Mapped: How Grocery Costs Compare by State in 2026

Where Groceries Cost the Most–and Least–in America

How much more, or less, does a typical basket of groceries cost in your state?

This map compares grocery costs across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., in the first quarter of 2026, using data from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC). Its grocery index measures the cost of a fixed basket of supermarket goods, with 100 representing the U.S. average.

Why Hawaii and Alaska Stand So Far Above the Rest

Hawaii has by far the highest grocery index, at 136.3, meaning its basket costs 36.3% more than the national average. Alaska ranks second at 126.6, or 26.6% above average.

Both states face unusual geographic and logistical challenges. Much of their food must travel long distances by ship, barge, or air before reaching store shelves, making transportation costs a bigger factor than in the contiguous U.S. Those costs can also be affected by changes in fuel prices.

The table below shows the grocery index for all 50 states and Washington, D.C., along with the difference from the U.S. benchmark of 100 in index points:

The biggest drop comes after the top two. California ranks third, but its grocery costs are only 10.5% above the national average, less than half Alaska’s premium.

Across the contiguous U.S., a regional pattern still emerges: much of the West Coast and Northeast sits above average, while many Southern and Plains states fall below it.

The pattern is not simply a matter of distance from farms. The priciest states include California and Florida, which grow a significant share of America’s produce.

Store operating costs can also play a role. Higher wages and commercial real estate costs can push prices upward in expensive coastal markets, while lower operating costs and greater competition from discount grocers can help keep prices down in parts of the South and Plains.

New York Shows the Grocery Disconnect in Living Costs

New York provides one of the clearest examples of how grocery costs can diverge from the broader cost of living. Its overall cost-of-living index is 124.7, ranking sixth-highest in the country, yet its grocery index is almost exactly at the national average at 100.3.

Massachusetts offers another example. Its overall index is 147.8, the second-highest in the country, while its grocery costs are only 6.8% above average.

The data table below shows how each state compares across all six C2ER spending categories in the cost-of-living index:

The difference comes down in part to which expenses rise the most in high-cost places. Housing carries the largest weight in the overall cost-of-living index and can run two or three times the national average in the priciest metros. Grocery prices tend to vary within a much narrower range.

Groceries also benefit from scale and competition. Dense states such as New York and Massachusetts can support large numbers of stores and national chains, helping keep grocery prices closer to average even when housing and other expenses are far higher.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Mapped: Every U.S. State’s Economy, Matched to a Country on Voronoi.

• Source: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/mapped-how-grocery-costs-compare-by-state-in-2026/