Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
Many of us would be lying if we didn't say that budgeting has been on our minds. Especially these past few years. It certainly feels like nearly everything has gotten much, much more expensive. And if the price of food makes you wince at the store checkout, you’re not the only one.
The r/whatsinyourcart community invites people to share photos of their shopping carts and baskets, along with the price. We’ve collected some of the most interesting ones, mainly from the United States, to show you just how (in)expensive groceries can be in some places. Scroll down to check them out!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
510 Ksh $3.93 Local Market, Kenya
RELATED:
#2
$109 In Groceries: Naknek, Alaska
#3
$106.08 At Aldi, Midwest
The r/whatsinyourcart subreddit has been around for roughly 7 years now. In that time, the wholesome group has grown to 34k members from all around the globe. The founder and head moderator of the online community, u/JackalAbacus, once said that they didn’t expect the group to hit even 1k subscribers.
Sharing one’s shopping cart is a pretty good way to show what kind of person you are. Others can instantly tell what your dietary habits are like, how thrifty you are, and how large your budget is. It’s a very different kind of vulnerability than many of us are used to. (And we suspect some of us would feel embarrassed to share how many snacks and little treats we need just to keep going!)
#4
$192 USD In Wisconsin, Includes 48 Pounds Of Meat
#5
Aldi - Florida $78
#6
$51.08 Aldi Wisconsin
There’s a whole legion of macro-level factors why groceries have become so darn expensive over the past half-decade or so. The Covid-19 pandemic, the invasion of Ukraine, and rising global instability have had a knock-on effect on product costs in many parts of the world.
Meanwhile, extreme weather damaged crop yields in some parts of the world, while some businesses used the opportunity to raise prices for better profit margins.
#7
Kroger - Midwest $31.43
#8
When You Eat Mostly Veg And Produce $76
#9
$18.26 At Sprouts In Alabama
Supply chain issues and inflation have been buzzwords that we’ve been hearing practically non-stop on the news and on social media.
Many families have had to adjust their spending habits. You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who didn’t make budget adjustments as prices ballooned. However, things might be changing for the better. Hopefully, for good.
#10
$117.43 At Safeway In Alaska (Used The App For Massive Savings)
#11
Just Moved Out On My Own. First Grocery Haul For Some Staples. $90
#12
6973 Ksh ($52.87) Naivas, Nairobi Kenya
CNN reports that grocery prices actually fell in the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ recent data, prices dropped (an admittedly not-so-dramatic) 0.2% from March to April 2024.
While it might not sound like a huge deal, progress is still progress. If the trend persists, it should make many American shoppers feel more confident about the economy. And who doesn’t like their cash doing more for them than before?
#13
Am I Silly For Being Excited About Only Spending $119 On This?!
#14
It’s Friday Night Babyyyyy! Total $22
Rabbit Of ill Portent(she/her) 1 year ago (edited)
Omfg I need to hunt down that hot honey pepperoni and feta pizza 😲😲😲
#15
$193.18 At Aldi, Southern California
StrangeOne 1 year ago
I can't remember the last time I had a grocery haul like this. But on the positive side, we've had less spoiled food to go through.
However, not everyone is celebrating groceries getting (ever so slightly) cheaper. The cost of food at restaurants actually increased by 0.3% over that same period.
Meanwhile, if you zoom out a bit, you’ll realize that grocery prices are still 1.1% higher than a year ago. Though, to be fair, that’s still lower than the surge of inflation, which rose 3.4% over those same 12 months.
#16
$18 At Boston Haymarket
#17
$145 At Kroger
Jessica N 1 year ago (edited)
The toilet paper is 10$ but that organic hamburger is like 9$ a lb. Unless thats pork? was helping a neighbor use their United Healthcare food/toiletry benefit card and discovered you can only buy pre sealed meat. Nothing from regular butcher section, sigh. So for him to get hamburger he had to get that pre sealed organic and waste 5$/lb. Luckily it's often "on sale" bc noone buys it when the burger next to it is 4$/lb. BTW if anyone has that card, they fixed the scanner so you can use phone to make certain you can purchase items. Finally.
#18
Walmart - 11.29
Over the past year through April, ham in the US became 3.4% cheaper on average. The price of cheese fell a similar amount: by 3.3%. The cost of fish, seafood, and potatoes dropped 2.1%.
Coffee enthusiasts also have something to be happy about, as the cost of that gem of a commodity fell by 2%. Among other food items that got cheaper for the American consumer were milk (down 1.2%) and rice (1% cheaper compared to 2023).
#19
$50.86 At Aldi’s In The Us
#20
$299.00 At Costco. I Feel Robbed
#21
Would Love To See More Grocery Hauls On Here So, Here’s Mine! $50 At Walmart
Apple prices were down significantly in the US. They cost 12.7% less when compared to a year ago. Meanwhile, eggs, which were notoriously overpriced in recent years, also got cheaper. They’re 9% less costly compared to last year.
However, you can’t say the same about every grocery item.
#22
$130. This Will Feed Me For The Week
sturmwesen 1 year ago
I would be to cheap for the meat and berries. We pay 90-110€ for two people in Germany and it already pains me.
#23
Just Under $60 At Walmart (Saratoga Springs, NY)
Oy vey 🤨 1 year ago
A good bit of beef in the US is processed right here in Sioux City IA. Even though the meat is shipped as quickly as possible the myoglobin (?) gets drained out or absorbed by those pads in the packaging thus losing the fresh red colour. P.S. It's not blood, that got drained out at slaughter.
#24
$35 At Aldi, Ne Ohio
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 1 year ago
*grabs the package of baby weinies and dashes under the sofa for lunch*
For instance, the wildfires in Texas have made beef costs soar. Uncooked beef roasts now cost 10.1% more. Meanwhile, hot dogs are up 7.1%, and uncooked beef steak will set you back 6.5%.
Uncooked ground beef is up by 6%, too. In the meantime, the cost of fruits and veggies has risen by 1.7%. That’s just slightly less than the increase in the price of flour, which stands at 2.5%.
#25
$118 - Whole Foods Nc
#26
$70 United Grocery Outlet
A B 1 year ago
I love theyre unashamed about the 5 cartons of Halo Top! I'd love to be able to afford ice cream of any sort
LakotaWolf (she/her) 1 year ago
...why should they even consider being ashamed of 5 cartons of Halo Top? (The way you said you loved that they are "unashamed" implies that normally people would be ashamed of the purchase.)
Load More Replies...
Generally, if you want to save on food costs, you should be willing to do a bit of shopping around. Check out your local supermarkets, markets, and mom-and-pop stores. See what discounts they offer.
Buying food in bulk, on discount, focusing on seasonal items, and eating even slightly less red meat are all good ways to save some cash.
#28
$20.71 At Super King Market In Socal
#29
Bay Area, Ca Produce Only Haul $51.10
#30
$90 San Francisco, Ca
Perfumista Perfumista 1 year ago
What are the items just south of the carrots? Isn't ginger just wonderful.
What are your thoughts on grocery prices these days, Pandas? What tips would you give someone who’s new to cutting costs and budgeting? How do you keep food costs down? What's your fave go-to budget meal?
Feel free to tell us all about it in the comments! Now, if you'll excuse us, we need ourselves a little snack...
#31
$106 Aldi New York
doredde 1 year ago
ALDI Hamburg/Germany would be half of your bill. And this is a discounter... I don´t get it. But I do get, why so many US citizens seem to have at least two job (taking into consideration your rental prices as well and no or bad public transportation, no "free" healthcare). That can not be healthy. I feel really sorry for you.
#32
Here's What $46.34 Got This Person From Ralph's In Los Angeles
Der Kommissar 1 year ago (edited)
Buy Kroger (The Simple Truth), Amazon Basics or other generic brands. cheaper and just as good.
#33
$50 At Albertson’s
Mariele Scherzinger 1 year ago (edited)
How? Okay, maple syrup is expensive, so are strawberries (especially if they are out of season), and there are cheaper pasta brands. But still - $50 ??? Where I shop, this would be about € 20-25. (And here I thought prices have gone up in the EU.)
#34
Needed To Re-Up On Perishables. $49.07 At An Aldi In New Jersey
#35
$20.57 Total In Seattle
#36
$141 At Walmart, Ohio
Crystal Spencer 1 year ago
That is the WORST cat litter. The fresh step crystals aren't too bad, though.
#37
This Is For One Meal (Plus A Few Extra Things) In NYC. $47.72
David 1 year ago
I live in NYC, where the heck are you shopping. The chains and Stop and Shop are affordable, but my local independent grocery this haul would be under $30 And you bought expensive nuts and an expensive brand goat cheese, swap those with affordable brand alternatives, and it would be about $20. This isnt because of NY, this is because you went to a pricey store and got overpriced items
#38
Grocery Outlet - Socal $74.78
#39
$125 Trader Joes In NYC (Recite Included)
Justin Tyme 1 year ago (edited)
What are you going to recite? How about The Gettysburg Address? That is always a good one.
#40
$50.45, Walmart, Se U.S
#42
550$ 5 Hours And 5 Stores Later
In_the_gorge 1 year ago
5 hrs, 5 stores, and over $500 doesn’t seem like a sustainable shopping experience.
#43
Movie Snacks To Avoid Crazy Prices. $10 From Whole Foods
#44
$107 At Costco
Mystery Kitteh 1 year ago
Yeah. I can't leave Costco without spending $200-$300 and coming out with 1/2 a shopping cart of stuff
#45
$185 Shoprite Upstate NY
#46
$80.13 Grocery Outlet
Carl Roberts 1 year ago
If you go to Grocery Outlet at the right time, you can get bonkers deals. My last trip, I got over $100 of meat for about $15. Including 5 pounds of polish sausage for 50 cents.
#47
$60.29 At Woodman's In Wisconsin
#48
$75 Safeway In Us, Or
Miranda Patterson 1 year ago
That's about right for Safeway in Oregon. Especially in the major towns, Salem, Portland, and Bend. Smaller towns the prices are a tiny bit cheaper, but then again Safeway is one of the most expensive stores here.
#49
Went To Whole Foods For Some Snacks…. $50.87
#50
$44 At Trader Joes In NYC
karen snyder 1 year ago
Too bad you can't eat all that plastic. Trader Joe's is the biggest offender of unnecessary plastic packaging.
#52
$154 At Safeway, Bay Area California
#53
51.69 At Star Market In Boston
#54
$48.52 Houston, Tx
#56
$97 Grocery Haul! I Know It Doesn't Look That Great, But To Me This Means A Lot
#57
$70 At Walmart. East Tn
#59
$143.57 Whole Foods, Maryland
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 1 year ago
*knocks the blueberries off the table, and bats all but one under the sofa* What did I do with the other one? Your feet will find it soon enough.
#60
$138.89 Aldis Run. Madison, Wi
#62
$170 Whole Foods 🙃
#63
$46 At Whole Foods
#64
These Prices Are Ridiculous Pennsylvania. $47 For Just This!
#65
$117 At Whole Foods
#66
$56 Walmart
StrangeOne 1 year ago (edited)
CeraVe is pretty expensive. I'd say that set is close to $35-40
#67
$268.49 We're Out Of Food Kind Of Grocery Run (Chicago, USA)
#69
$38.20 Trader Joes And Target
#71
$51.90 Family Dollar, Southside Chicago
#72
$36.96 @ Target In Ohio
#74
$65.70 @ Walmart
#75
51.69 At Star Market In Boston
#76
$78 In Michigan (USA)
#77
First Groceries In My First Apartment
#78
Whole Foods Grocery Run. Guess The Total
#79
The "There's Nothing But Beer In The Fridge" Grocery Run
#80
Splurged On Everything I’ve Been Wanting To Try And Still Came In
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Overloaded ball of anxiety 1 year ago
I’m actually amazed at the amount of processed food In some of these. I understand a bit, but some of them have no fresh foods.
Tempest 1 year ago (edited)
Yes that’s what I noticed after the first several photos. I understand the convenience factor of such food but imagine the effect on one’s health from eating so much of that! Is it really impossible for people to buy some fresh produce and cook a meal once in a while? You can’t just blame it on lack of time. Where I’m from we all work 9-5 jobs just like everyone but we rarely eat processed foods. In fact stores don’t even sell so much of them because no one buys them. When there’s time we cook fresh dishes but on days when it’s hard to, we plan ahead and meal prep (like cook the weekday lunches over the weekend).
Load More Replies... Mariele Scherzinger 1 year ago
To create more effective comparisons, wouldn't it be more helpful to collect pictures of different grocery purchases which all cost the shoppers about €50 each?
Mammie 1 year ago
I'd be curious to know what the same stuff costs outside of the US. I only looked at about half of them but they were all from the states.
doredde 1 year ago
I´m from Germany and what irritated me the most is your ALDI prices. Here you would pay 50% or less for the same groceries at the same store. Why is that so? Is food really so overpriced in the US, taking into consideration, that you probably have larger areas for agriculture as we here and lots of your processed food contains a lot more (cheaper) additions like corn starch syrup and other things?
Load More Replies...
Weasel Wise 1 year ago
Currently on Maui...we got zero junk/processed foods and I, having grown up poor, always shop for a deal...two bags of groceries, $165.
Jack Burton 1 year ago
Looks expensive seen from Europe and lot of processed food, not much veggies or fruits apart from the Kenyan pictures
Mammie 1 year ago
Fresh fruits and veggies are more expensive than the other stuff. That's why. The possessed stuff is the cheaper, feeds more people for the $$ option.
Load More Replies...
Little Wonder 1 year ago
Proof I need to get out more - I really enjoyed looking at brands I've never heard of, or brands we have here but with different packets. Gosh I'm fun to be around.
Verena 1 year ago
With the current climate change going on (no matter if it is "naturally" or man made) and the dead soil due to over-fertilizing, local, basic food will get more expensive. Plus the competition is higher than ever before. 8 billion people fighting for food is different from 2,5 billion in the 1950s.
Tiffanyy Ambeer 1 year ago
US seems to have it easy with grocery shopping, in Australia those prices wouldve been minimal double the USA's
doredde 1 year ago
One thing I do not really understand is, why do people buy this mini vegetables? I get that it is convenient, but when you compare the prices to normal grown veggies (per kg), they are waaaaay to expensive.
Hippopotamuses 1 year ago
I can't believe how cheap food is in the US, especially meat. You could safely double a lot of these prices in NZ.
doredde 1 year ago
Really? How do you earn a living? Or is housing and everything else so much cheaper in comparison?
Load More Replies...
Hey! 1 year ago
We went grocery shopping the other day and it cost us $375 CAD + change and it's going to give us 50 portions (I just calculated my list, which tells me how many servings I'm going to get). For ex, I had several recipes with 4 portions, so it fed us for two days each. Some 6, some only 2. It's decent. We're in Ontario Canada.
Rebekah Fuentes 1 year ago
I'm going to have to check out Aldi's. Although, in my state I've heard it's hit or miss depending on the location 🤔
Poison Ivy/Boo 1 year ago
I live in a big city in Scotland. My hubs is vegetarian and I'm diabetic. Our weekly grocery shop is usually under £100. I batch cook and freeze my food (have to weigh and portion out sizes anyway and it's quicker and easier to do it in a day). We shop at lidl's and Tesco's.
Nadia Komorova 1 year ago
No wonder we are the only chronically inflamed, chronically diseased, detrimental to all life on Earth and everyone's habitats species on this planet. In 2024 to be still gobbling on beheaded fully sentient sensitive individuals, mammary glands secretions their little ones most definitely needed, all that processed c**p and oils is embarrassing. Kudos to those who nourish according to our species' anatomical equipment, enzymatic functions and an actual humane psychological landscape.
M T 1 year ago
People evidently don't know how to shop. I bought about the same amount as #68 yesterday at the same chain and it came to about $90. Cut coupons and buy stuff that are on sale and most of these people can cut grocery bill by 30% at least. I checked my receipts I bought three things that were regular price yesterday.
Candid Panda 1 year ago
The price of food has risen so much over the past few years. I don't know how people can afford to feed their families. I'm surprised more people don't start to garden to grow their own food.
doredde 1 year ago
That would be only possible if you have your own garden, which normally means you have more money than the average person. And if you live in the city, in a flat this is not the case. Plus, you have to have time, the right climate and watering is/can be expensive. Especially the more south you live. That is a good idea, but will not solve the problem for the future, as mentioned above from Verena. Only a total U-turn in lowering down the population, restructuring societies, climate behaviour, finding solutions for transportations with as few private cars etc.., building astable system for a fair income for EVERYONE and get rid of the richest 1% and so on and so on, will save us from extinction. A nice little private garden is better than nothing, but the privilege of a few and not sustainable, except for one generation of relatively wealthy people living in the right climate zone. You can´t save Africas and other regions problems with a "Schrebergarten".
Load More Replies...
Overloaded ball of anxiety 1 year ago
I’m actually amazed at the amount of processed food In some of these. I understand a bit, but some of them have no fresh foods.
Tempest 1 year ago (edited)
Yes that’s what I noticed after the first several photos. I understand the convenience factor of such food but imagine the effect on one’s health from eating so much of that! Is it really impossible for people to buy some fresh produce and cook a meal once in a while? You can’t just blame it on lack of time. Where I’m from we all work 9-5 jobs just like everyone but we rarely eat processed foods. In fact stores don’t even sell so much of them because no one buys them. When there’s time we cook fresh dishes but on days when it’s hard to, we plan ahead and meal prep (like cook the weekday lunches over the weekend).
Load More Replies... Mariele Scherzinger 1 year ago
To create more effective comparisons, wouldn't it be more helpful to collect pictures of different grocery purchases which all cost the shoppers about €50 each?
Mammie 1 year ago
I'd be curious to know what the same stuff costs outside of the US. I only looked at about half of them but they were all from the states.
doredde 1 year ago
I´m from Germany and what irritated me the most is your ALDI prices. Here you would pay 50% or less for the same groceries at the same store. Why is that so? Is food really so overpriced in the US, taking into consideration, that you probably have larger areas for agriculture as we here and lots of your processed food contains a lot more (cheaper) additions like corn starch syrup and other things?
Load More Replies... Weasel Wise 1 year ago
Currently on Maui...we got zero junk/processed foods and I, having grown up poor, always shop for a deal...two bags of groceries, $165.
Jack Burton 1 year ago
Looks expensive seen from Europe and lot of processed food, not much veggies or fruits apart from the Kenyan pictures
Mammie 1 year ago
Fresh fruits and veggies are more expensive than the other stuff. That's why. The possessed stuff is the cheaper, feeds more people for the $$ option.
Load More Replies... Little Wonder 1 year ago
Proof I need to get out more - I really enjoyed looking at brands I've never heard of, or brands we have here but with different packets. Gosh I'm fun to be around.
Verena 1 year ago
With the current climate change going on (no matter if it is "naturally" or man made) and the dead soil due to over-fertilizing, local, basic food will get more expensive. Plus the competition is higher than ever before. 8 billion people fighting for food is different from 2,5 billion in the 1950s.
Tiffanyy Ambeer 1 year ago
US seems to have it easy with grocery shopping, in Australia those prices wouldve been minimal double the USA's
doredde 1 year ago
One thing I do not really understand is, why do people buy this mini vegetables? I get that it is convenient, but when you compare the prices to normal grown veggies (per kg), they are waaaaay to expensive.
Hippopotamuses 1 year ago
I can't believe how cheap food is in the US, especially meat. You could safely double a lot of these prices in NZ.
doredde 1 year ago
Really? How do you earn a living? Or is housing and everything else so much cheaper in comparison?
Load More Replies... Hey! 1 year ago
We went grocery shopping the other day and it cost us $375 CAD + change and it's going to give us 50 portions (I just calculated my list, which tells me how many servings I'm going to get). For ex, I had several recipes with 4 portions, so it fed us for two days each. Some 6, some only 2. It's decent. We're in Ontario Canada.
Rebekah Fuentes 1 year ago
I'm going to have to check out Aldi's. Although, in my state I've heard it's hit or miss depending on the location 🤔
Poison Ivy/Boo 1 year ago
I live in a big city in Scotland. My hubs is vegetarian and I'm diabetic. Our weekly grocery shop is usually under £100. I batch cook and freeze my food (have to weigh and portion out sizes anyway and it's quicker and easier to do it in a day). We shop at lidl's and Tesco's.
Nadia Komorova 1 year ago
No wonder we are the only chronically inflamed, chronically diseased, detrimental to all life on Earth and everyone's habitats species on this planet. In 2024 to be still gobbling on beheaded fully sentient sensitive individuals, mammary glands secretions their little ones most definitely needed, all that processed c**p and oils is embarrassing. Kudos to those who nourish according to our species' anatomical equipment, enzymatic functions and an actual humane psychological landscape.
M T 1 year ago
People evidently don't know how to shop. I bought about the same amount as #68 yesterday at the same chain and it came to about $90. Cut coupons and buy stuff that are on sale and most of these people can cut grocery bill by 30% at least. I checked my receipts I bought three things that were regular price yesterday.
Candid Panda 1 year ago
The price of food has risen so much over the past few years. I don't know how people can afford to feed their families. I'm surprised more people don't start to garden to grow their own food.
doredde 1 year ago
That would be only possible if you have your own garden, which normally means you have more money than the average person. And if you live in the city, in a flat this is not the case. Plus, you have to have time, the right climate and watering is/can be expensive. Especially the more south you live. That is a good idea, but will not solve the problem for the future, as mentioned above from Verena. Only a total U-turn in lowering down the population, restructuring societies, climate behaviour, finding solutions for transportations with as few private cars etc.., building astable system for a fair income for EVERYONE and get rid of the richest 1% and so on and so on, will save us from extinction. A nice little private garden is better than nothing, but the privilege of a few and not sustainable, except for one generation of relatively wealthy people living in the right climate zone. You can´t save Africas and other regions problems with a "Schrebergarten".
Load More Replies... You May Like 50 Bakers Whose Creations Deserve Michelin Stars (New Pics) 36 Of The Most Foul Things People Were Forced To Eat As Guests In Someone’s Home These Are The Things You Might Not Have Known About Washing Your Fruits And Veggies
Greta Jaruševičiūtė
Rūta Zumbrickaitė
Ieva Pečiulytė
Related on Bored Panda
