The Digester

Arkansas, Mississippi and North Dakota get the most from a $100 grocery budget; Hawaii and Alaska get the least

Mar 11th 2026

A GOBankingRates review of state cost indexes and BLS consumer data shows major state differences in what $100 buys at the supermarket, with inland states stretching budgets and island and remote states facing the highest grocery costs.

  • GOBankingRates analysis using state cost indexes and BLS data finds Arkansas, Mississippi and North Dakota stretch $100 the furthest, with $100 in Arkansas equaling $108.34 in national purchasing power and $100 in Mississippi and North Dakota equaling $106.04.
  • Hawaii and Alaska have the weakest purchasing power, with $100 in Hawaii equaling $76.63 nationally and $100 in Alaska equaling $80.39.
  • Twenty four states have grocery purchasing power at or below the national $100 baseline, reflecting broad regional variation in food costs.
  • Annual figures show Arkansas households average $5,745 on groceries with a $35,231 cost of living, while Hawaii averages $8,122 on groceries with a $95,651 cost of living and Alaska averages $7,743 on groceries with a $57,091 cost of living.
  • Americans spend $1,305 or more per year on meat, poultry, fish and eggs, and fruits and vegetables exceed $1,000 in annual costs in 10 states.
  • Grocery spending varies by generation, with boomers spending the most in Hawaii ($7,301) and Alaska ($7,256) and the least in Oklahoma and Arkansas (about $5,252).

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