food, with grocery spend accounting for 19.21% of a household's income.
Fairbanks, Alaska
- 25.9% more expensive
- Average monthly grocery spend: $1,566
- Median household income: $73,534
- Grocery spend to income: 25.56%
Fairbanks might only have the second-most-expensive groceries in Alaska, but income here is spread thinner than it is anywhere else in the state. With a median household income of $73,534 and an average annual grocery bill of $18,792, the typical household spends 2% of its earnings on food.
That makes this the least affordable city for groceries on this list.
Anchorage, Alaska
- 25.1% more expensive
- Average monthly grocery spend: $1,569
- Median household income: $105,356
- Grocery spend to income: 17.84%
Alaska's capital isn't faring much better than Juneau or Fairbanks. With prices here 25.1% higher than the national average, Anchorage residents spend $18,831 per year on groceries on average. That's 17.84% of the median household income of $105,536.
San Francisco, California
- 19% more expensive
- Average monthly grocery spend: $1,469
- Median household income: $139,801
- Grocery spend to income: 12.61%
San Francisco wouldn't be most people's first thought when it comes to "affordable." It's one of the most expensive cities in which to live. But when you compare the average grocery spend with the median income in the city by the bay, the typical household spends just 12.61% of its earnings to keep the fridge stocked.
That makes it the only city on this list where a household earning the median income for the region can follow the recommendation to spend 15% or less of their budget on food.
Oakland, California
- 19% more expensive
- Average monthly grocery spend: $1,436
- Median household income: $102,235
- Grocery spend to income: 16.86%
San Francisco might stand out for the "affordability" of groceries, but its neighbor to the east tells a different story. At 19% above the national average, prices are technically the same in Oakland as they are in San Francisco.
But when you factor in the lower median household income, the cost to keep a household fed takes up nearly 17% of that income. That's close to the 15% recommendation, but still reflects a slight strain on the wallet.
San Diego, California
- 15% more expensive
- Average monthly grocery spend: $1,429
- Median household income: $109,132
- Grocery spend to income: 15.72%
Surf's up, and so are grocery prices in San Diego. Residents here see price tags that are 15% above the national average. Fortunately, they also enjoy one of the higher median household incomes among the cities on this list.
When factoring in their income, a San Diego household spends just 15.72% of their budget on food. That's almost in line with expert recommendations of 10% to 15%.
Alexandria, Virginia
- 14.6% more expensive
- Average monthly grocery spend: $1,398
- Median household income: $124,593
- Grocery spend to income: 13.46%
While grocery prices are nearly 15% above the national average in Alexandria, VA, incomes are also high in the Washington, DC suburb. With households earning a median income of $124,593 and spending $16,776 per year on food, a typical Alexandria family's monthly grocery budget is right in line with expert recommendations.
San Jose, California
- 14.5% more expensive
- Average monthly grocery spend: $1,407
- Median household income: $148,226
- Grocery spend to income: 11.39%
While San Jose, CA faces grocery prices that are 14.5% higher than the national average, most residents can shrug those above average prices off.
With a median household income of $148,226 and an average grocery spend of $16,884, San Joseans earn the most and spend the least on food compared to every other city on this list. Groceries take up just 11.39% of a typical household's pre-tax income.
Miami-Dade County, Florida
- 14.4% more expensive
- Average monthly grocery spend: $1,393
- Median household income: $76,184
- Grocery spend to income: 21.94%
The typical household in this Florida beach town earns $76,184 per year and spends $16,716 of that on food. That's nearly 22% of a household's income going toward stocking the pantry.
Between above average grocery prices and a lower median household income, Miami-Dade is the third least affordable city on this list — outranked only by Fairbanks, AK, and Honolulu, HI.
