Cost of food

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Cost of food

There are dramatic differences in the costs of different

foods. Using prices that I have paid or found in the

supermarket I have computed the cost per serving for a number

of different foods to illustrate the cost differences. The

costs per serving range from rice at 2.1 cents per serving to

sirloin steak at $2.49 per serving.

Rice (white). Cost per pound, dry: $.20 One cup of dry rice

weighs 6.9 oz. One cup of dry rice (plus two cups of water)

yields 4 cups of cooked rice. Serving size: One quarter cup

of dry rice or 1 cup of cooked rice. Number of servings per

pound: 9.3 Cost per serving: $.021

Oatmeal (Quick Oats). Cost per 42 oz box: $1.29 (ALDI) Cost

per pound, dry: $.49. One cup of dry oatmeal weighs 2.8 oz.

One half cup of dry oatmeal (plus 1 cup of water) yields 1

cup of cooked oatmeal. Serving size: One half cup of dry

oatmeal or 1 cup of cooked oatmeal. Number of servings per

box: 30 Cost per serving: $.043

Beans (Pinto). Cost per 2 pound bag: $.79 (ALDI) Cost per

pound, dry: $.40 One cup of dry beans weighs 6.0 oz. One

cup of dry beans yields 2.4 cups of cooked beans. Serving

size: .42 cups of dry beans or 1 cup of cooked beans.

Number of servings per bag: 12.7 Cost per serving: $.064

Flour. Cost per 5 pound bag: $.79 (ALDI). Cost per pound:

$.158 One 5 lb bag contains 17.25 cups. Weight of 1 cup:

4.64 oz Cost per cup: $.0456 Serving size: .25 cups

Cost per serving: $.011

Sourdough Bread (homemade). 7.5 cups of flour plus 2.5 cups of

water yield approximately 57.8 ounces of bread. Cost per

pound: $.095. Serving size: 2 oz Cost per serving: $.012

Potatoes (white). Cost per pound: $.129 (ALDI). Serving size:

8 oz Cost per serving: $.065

Macaroni (elbow). Cost per pound, dry (ALDI): $.45 One cup

of dry macaroni weighs about 4 oz. Four ounces ( 1 cup) of

dry macaroni yields 11.6 ounces (or about 2.5 cups) of cooked

macaroni. Serving size: 2.76 oz of dry macaroni or 8 oz of

cooked macaroni. Number of servings per pound: 5.8 Cost

per serving: $.077

Spaghetti. Cost per pound: $.45 (ALDI). Four ounces of dry

spaghetti yields 11.6 ounces of cooked spaghetti. Serving

size: 2.75 oz of dry spaghetti or 8 oz of cooked spaghetti.

Number of servings per pound: 5.8 Cost per serving: $.077

Milk. Cost per gallon (ALDI): $2.19 Serving size: 1 cup

Cost per serving: $.137

Peanut Butter. Cost per 18 oz jar: $.99 Serving size: 2 tbsp

Number of servings in jar: 15 Cost per serving: $.066

Strawberry Jam. Cost per 32 oz jar: $2.29 Serving size: 1

tbsp Number of servings in jar: 45 Cost per serving:

$.051

Grape Jelly. Cost per 32 oz jar: $.99 Serving size: 1 tbsp

Number of servings in jar: 45 Cost per serving: $.022

Raspberry Preserves. Cost per 16 oz jar: $.99 (ALDI) Serving

size: 1 tbsp Number of servings in jar: 22 Cost per

serving: $.045

Bananas. Cost per pound: $.25 (ALDI). Serving size: 8 oz

Cost per serving: $.125

Carrots. Cost per 2 lb bag (ALDI): $.79 Cost per pound:

$.395 Serving size: 2 oz Cost per serving: $.049

Tuna (canned, chunk light). Cost per 6 oz can: $.33 Cost per

pound: $.88 Serving size: 2 oz Cost per serving: $.11

Turkey. Cost per pound (with bone in): $.38 Cost per pound

(no bone): $.76 Serving size: 8 oz Cost per serving: $.38

Chicken leg quarters. Cost per pound (with bone in): $.39

Cost per pound (no bone): $.78 Serving size: 8 oz Cost

per serving: $.39

Ham. Cost per pound (with bone in): $.99 Cost per pound (no

bone): $1.98 Serving size: 8 oz Cost per serving: $.99

Pork Chops. Cost per pound: $1.49 Serving size: 8 oz Cost

per serving: $.75

Ground beef. Cost per pound: $1.49 Serving size: 8 oz Cost

per serving: $.75

Beef roast. Cost per pound: $3.76 Serving size: 8 oz Cost

per serving: $1.88

Sirloin steak. Cost per pound: $4.98 Serving size: 8 oz

Cost per serving: $2.49

Mar 2001

NOTE. The prices above correspond to the period around March

2001. Some have changed substantially since then.

See How cheaply can one eat?