Compare grocery costs
Food prices can often shape our everyday food choices. Find out how much healthier choices cost using our free estimator. Prices come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Items without a BLS price require the price from your local market.
Basket Comparison
Unhealthy Basket is $21.15 more than Healthy Basket.
138.6% more relative to Healthy Basket.
This compares prices, not nutrition. Enter your store prices to see how costs change; blank fields use BLS averages. For shopping ideas, see Eat Well for Less.
Healthy Basket
Below are some healthy food choices. Change the items to see how much healthy options cost.
7 items
Basket total
$15.26
7 BLS-average lines
Total uses the full published price precision, so displayed item amounts may differ by $0.01.
Large eggs
dozen · BLS average $2.27
Source details
Eggs, grade A, large, per doz. · Series APU0000708111
Optional; blank uses the BLS average.$2.27Whole milk
gallon · BLS average $4.11
Source details
Milk, fresh, whole, fortified, per gal. (3.8 lit) · Series APU0000709112
Optional; blank uses the BLS average.$4.11Chicken legs
pound · BLS average $1.74
Source details
Chicken legs, bone-in, per lb. (453.6 gm) · Series APU0000706212
Optional; blank uses the BLS average.$3.48Long-grain white rice
pound · BLS average $1.12
Source details
Rice, white, long grain, uncooked, per lb. (453.6 gm) · Series APU0000701312
Optional; blank uses the BLS average.$1.12Bananas
pound · BLS average $0.66
Source details
Bananas, per lb. (453.6 gm) · Series APU0000711211
Optional; blank uses the BLS average.$0.66Iceberg lettuce
pound · BLS average $1.64
Source details
Lettuce, iceberg, per lb. (453.6 gm) · Series APU0000712211
Optional; blank uses the BLS average.$1.64Field-grown tomatoes
pound · BLS average $1.99
Source details
Tomatoes, field grown, per lb. (453.6 gm) · Series APU0000712311
Optional; blank uses the BLS average.$1.99
Unhealthy Basket
Below are some unhealthy food choices. Change the items to see how much less healthy options cost.
3 items
Basket total
$36.41
3 BLS-average lines
Potato chips
16-ounce package · BLS average $6.67
Source details
Potato chips, per 16 oz. · Series APU0000718311
Optional; blank uses the BLS average.$20.00Ice cream
half gallon · BLS average $5.93
Source details
Ice cream, prepackaged, bulk, regular, per 1/2 gal. (1.9 lit) · Series APU0000710411
Optional; blank uses the BLS average.$11.86Soft drinks
2-liter bottle · BLS average $2.27
Source details
All soft drinks, per 2 liters (67.6 oz) · Series APU0000FN1101
Optional; blank uses the BLS average.$4.55
The cost of a healthy diet
A healthy diet needs variety, not just enough calories. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) studies the least expensive mix of locally available foods that covers several food groups. It also asks whether people can afford that food after paying for other basic needs.
This calculator answers a smaller question: What do the items you choose in these two baskets cost? The baskets are not complete diets or equal amounts of food. Try your store prices to explore your options; the result does not measure whether a healthy diet is affordable for your household.
How FAO measures the cost and affordability of a healthy diet (opens in a new tab)
What this comparison shows
Additional foods can be added; some require a price from your store because no comparable BLS average is available. The default quantities are illustrative one-week shopping carts, not complete diets. The baskets are not equal in food amount, weight, servings, or nutrition.
Prices vary by store, brand, package, promotion, location, taxes and fees, and time. National averages are not local estimates, forecasts, or guarantees. BLS updates these data monthly, so newer observations may be available.
Your price changes one line only. It is not saved, shared, transmitted, or included in the URL. Learn more in Methodology & Sources.
BLS Average Price Data (opens in a new tab)
Prices checked October 17, 2026: 22 September observations and one July observation for orange juice concentrate. BLS does not provide an item-level publication timestamp for these records.