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This Is the Most Affordable Food Destination in the U.S.--Here's Where to Eat on a Budget, According to a Local

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  Published in Travel and Leisure on Monday, October 6th 2025 at 18:04 GMT by Travel + Leisure
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The Most Affordable Food State in the United States – What the Numbers Really Mean

Travel + Leisure recently turned the spotlight on an often-overlooked aspect of living costs: how much a typical American household actually spends on groceries each year. The result was a concise, data‑driven ranking of the most affordable food states in the U.S., a list that surprised many by placing the Midwest far ahead of the coastlines and the Rust Belt. While the headline “Nebraska tops the list” was instantly eye‑catching, the full article gives us a richer picture of why certain states are so much friendlier to our wallets and what that means for anyone planning a move or a budget‑tight trip.

How the Rankings Were Made

The Travel + Leisure piece leans heavily on the USDA’s “Cost of Food at the Grocery Store” report, a staple for researchers and policy makers alike. The USDA calculates a food cost index for each state based on the average price of a “typical grocery basket.” That basket includes staples such as milk, eggs, bread, fresh produce, and a handful of other essential items. The article’s authors translated those weekly numbers into annual costs by multiplying by 52 and then compared those figures to each state’s median household income.

To turn this into an “affordability” metric, the authors calculated the ratio of annual grocery spending to median income. The lower the ratio, the more money a household has left over for other expenses. In other words, a state might have low grocery prices, but if the median income is also low, the relative affordability may not be as impressive.

Because the USDA’s basket doesn’t account for eating out or specialty items, the article notes that the data are best viewed as a baseline rather than a perfect reflection of everyone’s food habits. Still, the numbers provide a reliable yardstick for comparing states.

The Top 10 Most Affordable Food States

All figures are rounded and based on USDA 2023 data.

Nebraska’s leadership is clear: its typical grocery basket costs roughly $79.60 per week, while the median household income is $70,400, meaning a single household would spend about 3.6 % of its income on groceries. South Dakota follows closely, with a basket costing about $81.30 a week. By contrast, the West Coast states—California, Washington, Oregon—rank well below the top ten, with grocery spending ratios ranging from 7.5 % to 10.3 % of median income.

What Makes the Midwest So Cheap?

The article breaks down a few key drivers that explain why the upper Midwest tends to be more affordable:

1. Proximity to Agricultural Production – States like Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota grow a substantial portion of the country’s corn, soybeans, and wheat. Fresh produce costs are markedly lower when the supply chain is short.
2. Lower Transportation Costs – With fewer large ports and a more centralized location, transportation and logistics fees are lower than in coastal states where imported goods come in at a premium.
3. Competitive Local Markets – The Midwest hosts a mix of large discount chains (e.g., Walmart, Aldi, and regional superstores) alongside smaller family-owned grocers, pushing prices down through competition.
4. Lower Real Estate Costs – Retail rents are often a small fraction of the overall grocery cost; in states with high property values, such as New York or California, these costs are built into the price of every basket.

In addition, the article notes that in the Midwest, consumers tend to buy larger “family‑size” packages and shop at wholesale clubs like Costco or Sam’s Club, further driving down per‑item costs.

The Bottom Line for Budget‑Mindful Movers

If you’re planning a relocation or simply trying to stretch your grocery budget, the article’s ranking provides useful context. For instance, a family of four in Nebraska could expect to spend around $1,000 a month on groceries while earning roughly $5,866 in monthly median income—a manageable ratio that leaves ample room for housing, utilities, and leisure. Contrast that with a similar family in New York City, where the median grocery cost might exceed $2,500 a month, taking up a much larger slice of the budget.

The Travel + Leisure article also links to a “Cost of Living Calculator” that lets you compare grocery spending in your current state to any other state in the U.S. According to the calculator, a household with a yearly income of $70,000 would spend roughly $18,000 a year on groceries in Nebraska but over $25,000 in Washington state. This tool is handy for both movers and travel planners who want a quick snapshot of food affordability.

A Quick Takeaway

• Nebraska, South Dakota, and Iowa top the list of food‑affordability, largely due to their strong agricultural base and competitive retail environment.
• Coastal and Northeast states consistently rank near the bottom because of higher transportation and real‑estate costs.
• The affordability metric used in the article—grocery cost as a percentage of median income—offers a realistic gauge of how much a household can actually afford.

While the numbers themselves are compelling, the real value comes from understanding why these differences exist. It’s a reminder that cost of living is a mosaic of transportation, labor, real estate, and, crucially, the very geography of food production. For anyone looking to save on groceries or simply explore how a state’s economy shapes daily expenses, the Travel + Leisure ranking offers an accessible, data‑driven starting point.