How much you spend on food each month depends, of course, on the size of your household and your personal consumption habits. Statistics can give you a rough idea.
Food costs: How much you should budget per month
How much money you need for food each month depends not only on your consumption habits and, indirectly, your socioeconomic status, but also on the size of your household. Statistics provide a good impression of how high monthly food costs are. For the year 2022, the Federal Statistical Office has compiled overviews of monthly expenses, taking into account various factors such as household size and income level. The data for 2023 will not be available until the end of 2025.
- Consumer spending includes food, beverages, and tobacco products. The Federal Statistical Office estimates the average expenditure per household for 2022 at 14.6% of monthly income.
- People living alone spend an average of 245 euros per month on food, beverages, tobacco, and similar consumer goods. This corresponds to 13.4% of their monthly income. In a two-person household, the average is $472 (14.6%). For a four-person household, monthly expenses amount to €672 (15.5%).
- In addition to household size, income itself also influences the amount of expenditure. For 2018, for example, the Federal Statistical Office calculated monthly expenses of €220 for households with an income of between €1,300 and €1,500. For incomes of €2,600 to €3,600, the figure was €354.
Calculate individual food costs
Statistics are population-based projections, so they are not suitable, or only suitable to a limited extent, for making concrete statements about individual cases. If you want to find out how much you spend on food, it is helpful to keep a household budget book.
- Record your food shopping expenses for at least three, ideally six or more, months. You can decide for yourself which expenses to include—for example, restaurant visits, coffee to go, or tobacco.
- Calculate the monthly total and work out the average for all months. For example, if you spent $270, $310, and $290 in three months, the average is $290.
- To get a representative overview, only include “normal” months in your calculation. It is best to leave out months when you were on vacation or had higher expenses due to parties.
