--- title: "Average grocery bill in Australia | 2016–2025 data — Chec..." description: "The average Australian household spends $178 a week on groceries, up from $157 when the ABS last measured it in 2016. Beef and veal prices rose 13.5% in the yea" lang: en-AU json-ld: | { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "Average grocery bill in Australia: what households spend", "description": "The average Australian household spends $178 a week on groceries, up from $157 when the ABS last measured it in 2016. Beef and veal prices rose 13.5% in the year to February 2026 alone. For single pensioners in regional areas, food now accounts for more than 22% of their income.", "image": [ "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1542838132-92c53300491e?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&q=80" ], "datePublished": "2026-06-02T00:00:00+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-07-02T05:03:48.474514+00:00", "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "CheckRate" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "CheckRate" }, "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://checkrate.com.au/average-grocery-bill" } } --- [CheckRate ](/) [Library](/articles) Back Spending # Average grocery bill in Australia: what households spend The average Australian household spends $178 a week on groceries, up from $157 when the ABS last measured it in 2016. Beef and veal prices rose 13.5% in the year to February 2026 alone. For single pensioners in regional areas, food now accounts for more than 22% of their income. 12 min read 02 June 2026 Updated 02 July 2026 Fact checked In this article 1. [What Australians pay at the supermarket](#what-australians-pay-at-the-supermarket) 2. [Australian food spending is at its highest on record](#australian-food-spending-is-at-its-highest-on-record) 3. [Grocery bills by state: how each has changed since 2016](#grocery-bills-by-state-how-each-has-changed-since-2016) 4. [Which food category costs the most and is rising fastest?](#which-food-category-costs-the-most-and-is-rising-fastest) 5. [The food categories making the biggest dent in the budget](#the-food-categories-making-the-biggest-dent-in-the-budget) 6. [How household size affects the weekly grocery bill](#how-household-size-affects-the-weekly-grocery-bill) 7. [Grocery spending by state: where Australians spend the most in 2025](#grocery-spending-by-state-where-australians-spend-the-most-in-2025) 8. [Average grocery bill by household size in Australia](#average-grocery-bill-by-household-size-in-australia) Key numbers at a glance $178 National average per week in 2025, up from **$160** in 2023 and $168 in 2024 $240 What families of four spend per week, **up 11%** on the previous year +13.5% Beef and veal — the steepest food price rise in the year to **February 2026** 22.2% Share of income some single pensioners spend on food in **regional areas** Section 01 The weekly grocery bill ## What Australians pay at the supermarket The average Australian household spends **$178 a week** on groceries in 2025, up from $168 in 2024 and $160 in 2023. Over three years, that is an $18 rise at the checkout, or roughly **$936 more a year**. The most reliable historical figure comes from 2016, when the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) sent researchers into 10,046 homes and asked them to record every food purchase for two weeks. That diary study found households spent an average of **$157 per week** on food and non-alcoholic drinks. The ABS has not repeated that type of household spending diary since, so more recent supermarket spending estimates rely on other sources, including annual mid-year surveys of grocery shoppers. These do not replace the ABS diary study, but they help show how supermarket costs have moved since the last detailed official snapshot. Why the 2016 and 2025 figures are not a direct comparison The 2016 ABS figure covered only food and non-alcoholic drinks. The consumer survey captures the full supermarket receipt, which typically includes cleaning products, toiletries and pet food. The ABS estimates 20 to 30 per cent of a typical supermarket transaction falls outside strict food categories. Part of the $21 gap between 2016 and 2025 reflects this broader definition, not just price rises. From 2016 to around 2021, grocery prices rose slowly. Then several things hit at once. Global shipping costs surged, the war in Ukraine pushed up grain and oil prices, and flooding across eastern Australia damaged crops in 2022 and 2023. By mid-2024, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) found that grocery prices were rising at more than **twice the rate of wages**. The pace of increase has since moderated, but grocery bills have not fallen. The national average has continued to climb, from $160 in 2023 to $178 in 2025. Average weekly grocery bill, 2016–2025 $ per week per household ABS Household Expenditure Survey 2016 (food only) Annual survey of supermarket shoppers (full checkout) The dashed line marks the 2016 ABS baseline of $156.70. The three green bars show the consumer survey figure rising $18 over two years. The gap between the navy bar and green bars is partly structural — the consumer survey captures the full checkout, while the ABS measured food only. **Sources:** ABS Household Expenditure Survey 2015–16; Annual supermarket shopper survey 2023, 2024 and 2025 (n=2,800–2,879). ![CheckRate](/__l5e/assets-v1/7bc4597d-01a6-41ce-b2ee-e3271c8e8b60/checkrate-logo.png) ## Australian food spending is at its highest on record Total Australian household food spending reached **$13.3 billion in December 2025**, the highest monthly figure in the ABS Monthly Household Spending Indicator series. Every month of 2025 also tracked above the same month in 2023, pointing to a sustained rise in food-related spending. The ABS Monthly Household Spending Indicator, which draws on bank transaction data across millions of accounts, shows the increase has been spread across both supermarket groceries and eating out. Total Australian household food spending, January 2023 to February 2026 AUD billions per month · includes dining out Jan-23 This data covers all food spending combined: supermarket groceries, restaurants, fast food and takeaway. December is consistently the biggest month. Every month of 2025 came in above the same month in 2023, confirming a sustained upward shift. The December 2025 figure of $13.3 billion was the highest single month in the dataset. **Source:** ABS Monthly Household Spending Indicator, January 2023 to February 2026. ![CheckRate](/__l5e/assets-v1/7bc4597d-01a6-41ce-b2ee-e3271c8e8b60/checkrate-logo.png) Section 02 2016 vs 2025: what's changed ## Grocery bills by state: how each has changed since 2016 Every state has a higher weekly grocery bill in 2025 than in 2016. Queensland recorded the largest nominal gain, up about **18.4% or $27.60 per week**. Despite Western Australia being the most expensive state in 2016, it recorded the smallest rise at +$12.18 (+7.3%). **Data note:** The 2016 figures cover food only, while 2025 includes the full checkout receipt, so some of each state's increase reflects that broader definition rather than price rises alone. Average weekly grocery bill by state, 2016 vs 2025 Click a view to switch · $ per week · navy = 2016 (food only) · green = 2025 (full checkout) Compare both years2016 only2025 only NSW NSW overtook WA as the most expensive mainland state between 2016 and 2025. Queensland showed the largest nominal gain, up $27.60 per week. **Sources:** ABS Household Expenditure Survey 2015–16; Annual supermarket shopper survey, mid-2025. ## Which food category costs the most and is rising fastest? Meat took the largest single share of grocery spending in 2016 at around **$27 a week**. It is now also the fastest-rising food category, with beef and veal up **13.5%** year on year to February 2026. That double burden means households are paying more for the item they were already spending the most on. The grocery basket: 2016 weekly spending by category Click to switch view · $ per week · ABS Household Expenditure Survey 2016 Where the 2016 basket money went ($/week)What is rising fastest now (annual %) MeatBeef, lamb, pork, other $27.02/wk $27.02 Prepared foodsCondiments, snacks, ready meals $25.57/wk $25.57 Bakery & cerealsBread, flour, cereals $19.87/wk $19.87 VegetablesAll fresh and canned veg $15.32/wk $15.32 BeveragesCoffee, tea, juice, soft drinks $15.00/wk $15.00 DairyMilk, cheese, ice cream $15.12/wk $15.12 Fruit & nutsAll fresh, dried, canned $14.77/wk $14.77 Fish & seafoodAll fish and shellfish $5.46/wk $5.46 EggsAll egg products $1.86/wk $1.86 The 2016 spending figures are from the ABS Household Expenditure Survey (food categories only, excluding meals out). Meat at $27.02/week was the single largest category. The inflation chart shows that meat is now also the fastest-rising category, a double burden for households. **Sources:** ABS Household Expenditure Survey 2015–16; ABS Consumer Price Index, February 2026. Section 03 What's getting dearer ## The food categories making the biggest dent in the budget **Beef and veal are up 13.5%** year-on-year to February 2026, and lamb and goat are close behind at 13%. That means a kilogram of beef that cost $20 a year ago now costs around $22.70. Over a week's shopping, that adds up quickly. Across the rest of the shopping basket, price rises are broad. Coffee, tea and cocoa are up 11.5%, driven by global supply disruptions. Snacks and confectionery are up 6.7%. At the more stable end, vegetables and pork have risen just 0.5%. That widening gap between proteins and produce is already changing how Australians shop. Fewer households are buying premium cuts of red meat, with more switching to chicken, pork or plant-based alternatives. Food price changes: year-on-year to February 2026 Annual % change · ABS CPI · red = above 5% Beef and veal +13.5% Lamb and goat +13% Coffee, tea, cocoa +11.5% Snacks & confect. +6.7% Dairy (ice cream) +4.6% Fruit +4.3% Breakfast cereals +4.1% Milk +3.7% Eggs +3.4% Bread +0.7% Vegetables +0.5% Pork +0.5% Red bars mark categories rising more than 5% per year. Beef and veal at 13.5% annual growth means compounding pressure: two consecutive years at that rate would add nearly 29% to the price. The contrast with vegetables (+0.5%) explains why many households are rebuilding their menu around cheaper proteins. **Source:** ABS Consumer Price Index, February 2026. ![CheckRate](/__l5e/assets-v1/7bc4597d-01a6-41ce-b2ee-e3271c8e8b60/checkrate-logo.png) Research finding A study tracking dietary costs in Brisbane from 2019 to 2022 found that eating healthily became 17.9% more expensive, nearly 50% faster than the 11.9% rise in the cost of an unhealthy diet. Unhealthy food became cheaper by comparison. Households under financial pressure are being pushed toward lower-quality diets not by choice, but by price. The shift toward home-brand supermarket products is the clearest consumer response. Private-label goods now account for a larger share of trolleys than at any point in the past decade. The savings on individual items are real, but the overall spend at the checkout has not fallen, because prices have risen across even the most basic product lines. Section 04 By household type ## How household size affects the weekly grocery bill In 2025, singles spent **$111 a week** on groceries, couples **$161**, and families of four **$240**. The per-person cost falls significantly as household size grows, from $111 for someone living alone to around $60 for someone in a larger family. Total bills have risen since 2021 across all household types, but the increase has been steepest for families, whose weekly bill has risen **28%** over that period. Single person $ 111 per week in 2025 2021 $98 2024 $107 2025 $111 Couple $ 161 per week in 2025 (around $80.50 each) 2021 $145 2024 $163 2025 $161 Family (4 or more) $ 240 per week in 2025 (around $12,480 per year) 2021 $187 2024 $216 2025 $240 ### Grocery bill for one person Singles spent **$111 a week** on groceries in 2025, which works out to around $5,772 a year. That is the highest per-person cost of any household type. Multi-buy promotions, twin-packs and family-size formats offer the lowest unit price, but single-person households often cannot use them without food going to waste. That per-person cost hits hardest for pensioners on fixed incomes. Unlike working-age singles who can cut back elsewhere or take on extra hours, retirees living alone have very little room to absorb price rises in essential categories. Single pensioners spend more of their income on food The ABS has found that single pensioners in some regional areas spend up to 22.2% of their income on food, compared with the national household average of 12.3%. Working-age households can sometimes offset grocery price rises by cutting back in other areas or earning more. Pensioners generally cannot. This makes ongoing grocery inflation particularly hard on older Australians living alone, especially those outside major cities. ### Grocery bill for couples Couples spent **$161 a week** in 2025, or around **$80.50 per person**, roughly 27% less per head than someone living alone. Two-person households buy more efficiently. Shared meals, larger pack sizes and the ability to plan across multiple nights all reduce the cost per person. The 2025 figure is marginally below the 2024 figure of $163. That small dip does not reflect falling prices. It may reflect deliberate adjustments like switching to cheaper brands, cooking more from scratch, or planning meals around what is on sale that week. ### Grocery bill for families Families of four spent **$240 a week** on groceries in 2025, an 11% jump in a single year and 28% more than the 2021 figure of $187. That works out to around **$12,480** a year at the checkout. Families spent $216 a week on groceries in both 2023 and 2024. That pause should not be mistaken for relief. It may show households reaching a budget ceiling and adjusting what went into the trolley, rather than facing lower prices. The jump to $240 in 2025 suggests families could no longer hold the weekly grocery bill at its previous level. In practice, many families are now dropping premium cuts of meat, buying more home-brand products, and building meals around cheaper, filling staples like pasta, rice and legumes. Section 05 Does your state matter? ## Grocery spending by state: where Australians spend the most in 2025 Among the five mainland states, NSW households spent the most at **$180** a week, while South Australia was lowest at **$167**. Western Australia followed closely behind NSW at $179 a week, while Queensland matched the national average at $178. Victoria came in lower, at $173 a week. In 2016, Western Australia was the most expensive state at $166.82 a week, while South Australia was the cheapest at $146.82. WA's higher figure likely reflected the added cost pressures of distance and freight across the Nullarbor. By 2025, South Australia remained the most affordable mainland state, but the gap had narrowed. Its average weekly grocery spend rose by around $20 across the period. Average weekly grocery bill by state, 2025 $ per week · annual shopper survey, mid-2025 NSW overtook WA as the most expensive mainland state between 2016 and 2025. The 2025 rankings are tight: just $13 separates NSW ($180) from SA ($167). These figures capture the full supermarket checkout and reflect mid-year averages. **Source:** Annual supermarket shopper survey, mid-2025 (n=2,879). ![CheckRate](/__l5e/assets-v1/7bc4597d-01a6-41ce-b2ee-e3271c8e8b60/checkrate-logo.png) State averages do not reflect the experience of remote communities Consumer surveys draw most NT responses from Darwin, not from remote communities where prices are far higher. The NT Council of Social Service has documented that a standard basket of healthy food costs up to 60% more in a remote community store than in a major city supermarket. This represents one of Australia's most acute food affordability gaps, and it is almost invisible in state-level averages. ### How each state has changed since 2016 Queensland recorded the steepest rise of any state between 2016 and 2025, up **$27.60** per week, a gain of 18.4%. Western Australia, despite being the most expensive state in 2016, had the smallest nominal gain at $12.18, or 7.3%. Data note: The 2016 figures measure food only (ABS diary method), while the 2025 figures cover the full checkout receipt, so some of the nominal increase reflects the broader definition rather than price rises alone. Weekly grocery bill by state · 2016 ABS vs 2025 survey State 2016 ABS ($/wk) 2025 survey ($/wk) Nominal change **New South Wales** $158.45 $180.00 +$21.55 (+13.6%) **Queensland** $150.40 $178.00 +$27.60 (+18.4%) **Western Australia** $166.82 $179.00 +$12.18 (+7.3%) **Victoria** $158.37 $173.00 +$14.63 (+9.2%) **South Australia** $146.82 $167.00 +$20.18 (+13.7%) ![CheckRate](/__l5e/assets-v1/7bc4597d-01a6-41ce-b2ee-e3271c8e8b60/checkrate-logo.png) Section 06 How households compare ## Average grocery bill by household size in Australia The national average is **$178 a week**, but what counts as typical depends heavily on the number of people in the household. Singles average $111, couples $161, and families of four $240. I live aloneCouple (no kids)Family of 3Family of 4+ Single person · 2025 benchmark $ 111 per week · $67 below national average Per month $481 52-week average Per year $5,772 At this weekly rate Per person/week approx. $111 Estimated per capita Single-person households pay more per head than any other group. Supermarket deals favour bulk buying, which is harder to use when shopping for one without food going to waste. If your bill is above $111 a week, location is the most common reason: regional and remote areas cost meaningfully more than capital cities. Source: Annual supermarket shopper survey, mid-2025 (n=2,879). National average: $178 per week (mid-2025 survey). Average grocery bill by household size · 2025 Household type Weekly Monthly Annual Per person/wk vs $178 avg **Single person** **$111** $481 $5,772 ~$111 **\-$67** **Couple (no kids)** **$161** $699 $8,372 ~$80.5 **\-$17** **Family of 3 (est.)** **$200** $867 $10,400 ~$67 **+$22** **Family of 4+** **$240** $1,040 $12,480 ~$60 **+$62** ![CheckRate](/__l5e/assets-v1/7bc4597d-01a6-41ce-b2ee-e3271c8e8b60/checkrate-logo.png) ### Why do some households spend more than the average? Households that spend above the benchmark tend to be in regional or remote areas where food costs more, have specific dietary needs, or include cleaning products and toiletries in the weekly shop. Those who spend less often use discount supermarkets, cook from scratch, or have fewer people than the household type suggests. General information only This article is based on publicly available data from the ABS and an annual survey of Australian supermarket shoppers. It is general information only and does not constitute financial or consumer advice. If you are making decisions about your household budget, consider speaking with a licensed financial adviser or the relevant government agency directly. References 1. [**ABS Household Expenditure Survey 2015–16**](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/finance/household-expenditure-survey-australia-summary-results/latest-release): Food and non-alcoholic beverages; fortnightly diary across 10,046 households. 2. [**ABS Monthly Household Spending Indicator, 2023–2026**](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/finance/monthly-household-spending-indicator/latest-release): Bank transaction data covering all household food expenditure, including dining out. 3. [**ABS Consumer Price Index, February 2026**](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/price-indexes-and-inflation/consumer-price-index-australia/feb-2026): Food sub-categories including meat, dairy, fruit, vegetables and coffee. 4. [**Annual supermarket shopper survey (Canstar Blue), 2023–2025**](https://www.canstarblue.com.au/groceries/average-grocery-bill/): National average, 2023–2025 comparison, state breakdown, and household-size grocery spending data. 5. [**ACCC Supermarkets inquiry interim report, 2024**](https://www.accc.gov.au/about-us/publications/serial-publications/supermarkets-inquiry-2024-25-reports/supermarkets-inquiry-interim-report-august-2024): Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. 6. [**NTCOSS cost of living reports, various years**](https://ntcoss.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/NTCOSS-Cost-of-Living-Food-Oct-2024-FINAL-Digital.pdf): Northern Territory Council of Social Service; remote community food pricing. 7. [National Library of Medicine: **Longitudinal dietary cost study, Greater Brisbane, 2019–2022**](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9967271/): Healthy vs unhealthy diet cost divergence. ## Data Snapshots ![aaverage weekly grocery bill 2016 2025](https://eznpqfufanyahmlyjhnj.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-covers/snapshots/a356f5e5-b482-4d93-a5f3-fee3390b5c2b/aaverage-weekly-grocery-bill-2016-2025-rclv.jpg) Average Weekly Grocery Bill 2016 to 2025 ![australian supermarket food spending 2023 2026](https://eznpqfufanyahmlyjhnj.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-covers/snapshots/a356f5e5-b482-4d93-a5f3-fee3390b5c2b/australian-supermarket-food-spending-2023-2026-hpvp.jpg) Australian Supermarket Food Spending 2023 to 2026 ## Related research [ ![How much have insurance premiums increased in Australia?](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1637763723578-79a4ca9225f7?q=80&w=871&auto=format&fit=crop&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8fA%3D%3D) Spending 20 July 2026 · 11 min read ### How much have insurance premiums increased in Australia? 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They are averages across all households, not average premiums paid by insured policyholders. ](/average-insurance-cost) [ ![How HECS has changed since 1989: debt, fees and policy over time](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1541339907198-e08756dedf3f?auto=format&fit=crop&w=2000&q=80) Spending 08 July 2026 · 14 min read ### How HECS has changed since 1989: debt, fees and policy over time HECS began in 1989 as a flat $1,800 charge with a $22,000 repayment threshold. By 2024-25 it had become a field-based, marginally-repaid loan system carrying $82.2 billion in debt. 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