Estimate your weekly and monthly grocery costs based on household size, meals eaten at home, and your budget style. Compare against your target budget and see how costs break down by category.
Grocery Planning Tool
This calculator estimates grocery costs based on typical home-cooking expenses. Actual costs vary by region, store, and dietary preferences. Use these estimates as a starting point for meal planning and budgeting.
Tell us about your household size and how many meals you eat at home. We'll estimate your weekly and monthly grocery costs.
Understanding your grocery spending is the first step to better budgeting. By estimating costs based on household size and meal frequency, you can set realistic budget targets, identify savings opportunities, and make informed decisions about meal planning strategies.
Focus on basics: rice, beans, eggs, seasonal produce, and budget proteins. Great for stretching your food budget without sacrificing nutrition.
Balanced variety with moderate protein options, fresh produce, and some convenience items. Typical for most households.
Higher-quality ingredients, organic options, specialty items, and more meat-heavy meals. Focus on quality over quantity.
Our calculator uses a simple but effective formula:
Weekly Cost = (Meals per day × Cooking days × Household size) × Cost per meal
The cost per meal varies by your chosen budget profile, but you can also enter a custom value based on your actual spending patterns.
Most grocery budgets can be divided into these main categories:
Keep in mind that grocery costs vary significantly by location. Urban areas and specialty stores typically cost 20-40% more than suburban discount stores. Cost of living differences between cities can also impact food prices. These estimates are based on U.S. national averages—adjust expectations based on your local market conditions.
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