Thursday, Apr. 16, 2026

Is the percentage of income spent on groceries per household in Oklahoma among the highest in the nation?

yes

Multiple analyses of food prices from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2025 Consumer Expenditure Survey rank Oklahoma at No. 8 for grocery costs as a share of median state income.

GoBankingRates found that Oklahomans spend 9.1% of their incomes on groceries on average, 12% higher than the national average of 8.1%. Considering only the 26 most commonly purchased items, WalletHub’s findings matched Oklahoma’s ranking and percentage difference over the national average.

The average grocery cost for Oklahomans increased by 6.5% in 2025, more than the states holding the top three spots, which saw increases of 5.7%, 3.7%, and 6%, respectively, as well as the nationwide average of 2.3%.

According to the USDA, grocery prices nationwide, which were relatively stable before the COVID-19 pandemic, have increased by 25% since 2020. In 2022, prices increased a significant 11.4%, compared to the historical average of 2.6% since 2006.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

GO Banking Rates Here’s How Much More You Are Paying for Groceries in Your State
WalletHub States Where People Spend the Most & Least on Groceries
U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Price Outlook - Summary Findings
U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Food Price Outlook

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Fact briefs are bite-sized, well-sourced explanations that offer clear "yes" or "no" answers to questions, confusions, and unsupported claims circulating online. They rely on publicly available data and documents, often from the original source. Fact briefs are written and published by newsrooms in the Gigafact network.

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