Groceries More Affordable In IL Than Most States: Ranking

ILLINOIS — Groceries are more affordable in Illinois than most states in the country, according to a recent ranking.

The analysis by Coupons4Real.com looked at average household take-home pay alongside annual grocery expenditures in each state to determine the percentage of income residents spend on groceries.

Illinois came in eighth on the list of states where residents spend the lowest percentage of income, with 4.8 percent — or $3,910 — in take-home pay going to groceries. New Hampsire was seventh at 4.77 percent and Connecticut was ninth at 4.82 percent.

"To avoid overspending, plan meals, make lists, and stick to them,” Panayotis Nikolaidis, CEO and founder of Savings United, said in a news release about the analysis. “Compare prices across stores, opt for store brands and buy in bulk for staples but avoid impulse purchases. Utilize coupons and loyalty programs and consider meal prepping to reduce waste and costs.”

Nationwide, groceries are most affordable in Maryland, where they take up just 4.2 percent of household income, followed by Virginia with 4.32 percent and North Dakota with 4.45 percent.

The most expensive state for groceries per income was Idaho, where they cost 7.44 percent of take-home pay. New Mexico followed with 6.82 percent, then Hawaii with 6.81 percent.