Here’s What $50 Worth Of Groceries Looks Like Across The Country, In Photos
We all need to eat, but in recent years, it has sometimes felt like our grocery stores and food brands are actively working against us to keep us nourished.
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And it's not just a feeling, but a fact — from 2019 to 2023, food prices rose by 25%, surpassing overall inflation of 19% during the same period. In one survey, consumers cited food prices as their primary economic concern.
Anecdotally speaking, I have found it is sometimes cheaper for me to order pre-made meal delivery rather than buying all the ingredients myself (it's also more convenient, but that's another story). Sometimes, I even find DoorDash is cheaper, which is willldddd.
Alana Valko
Curious about how groceries cost across the country, I fell into a rabbit hole on r/whatsinyourcart, a subreddit where people share their groceries, often alongside their bills and where they bought them.
I decided to round up all the best ~approximately~ $50 entries I could find from this year to see how far $50 can go depending on location, store, and what's in the cart. It might make you feel a little better (or worse) about your own grocery bill. Let's get into 'em:
1.Here's what $46.34 got this person from Ralph's in Los Angeles:
2.To further prove my point that sometimes ingredients for one meal cost more than Doordash or meal delivery, this person's ingredients for their dinner cost them $47.72 in NYC:
At least they'll have some leftover bread, honey, and pistachios? 🫠 u/lavenderived / Via reddit.com
3.Here's what $50.87 got this person at Whole Foods (location unspecified):
Yikes. u/iamwatered / Via reddit.com
4.Another Whole Foods entry... $46 in Cincinnati:
This one's a little better. *A little.* u/worldwidewhimp / Via reddit.com
5.Ok, but it's not alllll terrible — here's what $51.08 got this person at an Aldi in Wisconsin:
Notes: Move to Wisconsin ✅ Shop at Aldi ✅ u/EmuInner8774 / Via reddit.com
6.And here's $50 at Albertsons in Southern California, of which $20 was in maple syrup:
I personally want to ship this person a nice $7.99 CAD ($5.86 USD) can of Québec maple syrup. u/waanderlustt / Via reddit.com
7.Here's what $51.69 looked like for this person at Star Market in Boston ($41.73 after rewards card):
Ooof... u/moransnail / Via reddit.com
8.But here's $50 at a Walmart in Indiana... not bad (and they even have meat!):
"I’m a major budget shopper, so I’ve just gotten pretty good at picking the best prices at Walmart (only grocery store near me) and checking what’s on sale as well!" — u/FishCultLuci u/FishCultLuci / Via reddit.com
9.Also very impressed by this person's Aldi haul for $50.86 in Louisville, KY:
I've been eating more vegetarian meals for a few reasons, but finances are one of 'em. u/Shlumped23 / Via reddit.com
10.Here's $51.90 at a Family Dollar in Chicago's south side:
And before you say, "A grocery store would be cheaper!" — much of south side Chicago is considered a food desert (AKA an area where one-third of residents live at least 0.5 miles from the nearest grocery store). In the last five years, Whole Foods, two Targets, and three Walmarts have all shut down in Chicago's south side. In many cases, dollar stores are the only option. u/NicelyBearded / Via reddit.com
11.Here's a pretty solid "just under $60" haul from Walmart in Saratoga Springs, NY:
So much meat and seems they have quite a few meals there! u/StrawberryDreamers / Via reddit.com
12.Not sure how to feel about this $45 vegan snack haul from a Target in Massachusetts:
$45/10 items = ~$4.5 per item. Vegan snacks ain't cheap. u/Bulky_Ad_4390 / Via reddit.com
13.This is what $44 gets ya at Trader Joe's in NYC:
I always found TJ's to be one of the most reliable and affordable grocery stores when I lived in NYC (produce being hit or miss). u/Frosty-Spare-6018 / Via reddit.com
14.A hop, skip, and a ferry away, here's what $49.07 gets at an Aldi in New Jersey:
Aldi FTW. u/midwest-ginger / Via reddit.com
15.And here's a burrito-cereal haul for $47 at a grocery store in Pennsylvania:
Cereal has gotten so expensive!!! u/AbleDragonfruit4767 / Via reddit.com
16.These people got a $51.10 produce-only haul from the "bargain bin" at a grocery store in the Bay area, California:
Seems pretty solid for the Bay area... I just hope their veggies lasted longer than two days. u/crabstravaganza / Via reddit.com
17.Lastly, here's some bulk-buying for $48.52 at an H-E-B in Houston, TX:
Mayo and mustard allll summer long. u/AndiNell / Via reddit.com