Montana Ranks High In Grocery Costs As Prices Surge Nationwide

Does it feel like you are spending more and more on groceries every single year? You are definitely not imagining it. I swear, I can hardly get out of the store without dropping at least 150 bucks on basic essentials here in Montana. Essentials, meaning the simple stuff like milk, bread, deli meat, and eggs. I am not talking about loading the cart with snacks, name-brand extras, or anything fun. Just the basics. It is honestly mind-boggling.

So no, you are not crazy. A new study from WalletHub tracked just how much grocery spending has climbed from 2000 to 2023, and the numbers are a jump scare for sure.

According to their findings, the average American now spends $504 per month on groceries. Between 2013 and 2023, grocery prices jumped a wild 52 percent. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also reports that the average household spent more than $6,000 on groceries in 2023. That is a 30 percent increase since 2019 alone. It is no wonder so many people feel like the weekly grocery run has turned into a financial ambush.

The study also broke down differences by state, and Montana is not in great shape on that list either. We ranked 11th for grocery spending compared to income. With a median monthly income of $5,528 and about 2.20% of that going straight to groceries, it adds up fast for families here.

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If nothing else, these numbers give all of us a clearer picture of where our money is going. And maybe it helps ease a little of that frustration when the cashier reads your total, and you wonder how a cart of basics costs that much.