Average Monthly Grocery Bill

I’m wondering…what’s the median monthly grocery bill for anyone living in North America? I guess the expense will vary, depending on where you live.

I’m a single guy, and I have noticed I spent almost $200 each month on grocery in the past two years (ie, after I graduated from university). In contrast, I spent around $150 each month when I was in university (years 2003 to 2007). My grocery bills consist of dining-outs and expenses from anything that I buy at grocery stores; ie, foods, personal hygiene stuff, household cleaning stuff, etc.

Do I spend too much?!?! ò.ó Is there any way to cut down the grocery bill further?

If I alone spend about $200 each month on grocery, how much do a couple spend? Or, a family of 3, 4, 5, 6?

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7 Responses to “Average Monthly Grocery Bill”

  1. Sue

    We spend about $400 each month for myself, hubby, and 2 kids. We like to buy things in bulk when they’re at discount.

    #11
  2. How do you manage to spend that little for 4 people? I myself spend $200 per month, and I buy stuff when they’re cheap. Time to diet. LOL

    #12
  3. Monty

    I challenge anyone to track their food bill for 1 month. I guarantee you will be surprised. We spend anywhere from $1,400 to $1,600 per month for a family of 5, and thats doing the Costco runs. When people say they spend under a grand for a family, I suspect that they haven’t actually tracked it in their financial software. Do the math, feel the pain!

    #112
    • Dave

      Monty – you are bang on. I track my monthly bill religiously and can’t believe we spend $1200 per month for 2 kids (8 mo and 4 yr old) and 2 adults. And I am always on the lookout for deals on groceries.

      #145
  4. Kelly

    Thank you! I was wondering what I was doing wrong? I have cut back drastically, rarely eat out, make almost everything from scratch including kids lunch box snacks, shop sales, buy in bulk, and still spend around $800 per month for one adult, 3 kids. I must have spent much more before.

    #148
  5. lisa

    I traack my groceries monthly on a chart. Im not the best at being frugal but try. We spend. for 2 adults a 8 year old and 3 year old $800 monthly including diapers and personal hygene. It seems to be a comfortable amount.

    #155
  6. Fernando

    I’ve been tracking all my monthly expenses for years. We are two adults, two dogs, no kids.
    We definately spent too much

    Monthly averages for 2009:
    - Bills (mortgage, houseinsurance, phone, cable, internet, water, electricity, bankfees): $1800
    - Groceries, Pet Food, Alcohol: $930
    - Restaurant, Takeouts and bars: $180
    - Car, carinsurance, gas, repairs, bus: $700
    - Cash: $600

    $200/month sounds very reasonable to me :)

    #166

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