Grocery prices have become a hot topic once again, this time in the context of a New York City mayoral race.
Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist, recently claimed victory in the city’s ranked Democratic primary. He has proposed the creation of a city-owned grocery store that aims to prioritize low prices over profit.
Mamdani suggests that by not having to pay rent or property taxes, these stores could significantly lower prices for shoppers.
This proposal has drawn criticism from various sources, including some political analysts, but it also highlights voters’ ongoing concerns about everyday living costs.
According to recent data, grocery prices in U.S. cities have risen by 2.2% compared to a year ago, a stark contrast to the 13.5% surge recorded in August 2022, the highest increase in over four decades. However, the pressure on budgets continues.
Since 2020, grocery prices have surged by over 28%, affecting many American households and shifting spending habits towards lower-cost alternatives.
Interestingly, a recent analysis examined grocery price changes across twelve U.S. metropolitan areas from March 2024 to March 2025, revealing significant variations by region.
Which cities are seeing the fastest increase in grocery prices?
In the Honolulu metro area, grocery prices climbed by 5.3%, a trend not entirely unexpected due to Hawaii’s remote location and reliance on imported goods.
Following closely is the Tampa metro area, where prices rose by 4.3% during the same period, reflecting a consistent increase in grocery costs in Florida from 2015 to 2024.
The study also identified differing trends in food categories. For example, in Los Angeles, the prices of eggs, meat, and chicken jumped by 9.8%, while fruits and vegetables surprisingly dropped by 1.8% compared to the previous year.
Meanwhile, the Minneapolis-St. Paul area experienced a 6.9% increase in fruit and vegetable prices, and modest rises in egg and meat prices at 4.8%.
Are grocery prices low in any cities?
Only two metropolitan areas—Dallas and Boston—reported a year-on-year decline in grocery prices, with slight decreases of 0.1% and 0.7%, respectively.
Overall, grocery prices continue to climb. Cities like Riverside, California, Washington, D.C., Denver, and Chicago have all seen increases ranging from 1.5% to 2.4%.
SmartAsset has ranked twelve metro areas based on their changes in grocery prices from March 2024 to March 2025.
Rankings of metro areas based on grocery price increases
12. Boston
- Overall Grocery: -0.7%
- Eggs, meat, chicken, fish: 5.7%
- Fruits and vegetables: -6.1%
- Cereal and bakery products: 0.4%
11. Dallas
- Overall Grocery: -0.1%
- Eggs, meat, chicken, fish: 2.1%
- Fruits and vegetables: -5.6%
- Cereal and bakery products: -0.5%
10. Chicago
- Overall Grocery: 1.5%
- Eggs, meat, chicken, fish: 8.6%
- Fruits and vegetables: -3.1%
- Cereal and bakery products: -1.7%
9. Washington, D.C.
- Overall Grocery: 1.9%
- Eggs, meat, chicken, fish: 9.4%
- Fruits and vegetables: -3.1%
- Cereal and bakery products: 7.9%
8. Denver
- Overall Grocery: 1.9%
- Eggs, meat, chicken, fish: 9.2%
- Fruits and vegetables: -4.0%
- Cereal and bakery products: 2.3%
7. Riverside, California
- Overall Grocery: 2.3%
- Eggs, meat, chicken, fish: 8.5%
- Fruits and vegetables: -1.7%
- Cereal and bakery products: 1.9%
6. Los Angeles
- Overall Grocery: 2.9%
- Eggs, meat, chicken, fish: 9.8%
- Fruits and vegetables: -1.8%
- Cereal and bakery products: 0.2%
5. New York City
- Overall Grocery: 3.3%
- Eggs, meat, chicken, fish: 8.9%
- Fruits and vegetables: -1.3%
- Cereal and bakery products: 0.3%
4. San Diego
- Overall Grocery: 3.7%
- Eggs, meat, chicken, fish: 7.1%
- Fruits and vegetables: 3.3%
- Cereal and bakery products: 1.7%
3. Minneapolis
- Overall Grocery: 4.2%
- Eggs, meat, chicken, fish: 4.8%
- Fruits and vegetables: 6.9%
- Cereal and bakery products: 2.0%
2. Tampa, Florida
- Overall Grocery: 4.3%
- Eggs, meat, chicken, fish: 7.8%
- Fruits and vegetables: 0.2%
- Cereal and bakery products: 5.3%
1. Honolulu
- Overall Grocery: 5.3%
- Eggs, meat, chicken, fish: 4.9%
- Fruits and vegetables: 6.4%
- Cereal and bakery products: 6.5%
