Is MS one of the most expensive states to buy groceries? See for yourself
Grocery bills have climbed across the country over the past year, but a recent study suggests Mississippians are feeling the price hikes more than most.
Prices of all goods and services rose by 3.3% between March 2025 and March 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index.
A June 9 study by Self Financial, a credit building platform, ranks Mississippi as the fifth most expensive state for grocery shopping, finding that a standard basket of basic groceries in the state costs 1.7% more than the national average.
Here’s how grocery shopping in the Magnolia State compares to the rest of the country.
Which states are the most expensive for groceries?
These are the top 10 most expensive states for grocery shopping and their averages for a basket of groceries, according to the Self Financial study:
1. Alaska, $152.20
2. Hawaii, $145.63
3. Maine, $135.80
4. Louisiana, $135.37
5. Mississippi, $134.83
6. Missouri, $134.63
7. Arkansas, $134.37
8. Florida, $134.35
9. Connecticut, $134.21
10. New York, $134.01
Which states are the least expensive for groceries?
These are the top five least expensive states for grocery shopping and their averages for a basket of groceries, according to the Self Financial study:
1. New Jersey, $125.85
2. Utah, $127.09
3. Massachusetts, $128.72
4. Alabama, $129.17
5. Washington, $129.52
How did credit building platform conduct ranking?
The Self Financial analysis compared the cost of 30 common Walmart grocery items of the same brand when possible across all 50 states. A total cost of a basket of groceries was calculated for each state and ranked.
Grocery items included fresh produce, dairy products, bottled water and household essentials, analysts said. See the full list of grocery items compared here.
