Your Average Cost of Groceries per Month Has Gone Way Up

You’re not imagining things — your fruits, vegetables, and just about every single other grocery item have gotten more expensive since 2022 (just like they went up last year, too). And your average cost of groceries per month has gone up as a result.

According to the most recent Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, overall grocery prices (aka prices for the food you eat at home) were 11.3% higher in January 2023 compared to January 2022. And I bet most of us haven’t gotten 11.3% raises in the last year to make up for it.

So how much more are we paying in dollars? And which items are the worst offenders? I dug into the stats and found out how much more you’re paying for your go-to grocery items in 2023 — things like chicken, eggs, milk, and more. Plus I’ve included some helpful links to lessen the sting on your wallet.

Of course, saving is always made easier when you download The Krazy Coupon Lady app.

Note: Your prices may vary by region and store.

 

A family of four will pay about $89 – $131 more per month on groceries this year.

According to a USDA report, an average family of four spent about $958 to $1,445 per month on groceries in January 2022.

In January 2023 that same family is spending $1,047 to $1,576 on their groceries according to the USDA. That’s $89 to $131 more for your average cost of groceries per month, which is an 9% jump.

If you live alone, Numbeo says you’re spending about $394 per month on groceries, which is $22 more per month than you were paying in 2022.

 

Groceries now cost 20.3% of an average household’s income.

Let’s assume your household income is $70,784, which is the median U.S. household income according to a U.S. Census Bureau report.

If you spend about $1,202 per month on groceries — that’s the average we talked about in Tip #1 for a family of four — you’d spend $14,424 a year on groceries. Compare that to your hypothetical household income, and you’d be spending 20.3% of your income on groceries.

That’s higher than what lots of budgeting experts say you should spend (they say no more than 15%). And that average cost of groceries per month is much higher than what households were spending on food at home in 2021 (5.2%, according to the USDA).

 

Here’s a look at what is costing us more this year:

1. Chicken: 10.5% more expensive

Meat is a lot more expensive since 2022. Here are some other examples of year-over-year price increases:

• Chicken: Whole chicken prices increased 10.5%, while chicken parts prices increased 9.4%.
• Breakfast sausage: Food prices increased 10.1%.
• Ham: Food prices increased 7.2%.
• Fish and seafood: Food prices increased 4%.
• Pork chops: Food prices increased 0.1%.

This is where meat coupons come in handy, as well as our extreme ways to get meat for cheap. (And we also explored whether or not it’s worth it to buy a whole cow.)

 

2. Butter: 26.3% more expensive

OK, grab your butter coupons. This kitchen staple is spendier in 2023 than it was in 2022, and that’s because of the price of …

 

3. Milk: 50% more expensive

In our experience, milk prices are much worse than the government says they are (they say they’ve gone up 11% over 2022 numbers). For example, Walmart prices on a gallon of their Great Value milk are as much as 50% more expensive in 2023 than they were a year prior; with the price going up from $3.24 to $4.86 in some places (looking at you, Pittsburgh).

And even if you’re not buying cow’s milk, you’re still paying more; a half-gallon of Almond Breeze almond milk at Walmart is over 13.13% more expensive when comparing this year over last year.

Milk coupons are pretty rare, so you’re gonna need to know these strategies for saving money on groceries without coupons and finding cheap milk.

 

 

4. Eggs: 173.18% more expensive

Eggs are probably THE top offender for the average cost of groceries per month going up.

A dozen Good & Gather eggs at Target is sitting at $4.89 in 2023, which is a hefty leap of 173.18% from the $1.79 price tag they had in 2022.

An 18-count container of Eggland’s Best eggs at Sam’s Club was just $4.84 in spring 2022. The price for those has now jumped up to $5.58, which is a 15.29% increase.

Get out your eggs coupons and stock up when you can find a good price. And did you know you can freeze eggs?

 

5. Coffee: 12.8% more expensive

Getting that morning jolt is gonna cost you — whether or not you get your coffee at home or on the go.

Luckily we have coffee coupons and Starbucks menu hacks to knock down your out-of-pocket cost.

 

6. Baby Food: 10% more expensive

You’re probably going to want to read our baby freebies tips to find out how to spend less on your little bundle of joy. We’ve also got baby food coupons.

 

7. Cereal: 15% more expensive

Sorry, Cap’n Crunch — the real crunch is on my budget. Cereal coupons definitely help, though — as does being flexible enough to only buy the products that have sales or coupons.

 

8. Rice and Pasta: 14.9% more expensive

Pasta coupons help, but when you find a good deal on pasta or rice, you can freeze your pasta to keep it fresh.

Related: We’ll tell you all about the unexpected things you can freeze.

 

 

9. Snacks: 10.3% more expensive

Snacks like chips and popcorn were more popular than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now our growing addiction is being tested with rising prices.

But we’ve got a steady stream of snack coupons and chip coupons you’ll want to keep an eye on.

 

10. Household Cleaning Products: 9% more expensive

We’ve got the ultimate cleaning guide to help you save on all sorts of cleaning products.

 

11. Fruits and Vegetables: 5% more expensive

We know how to save on fresh produce the easy way. The alternative is to not eat fruits and vegetables, which could get you scurvy.

 

12. Bread: 14.9% more expensive

While bread coupons will get you pretty far, you’re gonna need to go more extreme — like with these food savings hacks.

 

13. Beverages: 13.1% more expensive

Want a Pepsi, lemonade, or La Croix sparkling water? You’re gonna spend 13.1% more than you used to back in 2022.

TIP: Check out our Pepsi coupons, and find out who has the best prices on La Croix.

 

 

14. Pet Products: 11.9% more expensive

Doggone pet prices got you down? Fight back with our Ultimate Pet Savings Guide and never pay full price for food, toys, or anything else your furry friend needs.

 

15. Cakes, Cupcakes, and Cookies: 16.3% more expensive

We’re constantly watching for cookie deals, and we regularly share Nabisco coupons (Oreo, Chips Ahoy), Udi’s coupons, and Mrs. Fields coupons so your sweet tooth doesn’t break the bank.

 

16. Alcoholic Beverages: 5.8% more expensive

Alcohol prices have gone up, but if you’re jonesin’ for a White Claw, you gotta know which store has the best price on White Claw. And then keep an eye on White Claw coupons.

 

17. Cheese: 11.1% more expensive

Cheese? Non. Negotiable. While 11.1% is a considerable price increase, it won’t stop us from eating cheese, which is why we suggest you bookmark our cheese coupons and use them every time you buy cheese.