Retirement Retired Life

Here's How Much the Average Boomer Spends on Groceries Each Month

Grocery bills are a recurring part of monthly budgets. Here's what households headed by someone 65 or older spend at the checkout.

By Chris Lewis, CEPF , Edited by Laura Hohenstein

Updated Oct. 9, 2026

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Grocery runs add up fast, and that's true no matter your age. But does the typical household headed by a boomer spend more or less at the checkout than everyone else? Spending data broken down by age can help you see where your own grocery costs stand and possibly help you free up your retirement budget.

Editor's note: Figures come from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Surveys for 2024 and 2023. Spending is measured per consumer unit, generally a household sharing major expenses, and grouped by the reference person's age. Monthly figures are annual averages divided by 12.

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So how much do boomers actually spend on groceries each month?

Average: $438 a month

Households headed by someone 65 and older spent an average of $5,251 a year on food at home, which works out to about $438 a month, according to the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey for 2024. That covers the BLS "food at home" category, including grocery food purchases, but excludes restaurant meals and nonfood items such as cleaning supplies.

For the same year, these households spent an average of $61,432 on everything combined.

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Did grocery spending rise for boomers?

Yes, grocery spending moved higher. In 2023, households 65 and older spent an average of $4,973 a year on food at home, or about $414 a month. That climbed to $5,251 a year, or about $438 a month, in 2024.

Total spending for this group also rose over the same period, from an average of $60,087 in 2023 to $61,432 in 2024.

Do boomers 65 to 74 spend more than those 75 and older?

Households headed by someone 65 to 74 spent an average of $5,642 a year on groceries, about $470 a month, in 2024. Those headed by someone 75 or older spent less, averaging $4,696 a year, or about $391 a month.

Overall spending lines up the same way. Households 65 to 74 spent an average of $65,354 for the year on everything combined, while households 75 and older spent $55,834.

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How boomers compare with all households and ages 55 to 64

All households combined spent an average of $6,224 a year on groceries in 2024, about $519 a month. That's higher than the $5,251 average for households 65 and older. Households 55 to 64 spent an average of $6,174 a year, or about $514 a month, also above the 65-and-older figure.

So while grocery spending climbed for households 65 and older year over year, their average still sits below what all households and households 55 to 64 spent on groceries in 2024.

Ways to spend less on groceries

Plan meals around sales and what's already in the pantry before you shop.
Compare unit prices instead of package prices to find the better deal.
Buy store brands for staples like dairy, cereal, and pantry basics.
Ask your grocery store about discount days and free loyalty programs.
Batch-cook meat, fish, and produce when they're priced well, then freeze portions.

Bottom line

Any retirement plan should include a line item for essentials like groceries. Boomers, meaning households headed by someone 65 and older, spent an average of $438 a month on groceries in 2024, up from about $414 a month the year before. That's below the $519 monthly average for all households and the $515 monthly average for households headed by someone 55 to 64.

Within that group, households 65 to 74 averaged about $470 a month on groceries, while households 75 and older averaged about $391. Knowing these numbers can help you put your budget in perspective and spot opportunities to adjust your spending.

FAQs

How does grocery spending compare to eating out for boomers?

Households 65 and older spent an average of $5,251 a year on groceries in 2024, compared with an average of $2,689 a year on food away from home. Combined, total food spending averaged $7,940 a year, or about $662 a month.

What do boomers spend the most on within their grocery budget?

The biggest piece was "other food at home" at an average of $2,010 a year, followed by meats, poultry, fish, and eggs at $1,168, fruits and vegetables at $842, cereals and bakery products at $685, and dairy products at $547, all averages for 2024.

Do boomers 75 and older spend less on groceries than those 65 to 74?

Yes, in 2024. Households headed by someone 75 or older averaged $4,696 a year on groceries, about $391 a month, compared with $5,642 a year, about $470 a month, for those headed by someone 65 to 74.

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