Grocery prices are a hot topic, and it turns out New York isn’t the most costly when it comes to food. That dubious title belongs to Hawaii. People there are spending around $157 weekly for groceries, according to a survey by a group focused on economic data. It’s quite staggering, really.
New York supermarkets placed 11th with an average of $121 per week. It’s not surprising, given that food prices in the state tend to increase by about 6.1% annually.
This trend might only get worse. Lawmakers in New York City have recently advanced two contentious grocery bills that would boost pay for delivery drivers. Critics warn this could lead to higher prices for consumers at the supermarket.
Many New Yorkers likely felt that pinch while preparing for last weekend’s winter storm.
Visual Capitalist, which conducted this study, aimed to shed light on rising food costs throughout the U.S. For instance, prices for ground beef have surged by 15% and orange juice by 21% just this year.
A notable highlight was the price of eggs, which soared to a historic high of $8.15 in March amid an avian flu outbreak. That’s prompted some creative grocers to offer “loose” eggs—selling individual eggs in plastic bags to help those running low on funds.
To compile their findings, the researchers looked at the average weekly grocery expenses for a typical household in each state, using data from the 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics Price Index.
Over in Hawaii, residents are shelling out $157 a week, which is about 33% more than the national average of $118.
This also reflects a 9.6% jump compared to last year, suggesting that folks on the islands are feeling financial stress while trying to fill their kitchens.
Following Hawaii is Alaska, where weekly grocery costs reach $152, an increase of 8.8% from the previous year.
The price variations across urban centers and remote rural areas can be stark. For example, a bag of chips may cost $6.79 in Anchorage but jumps to $10.49 in Unalakleet.
California isn’t far behind, averaging $127 per week, which is a 3.4% rise from last year.
Visual Capitalist points to raising wages due to minimum wage increases, alongside rising living costs, as reasons for the soaring grocery prices in that state.
Completing the top five with high grocery bills are Washington at $126 and Vermont at $124.
On the flip side, not every state imposes such heavy grocery costs. Southern states generally offer a more affordable alternative, with Arkansas residents, for instance, spending less than the U.S. average by about 6%.
Top 10 states with the highest grocery prices
- Hawaii ($157)
- Alaska ($152)
- California ($127)
- Washington ($126)
- Vermont ($124)
- Florida ($122)
- Oregon ($122)
- Maryland ($122)
- Montana ($122)
- Idaho ($122)
