What Montana Really Spends on Groceries

WorldAtlas compiled a list of which states pay the most and least on average weekly grocery bills. The results are wild. Hawaii’s out ahead, leading the charge, with citizens paying an astonishing $333.88 weekly. Alaska’s not far back with $328.71, since in Alaska everything is flown in by a plane or sled, or more likely, drug by a pack of dogs, just to get to the grocery shelf. The shocker is where Montana falls. We fall way down at 42nd out of 51, with a weekly average of $246.42. That is well below the big guys like California and Nevada, but even cheaper than places you might not expect, such as Pennsylvania or Oregon.

What That Number Means To Montanans

That’s where the number gets a bit weird. On paper $246.42 sounds like a win. Groceries are less expensive to purchase here than in most of America. But talk to anyone who has strolled down a bakery aisle in Missoula. Or tried to recreate a meal you saw on TikTok without going into debt at the Good Food Store. Montana’s lower status doesn’t always square with our daily life. We are a state where gas alone can eat what amounts to a hole in your budget. Groceries might be less expensive than what the national giants offer, but it doesn’t always feel cheap when you’re doing the math.

The States That Shocked Me Most

We beat Delaware. We beat Missouri. We defeated West Virginia, Michigan, and Nebraska. Idaho and Wyoming placed higher on the list than we did. In California it’s about 50 bucks more a week. Even Washington’s average is $287.67. That is a big jump. Well, if Montana is at $246.42 then we must be doing something right. The catch is that wages and costs of housing here don’t always rise in step. Cheap grocery bills are one thing until you put it next to all the other bills.