How expensive are groceries in Texas? Lone Star State is on U.S. top 10 list

Marley Malenfant , Austin American-Statesman
Updated ·2 min read
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Going to the store for eggs, milk, bread and cheese comes with a hefty price tag these days.  Texans are spending big money on groceries due to inflation, price gouging and supply chain issues.

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, grocery prices have jumped 17% since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Texans are averaging nearly $300 per trip to the store. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Texans spend $286.19 per week on groceries. And while inflation is easing, putting food on the table is still a concern for families.

What are Texans buying at the grocery store?

According to Livingcost.org, the average cost of living per month in Texas is $2,170. With a family of four, it's $5,094. Key items such as dairy products, rice and produce have become more expensive for Austin residents and other Texans.

Here’s a look at what those expenses are for shoppers in Texas:

What does it cost to have groceries in Texas? Here's a breakdown of what that looks like for most Texans.
What does it cost to have groceries in Texas? Here's a breakdown of what that looks like for most Texans.

What Texas city has the highest cost of living?

Dallas ranks eighth among cities with the highest grocery bills in the U.S. Houston comes in at No. 2 with an average grocery bill of $302.65, according to an analysis from HelpAdvisor of the Census Bureau data.

Brian Carberry, senior managing editor at Rent.com, said that though Austin is an expensive city, it isn’t the most expensive in the state despite the common narrative.

“That Dallas is more expensive than Austin was my biggest takeaway,” he said. “Overall, Austin is 1.8% more expensive than the overall national average of cost of living while Dallas is 7.7% more expensive than the national average.”

The average cost of living in major Texas cities
The average cost of living in major Texas cities

The cities with the highest average weekly grocery bills are:

  1. Miami: $327.89

  2. Houston: $302.65

  3. Riverside, Calif.: $300.50

  4. San Francisco: $298.44

  5. Los Angeles: $295.33

  6. Seattle: $289.23

  7. New York: $282.60

  8. Dallas: $282.21

  9. Chicago: $278.91

  10. Atlanta: $277.54

What are the most expensive states for groceries?

Texans might feel better about their grocery bill compared with residents of other states. According to the Census Bureau, Texas doesn't crack the top five in highest grocery costs.

Here are the states with the highest grocery bills:

  1. California: $297.72

  2. Nevada: $294.76

  3. Mississippi: $290.64

  4. Washington: $287.67

  5. Florida: $287.27

  6. New Mexico: $286.39

  7. Texas: $286.19

  8. Louisiana: $2.82.95

  9. Colorado: $279.98

  10. Oklahoma: $279.16

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Where are groceries most expensive in U.S.? Texas ranks in top 10