How much should you spend on groceries? The most widely used benchmark in the US is the USDA food plans, which price a healthy diet for people of every age at four spending levels. This calculator adds up the cost for each person in your household, applies the USDA adjustment for household size, and shows the weekly and monthly budget for all four plans.
How to Use the Grocery Budget Calculator
- Add your household. Start from a preset or add each person by age group. Children are grouped by age, and from age 12 the costs differ for boys and girls.
- Pick a plan. Click a plan in the table to see its monthly total and the cost for each person.
- Adjust for eating out. The USDA numbers assume every meal is made at home. If a share of your meals comes from restaurants or school lunches, lower the slider.
- Compare your spending. Type what you spend now to see which plan you are closest to.
The Four USDA Food Plans
| Plan | Where it sits |
|---|---|
| Thrifty | The lowest-cost plan, and the basis for maximum SNAP benefits. |
| Low-Cost | The next step up from Thrifty. |
| Moderate-Cost | The middle level. |
| Liberal | The highest of the four levels. |
All four plans are built to meet federal dietary guidance, and USDA updates their costs every month with food prices. The Thrifty plan was reevaluated in 2021 using 2013 to 2016 food consumption data, while the other three plans still rest on 2001 to 2002 data and change only with prices.
How Household Size Changes the Budget
USDA prices each person as if they lived in a family of four, then adjusts the total for the size of your household. Smaller households get a higher rate per person and larger ones a lower rate, because buying for more people usually costs less per serving.
| Household size | Adjustment |
|---|---|
| 1 person | Add 20% |
| 2 people | Add 10% |
| 3 people | Add 5% |
| 4 people | No change |
| 5 or 6 people | Subtract 5% |
| 7 or more people | Subtract 10% |
Turn the Budget Into a Plan
A number only helps if the week's meals fit inside it. The free meal planner takes a grocery budget, builds a week of breakfasts, lunches and dinners, and can swap the priciest meals for cheaper ones until the plan fits. Then shop from the weekly grocery list with prices turned on to track the total as you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should a family of four spend on groceries?
For USDA's reference family of four, two adults aged 20 to 50 and two children aged 6 to 8 and 9 to 11, the Thrifty plan cost $236.10 a week, or $1,023.20 a month, in June 2026. The other three plans cost more. Use the Family of 4 preset to see all four levels for your own family.
Where do these numbers come from?
They come from the USDA Food Plans: Cost of Food at Home reports, which USDA publishes every month. The calculator uses the national averages for the 48 contiguous states. USDA publishes separate figures for Alaska and Hawaii.
Does the budget include eating out?
No. The USDA plans assume every meal and snack is prepared at home. If you eat out often, lower the meals eaten at home slider, and budget for restaurants separately.
Why does a single person pay more per person?
USDA adds 20% for a one-person household and 10% for two people, because buying for fewer people usually costs more per serving. Households of five or more get a lower rate per person.
Which plan should I use for my budget?
The Thrifty plan is the tightest benchmark and usually takes careful planning and cooking from scratch. Pick the level that matches how you shop and what you can afford, then type your real spending to see how close you are.
More Free Kitchen Tools
Put your week on paper with the printable meal planner template, waste less of what you buy with the leftovers storage guide, and plan the biggest grocery trip of the year with the Thanksgiving grocery list.