The Price of Groceries in America: Why Honolulu Tops the List 🛒💸

 If you’ve been to the grocery store lately and thought, “Wow, these prices are criminal,” you’re not alone. But if you live in Honolulu, Hawaii, you’ve unlocked the final boss level of expensive groceries. According to the latest numbers, Honolulu ranks #1 in the U.S. for highest grocery costs. And honestly, it makes sense—about 85–90% of the food there is imported. That means your apples, milk, and chips are better-traveled than most of us. ✈️


The Usual Suspects: Big Cities, Big Bills

Right behind Honolulu, we’ve got the usual “expensive suspects”:

  • San Francisco (#2) – Home of $7 toast and $20 salads. Tech money doesn’t buy cheaper groceries.

  • New York City (#3) – Where even your bodega egg sandwich costs more than a gym membership.

  • Seattle (#4) – The coffee capital that apparently also charges extra for everything else.

  • Boston (#5) – Lobster might be fresh, but everything else makes your wallet cry.

Basically, if your city has tech startups, fancy coffee shops, or too many finance bros, prepare to fork over more cash for groceries.

The Middle of the Pack 🥦

Cities like Los Angeles (#11) and Chicago (#13) aren’t cheap either, but hey, at least you can cry about the prices while enjoying some world-class pizza or In-N-Out. Meanwhile, Atlanta (#14) and Charlotte (#15) are creeping up the list, proving that “Southern hospitality” doesn’t extend to your grocery bill.

Bargain-ish Cities (Sort Of) 🍊

On the “cheaper” end of this expensive top 20 list, Miami (#19) and Spokane (#18) squeak in. Sure, groceries might be slightly more affordable, but if you’re living in Miami, you’re probably spending your savings on $15 mojitos anyway.

So, What’s the Takeaway?

Groceries are expensive everywhere, but where you live matters. If you’re on an island, expect to pay more. If you’re in a major coastal city, expect to pay more. If you’re in the middle of nowhere? Well, congratulations—your grocery bill might not ruin you, but Amazon Prime shipping probably will.

The moral of the story? Your avocados have a zip code problem. 🥑 The farther they have to travel, the pricier your guac.

So next time you complain about your $5 box of cereal, just be glad you’re not buying it in Honolulu—where it probably costs $8 and comes with a postcard.

Source: NYC

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