VanBasket United States

Food Prices in United States — August 2026

Updated: 1 August 2026

Current Index

117.5

vs World Average

+17.5%

Official (IMF + World Bank)

Real grocery prices

Price per unit in your currency

Prices known for 6 of 10 items — help fill the rest

Milk 1 L

open data

$3.31

+87% World (base = 100)
Eggs 12 pcs

open data

$4.62

+34% World (base = 100)
Chicken 1 kg

open data

$9.90

+68% World (base = 100)
Rice 1 kg

open data

$4.60

+104% World (base = 100)
Bread 500 g loaf

open receipts 31 prices · updated 30 Jul

$5.87
Water 1.5 L bottle
Cheese 1 kg

open receipts 45 prices · updated 30 Jul

$30.71
Tomatoes 1 kg
Potatoes 1 kg
Beer 0.5 L bottle

Monthly basket, 1 person

Directional: 4 milk + 2 eggs + 4 chicken + 4 rice

$80.48

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Every traveller price is reviewed by hand; the row shows how many reports from the last 90 days back the figure.

Data: WhereNext (CC BY 4.0, January 2026) · Open Food Facts — Open Prices (ODbL)

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Reports are reviewed by hand — only what an editor confirms reaches the site.

Recent real receipts

Real purchases logged in this country (crowdsourced, local names)

SHRIMP CRNCH

Costco, Mountain View 7 Aug

12.49 $
Organic kosher baby dills

Mt. Olive · 46 FL oz

Costco, Mountain View 7 Aug

5.49 $
ORGANIC BLUEBERRIES

KIRKLAND Signature · 3 lb

Costco, Mountain View 7 Aug

8.89 $
REDUCED FAT MILK 2% Milkfat

KIRKLAND Signature · 1 gallon

Costco, Mountain View 7 Aug

7.19 $
Ginger Love

Costco, Mountain View 7 Aug

12.99 $
4LB OG HONEY

Costco, Mountain View 7 Aug deal

8.49 $
organic chia seeds

monda foods · 3 lb

Costco, Mountain View 7 Aug

10.89 $
The Original San Francisco Sourdough

Boudin

Costco, Mountain View 7 Aug

8.39 $
Extra Crunchy Peanut Butter

Jif · 16 oz (1 lb) 454 g

Fred Meyer, Lynnwood 7 Aug

2.99 $
Iodized Salt

Morton

T&T Supermarket, San Jose 6 Aug

2.29 $
KATAYAMA HIMALAYAN PINK SALT GRINDER 3.87OZ

T&T Supermarket, San Jose 6 Aug

3.39 $
Coarse ground black pepper

Mccormick

T&T Supermarket, San Jose 6 Aug

7.29 $
Rotisserie Chicken Seasoning

McCormick

T&T Supermarket, San Jose 6 Aug

6.49 $
PANGPANG CHINESE SPICE MIX 2OZ

T&T Supermarket, San Jose 6 Aug

0.89 $
CTF DRIED STAR ANISEED 2OZ

T&T Supermarket, San Jose 6 Aug

1.39 $
CTF DRIED STAR ANISEED 三鹿牌特級八角 2OZ

T&T Supermarket, San Jose 6 Aug

1.39 $
Onion salt, onion

Smart & Final extra!, Mountain View 30 Jul

7.19 $

Data: Open Food Facts — Open Prices (ODbL)

What this means for vanlife

Food in United States is 17.5% above the world average. Plan a larger grocery budget: the same basket costs around $353 per month (vs $300 world average).

↑ Year-over-year change: +0% 2026

Index History

Index:

Based on World Bank ICP 2021, adjusted with IMF CPI

Compare with United States

United States

117.5

World (base = 100)

100

If you spend 100 at home:

100

Select home and destination countries to compare food costs

Similar Countries

Portugal 117.8 +17.8%

Cyprus 118 +18%

Greece 116 +16%

Spain 115.5 +15.5%

Oman 120 +20%

More countries in Americas

Argentina 70 -30%

Colombia 72 -28%

Peru 75 -25%

Brazil 78 -22%

Mexico 88 -12%

Panama 88 -12%

FAQ

Is food expensive in United States?

Yes, food in United States is above average. The VanBasket Index is 117.5 (world average = 100), meaning food costs 17.5% more than the global average.

How much should I budget for food in United States per month?

If the world average monthly food spend is $300, in United States you can expect to spend around $353. This is based on the VanBasket Index of 117.5 (world = 100).

How does United States compare to similar countries?

United States has a VanBasket Index of 117.5. Similar or nearby countries: Portugal, Cyprus, Greece.

How often is the food price data for United States updated?

The index is updated monthly using IMF Consumer Price Index data. The baseline is from World Bank ICP 2021.

About the data: The VanBasket Index is based on World Bank ICP 2021 food price level data, adjusted monthly using IMF CPI. World average = 100. Index > 100 means food is more expensive than the global average. API for developers →

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