Most Americans know the frustration – you walk out of a grocery store, glance at your receipt, and feel your stomach drop before you’ve even eaten anything. The average cost of groceries in America in 2025 is $370 per month per person, and that number swings wildly depending on where you plant your feet. Some cities feel like they’re taxing you just for being hungry.
States with lower average food costs tend to be located in the South and Midwest, while states with higher average food costs tend to be located along the West Coast and in New England. That gap is bigger than most people realize. Here are seven cities where your grocery bag – and your restaurant tab – won’t make you cringe. Let’s dive in.
1. San Antonio, Texas – The Alamo City That Feeds You Affordably
San Antonio has long flown under the radar when it comes to food conversations, but the numbers tell a compelling story. San Antonio’s 2025 cost of living sits about nine percent below the U.S. average and four percent below the Texas average, thanks mostly to housing that’s twenty-one percent cheaper than national norms. That breathing room in your budget matters enormously when it comes to what ends up on your plate.
Texas emerged as the state with the most affordable grocery prices, with a Grocery Prices Index of 90.3, meaning grocery costs in Texas are 9.7% below the national average. In San Antonio specifically, prices tend to be slightly lower than other major Texas cities like Houston and Dallas, due in part to the city’s proximity to agricultural regions and its well-developed distribution infrastructure.
San Antonio ranked as the eighth most budget-friendly city for dining out, according to research from a 2024 study. On the restaurant side, things get even more interesting. Food & Wine magazine called San Antonio America’s next great food city, and with entrees at some of its hottest new spots sitting comfortably around $24, that title feels earned without costing you a fortune.
In San Antonio, H-E-B offers grocery savings of 11.88% compared to local competition, and three new H-E-B stores are planned for the San Antonio area over the next 18 months. Honestly, for a city with this much food culture, these prices feel almost unfair in the best possible way.
2. Grand Rapids, Michigan – Beer City USA With a Budget Conscience
Grand Rapids doesn’t always get the foodie attention it deserves, but people who live there quietly love it for a reason. Grocery prices in Grand Rapids are 3% less than the national average in 2025, with the average monthly grocery budget for residents sitting between $265 and $305, thanks to various supermarkets, farmers’ markets, and bargain shops, and the city’s competitive pricing and locally grown produce availability help control grocery costs.
Thrillist recently named Grand Rapids the best food city in Michigan, beating out Detroit, and it’s a very easy place to live, eat, and navigate, with staying mostly under the radar keeping things inexpensive and earning it a top-five affordability rank. That’s a remarkable combination – quality and price living together without conflict.
Grand Rapids is well-known for its craft beer scene, with Founders Brewing and Grand Rapids Brewing as two popular destinations, and WalletHub assigned it the fifth-lowest average beer and wine price in its study. Think of it like the quiet overachiever in the class – not flashy, but consistently impressive.
Spots like 616 Kabob Stop on Division Avenue offer most meals ranging between $10 and $15, known for generous portions and affordable pricing, with dishes like savory lamb kebabs and freshly made hummus crafted with care. That’s a full, delicious dinner for what some cities charge just for a starter.
3. Memphis, Tennessee – Soul Food City With a Surprisingly Lean Price Tag
There’s something about Memphis that just feels like food. Situated along the Mississippi River, Memphis offers a diverse blend of cultural attractions, history, and modern living, from soul food restaurants to trendy coffee shops, local breweries, and a bustling downtown scene. The amazing part is how affordable this culinary richness remains.
The average cost of living in Memphis is about 14.2% lower than the national average, making it an affordable place to settle. When it comes to food specifically, Memphis, Tennessee’s cost of living is 11% lower than the national average. Healthcare in Memphis adds to the appeal – healthcare in Memphis is 21% lower than the national average, which means more of your dollars can actually go toward enjoying food.
Tennessee, with a Grocery Prices Index of 94.4, has an average per-person grocery cost of $346.37. That’s well below what residents in coastal cities dish out monthly. Upgraded Points’ 2025 analysis using MIT Living Wage Calculator data shows that Memphis single adults need around $87,200 to live comfortably, compared to more than $150,000 in cities like San Jose.
The soul food and barbecue culture here runs deep and runs cheap. You can get a plate of ribs and sides at a legendary local BBQ joint for the same price as a basic fast food combo in New York City. Let’s be real – that’s a deal that deserves more attention than it gets.
4. Des Moines, Iowa – The Midwest’s Quietly Remarkable Food Value
Des Moines kind of has it all: a robust and multifaceted economy, a vibrant cultural scene, major universities, and a low cost of living. It’s one of those cities that keeps winning rankings quietly, without making a fuss about it. The food scene is no different.
The low living costs in Des Moines and the access to high-quality and affordable groceries have made it an ideal location for locals looking to lower their spending. When we’re talking numbers, Checkr’s 2025 analysis found that Des Moines, with its finance, insurance, and data services industries, is one of the affordable cities with great job markets, meaning residents earn enough to genuinely enjoy that food affordability.
Think of Des Moines as the sensible car that also happens to be fast. Nobody’s bragging about it at parties, but it consistently outperforms the flashier options. A $120,000 salary in San Francisco has the same buying power as over $185,000 in Des Moines – meaning food, dining out, and everything else goes dramatically further here.
Iowa recently made retirement income tax-exempt for residents 55 and older and eliminated its inheritance tax for tax years 2025 and later, meaning tax-free Social Security, pensions, 401(k), and IRA distributions. For retirees especially, this stacks on top of already low food costs to make Des Moines one of the most financially comfortable food-forward cities in the country.
5. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Where the Grocery Tax Disappeared
Oklahoma City does not get enough credit. It’s a city with genuine food culture – from thriving farmers markets to an emerging restaurant scene – and it just got even more affordable for shoppers. Oklahoma had a 4.5% statewide grocery tax, but eliminated it in 2024, which state lawmakers said could save each family hundreds. That’s not a rounding error. That’s real money back in real pockets.
Oklahoma falls into the lower end of the top ten most affordable states for grocery prices, with a Grocery Prices Index of 93.7 and an average per-person grocery cost of $346.37. For context, that is nearly $25 less per person per month than the national average of $370. Over a year, a family of four saves significantly just by living here rather than, say, Boston.
The dining scene has also quietly matured. Oklahoma City’s food truck culture, its growing number of independent restaurants, and its proximity to cattle and farming regions all feed into a food ecosystem that punches above its weight. It’s hard to say for sure how much of the scene’s growth is driven by affordability attracting chefs, but the timing is compelling.
A study by Cookie Rookie analyzed the most affordable cities for a three-course meal for two, and Southern and Plains states dominated the list. Oklahoma City repeatedly lands on such rankings, proving that its reputation for value at the table is more than just local pride.
6. Omaha, Nebraska – The Underdog Capital of American Grocery Budgets
Here’s the thing about Omaha: it doesn’t try to be trendy, and that’s exactly what makes it so good for your food budget. Omaha residents spend between $275 and $315 a month on groceries, making it one of the most economical cities in 2025, with a consistent supply of affordable produce including dairy, meat, and vegetables, and strong agricultural sectors alongside a range of discount grocery stores and local markets ensuring affordable shopping options.
Omaha’s steady economy and reduced transportation expenses keep food prices in check, making it an excellent location for reasonably priced and high-quality grocery shopping. The agricultural backbone of Nebraska is not just a fun fact – it directly translates to lower costs at checkout.
Upgraded Points’ 2025 analysis reveals that for single adults, Omaha requires around $89,500 to live comfortably, a figure far below coastal cities where the same lifestyle demands nearly double. Checkr’s 2025 analysis also found that Omaha, with its healthcare, logistics, and business services industries, is among the affordable cities with strong job markets.
A city known for its steakhouses that actually charges you reasonable prices for steak – that’s not a contradiction, that’s a superpower. Omaha is the kind of city where you can eat well every single night without ever feeling like you’re trading quality for affordability. Both come standard here.
7. Fort Worth, Texas – Barbecue, Tex-Mex, and Prices That Won’t Haunt You
Fort Worth sometimes lives in Dallas’s shadow, but when it comes to food affordability, it might actually be the smarter choice. Texas looks like a good bet for cheaper eats, with the state having five cities in the top 10 most affordable cities for dining out. Fort Worth is consistently one of them, and its food identity is proudly its own.
In Texas, Food City is the most affordable grocery store in both Dallas and Fort Worth, with prices cheaper than the local average by 12.40% and 13.41% respectively. Those are significant savings on everyday staples, especially for families doing large weekly shops.
Texas emerged as the state with the most affordable grocery prices with a Grocery Prices Index of 90.3, with grocery costs 9.7% below the national average, and even with a reported increase of 27.16% in grocery prices over the past two years, the affordability in Texas is attributed to efficient supply chains, competitive retail markets, and a robust agricultural industry.
Fort Worth’s barbecue scene alone is worth moving for. The cowboy culture that shaped this city still shapes its food – generous portions, unpretentious atmosphere, and prices anchored in a community that expects value for money. States with lower average food costs tend to be located in the South and Midwest, and Fort Worth sits squarely in that sweet spot, blending genuine food culture with genuine price discipline.
