By Region
South
The South grocery basket price was $55.42 in July 2026 for a comparable 11-item regional staple basket, 1.6% below the national comparable basket, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average price data.
Comparable basket, South. Latest available regional BLS prices · most items through July 2026 · some regional items update bi-monthly.
Groceries in the South are 1.6% cheaper than the national average. The comparable 11-item basket costs $55.42 here versus $56.32 for the U.S. city average, using each item's latest BLS price. Over the past year the regional basket is up 1.9%.
Relative to the rest of the country, the South pays the most above average for lemons (+7%) and potatoes (+6%). It comes in below the national average on ground beef (-6%) and bacon (-6%). Each figure is the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average price, not an estimate.
The regional basket fell 0.2% from the prior month. For a concrete shelf comparison, the price of lemons is $2.27 per pound in the South against $2.13 for the U.S. city average — a premium of about 7%. The ranking is limited to the 11 staples the BLS prices in every region, which it refreshes on a roughly bi-monthly cadence, so it moves more slowly than the monthly national index.
Frequently asked questions
How much do groceries cost in the South?
The South comparable grocery basket cost $55.42 in July 2026, covering 11 staples priced by the BLS for every region.
Are groceries more expensive in the South than the U.S. average?
The South comparable basket is 1.6% below the national comparable basket of $56.32 as of July 2026.
Which grocery item differs most in the South?
Lemons differs most: $2.27 per pound in the South versus $2.13 nationally, a 7% premium.
Where does the South grocery price data come from?
From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Average Price Data program. BLS publishes grocery average prices for the U.S. city average and the four census regions, not individual metro areas.
Item by item vs. the national average
| Item | South | U.S. avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lemons /lb | $2.27 | $2.13 | +6.5% |
| Potatoes /lb | $1.00 | $0.94 | +6.2% |
| Potato chips /16oz | $6.95 | $6.56 | +6% |
| Ham /lb | $5.58 | $5.49 | +1.6% |
| Chicken breast /lb | $4.11 | $4.15 | -1.2% |
| Oranges /lb | $1.51 | $1.54 | -1.8% |
| Bread /lb | $1.75 | $1.82 | -4% |
| Bananas /lb | $0.62 | $0.65 | -5.1% |
| Chicken /lb | $1.90 | $2.01 | -5.3% |
| Bacon /lb | $6.18 | $6.58 | -6.1% |
| Ground beef /lb | $6.45 | $6.89 | -6.3% |