Cost of food jan 2012

1. United States Center for Nutrition 3101 Park Center Drive
Department of Policy and Promotion Alexandria, VA 22302
Agriculture
Official USDA Food Plans: Cost of Food at Home at Four Levels,
U.S. Average, January 20121
Weekly cost2 Monthly cost2
Age-gender groups Thrifty Low-cost Moderate- Liberal Thrifty Low-cost Moderate- Liberal
plan plan cost plan plan plan plan cost plan plan
Individuals3
Child:
1 year 21.30 28.50 32.40 39.30 92.20 123.50 140.40 170.20
2-3 years 23.20 29.40 35.60 43.40 100.70 127.30 154.30 188.10
4-5 years 24.20 30.60 37.80 45.90 104.90 132.70 163.80 198.90
6-8 years 30.90 42.40 51.50 60.50 134.00 183.50 223.00 262.30
9-11 years 35.30 46.20 59.70 69.60 152.80 200.00 258.60 301.70
Male:
12-13 years 37.70 53.20 66.50 77.90 163.30 230.70 288.20 337.70
14-18 years 38.90 54.60 68.60 78.70 168.80 236.50 297.10 341.10
19-50 years 41.80 54.00 67.50 83.00 181.30 234.20 292.30 359.70
51-70 years 38.30 51.00 62.70 76.00 165.80 220.90 271.50 329.40
71+ years 38.40 50.70 62.50 77.00 166.40 219.70 270.80 333.70
Female:
12-13 years 37.70 46.10 55.20 67.30 163.50 199.70 239.20 291.60
14-18 years 37.20 46.30 55.90 68.90 161.40 200.80 242.10 298.50
19-50 years 37.20 46.90 57.90 74.00 161.00 203.30 250.80 320.70
51-70 years 36.70 45.80 56.60 67.90 159.00 198.40 245.40 294.00
71+ years 36.00 45.60 56.30 67.70 155.90 197.40 244.10 293.50
Families
Family of 2:4
19-50 years 86.90 111.10 137.90 172.70 376.60 481.30 597.40 748.40
51-70 years 82.40 106.40 131.20 158.30 357.30 461.20 568.50 685.70
Family of 4:
Couple, 19-50 years
and children
2-3 and 4-5 years 126.50 161.00 198.80 246.30 548.00 697.50 861.20 1067.30
6-8 and 9-11 years 145.20 189.50 236.50 287.20 629.10 821.10 1024.70 1244.30
1
The Food Plans represent a nutritious diet at four different cost levels. The nutritional bases of the Food Plans are the 1997-2005 Dietary
Reference Intakes, 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and 2005 MyPyramid food intake recommendations. In addition to cost,
differences among plans are in specific foods and quantities of foods. Another basis of the Food Plans is that all meals and snacks are
prepared at home. For specific foods and quantities of foods in the Food Plans, see Thrifty Food Plan, 2006 (2007) and The Low-Cost,
Moderate-Cost, and Liberal Food Plans, 2007 (2007). All four Food Plans are based on 2001-02 data and updated to current dollars by
using the Consumer Price Index for specific food items.
2
All costs are rounded to nearest 10 cents.
3
The costs given are for individuals in 4-person families. For individuals in other size families, the following adjustments are suggested:
1-person—add 20 percent; 2-person—add 10 percent; 3-person—add 5 percent; 4-person—no adjustment; 5- or 6-person—subtract
5 percent; 7- (or more) person—subtract 10 percent. To calculate overall household food costs, (1) adjust food costs for each person in
household and then (2) sum these adjusted food costs.
4
Ten percent added for family size adjustment.
This file may be accessed on CNPP’s home page at: http://www.cnpp.usda.gov. Issued February 2012