United States

Department of
Agriculture

Center for Nutrition

Policy and Promotion

3101 Park Center Drive

Alexandria, VA 22302

Official USDA Food Plans: Cost of Food at Home at Four Levels,

U.S. Average, January 20111
Weekly cost2
Age-gender groups

Thrifty
plan

Low-cost
plan

Moderatecost plan

Monthly cost2
Liberal
plan

Thrifty
plan

Low-cost
plan

Moderatecost plan

Liberal
plan

Individuals3
Child:
1 year
2-3 years
4-5 years
6-8 years
9-11 years

20.40
22.00
23.10
29.30
33.80

27.30
28.00
29.20
39.90
44.10

31.30
33.90
36.20
49.00
57.10

37.90
41.20
44.00
57.80
66.80

88.20
95.30
100.00
127.10
146.30

118.40
121.40
126.50
172.70
191.00

135.40
146.70
156.70
212.30
247.40

164.10
178.30
190.60
250.50
289.60

Male:
12-13 years
14-18 years
19-50 years
51-70 years
71+ years

35.70
37.10
39.80
36.30
36.40

50.30
51.90
51.30
48.60
47.80

62.70
64.80
64.00
59.60
59.60

74.00
74.90
78.40
72.50
73.10

154.70
160.60
172.40
157.40
157.80

218.20
225.10
222.40
210.60
207.30

271.80
280.90
277.50
258.10
258.30

320.70
324.60
339.70
314.00
316.80

Female:
12-13 years
14-18 years
19-50 years
51-70 years
71+ years

35.80
35.40
35.30
35.00
34.50

43.80
44.00
44.60
43.40
42.90

52.90
52.70
54.70
53.90
53.60

64.10
65.00
70.30
64.70
64.70

155.20
153.50
153.10
151.80
149.50

189.80
190.50
193.40
188.10
185.90

229.40
228.40
237.10
233.60
232.40

277.80
281.70
304.80
280.30
280.20

Families
Family of 2:4
19-50 years
51-70 years

82.60
78.50

105.50
101.20

130.60
124.80

163.60
150.90

358.10
340.10

457.30
438.60

566.00
540.80

708.90
653.70

120.20
138.20

153.10
179.90

188.80
224.80

233.90
273.40

520.90
598.90

663.60
779.40

818.00
974.20

1013.50
1184.50

Family of 4:
Couple, 19-50 years
and children
2-3 and 4-5 years
6-8 and 9-11 years

The Food Plans represent a nutritious diet at four different cost levels. The nutritional bases of the Food Plans are the 1997-2005 Dietary
Reference Intakes, 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and 2005 MyPyramid food intake recommendations. In addition to cost,
differences among plans are in specific foods and quantities of foods. Another basis of the Food Plans is that all meals and snacks are
prepared at home. For specific foods and quantities of foods in the Food Plans, see Thrifty Food Plan, 2006 (2007) and The Low-Cost,
Moderate-Cost, and Liberal Food Plans, 2007 (2007). All four Food Plans are based on 2001-02 data and updated to current dollars by
using the Consumer Price Index for specific food items.
2
All costs are rounded to nearest 10 cents.
3
The costs given are for individuals in 4-person families. For individuals in other size families, the following adjustments are suggested:
1-personadd 20 percent; 2-personadd 10 percent; 3-personadd 5 percent; 4-personno adjustment; 5- or 6-personsubtract
5 percent; 7- (or more) personsubtract 10 percent. To calculate overall household food costs, (1) adjust food costs for each person in
household and then (2) sum these adjusted food costs.
4
Ten percent added for family size adjustment.
This file may be accessed on CNPPs home page at: http://www.cnpp.usda.gov.

Issued February 2011