Are you wondering how much the average person in the UK spends on food each week? Well, you’re in the right place!
We understand that it can be a worry to think about how much you spend on food shops. So, we’re here to provide some helpful facts and figures.
In this article, we’ll cover:
Some facts and figures about food spending
How much we’re generally spending on food
The cost of food in the UK
How income affects spending
Top tips to reduce your food spending
Our team knows what it’s like to budget and keep track of spending. We’re here to share our knowledge and make it easier for you to manage your food costs.
So, let’s get started and find out more about the average food spend per week in the UK!
Some facts and figures
Let’s start off with a few interesting facts and figures about food spending in the UK.
The average spend on food per person is around £44 per week (£189 per month).
Every year, the typical household in the UK now spends approximately £3,601 on groceries and an additional £1,744 on meals at restaurants and takeaways.
Households in the UK allocate 16% of their incomes to purchasing food and non-alcoholic drinks.
In the 12 months between June 2021 and June 2022, food prices increased by 9.9%.
Since the beginning of 2022, 93% of food banks have reported either an increase or a significantly increased demand for their services.
In 2019-20, the Trussell Trust projected that approximately 2.5% of all households in the UK, or 700,000 people, used a food bank. This was before the COVID-19 pandemic and the sudden rise in the cost of living.
According to research by CIA Landlord Insurance, the cheapest city for UK grocery spending is Stoke on Trent, with an average cost of £17.06. Unsurprisingly, London is the most expensive, coming in at £22.50 for the same products.
Brexit is thought to have added at least £210 to the cost of food for the average UK household – with food prices being raised by 6% since the UK left the European Union in January 2020.
How much are we spending?
It is estimated that the annual cost of food for a typical household in the UK will be approximately £5,345 in 2022 (based on the average number of 2.4 people per household), with roughly £300 being spent on beverages that do not contain alcohol. The cost of food for a typical household in the UK per week is approximately £103, almost 8% higher than a year ago. (It is important to note that for the purposes of this article, “food” includes beverages that do not include alcohol but do not include alcoholic beverages.)
About this data: Source: Nimblefins showing the average spend on food per week for groceries and eating out for single people and an average household of 2.4 children.
The typical weekly UK food budget for one person is £29, and an additional £15 is spent on takeout or dining out.
Of course, a household consisting of two adults will significantly differ from what a household of two adults and three children spends. The average household is thought to have 2.4 children, but we thought it might be useful to see how much households of different sizes spend.
About this data: Source: Nimblefins showing the average weekly food spend on groceries and eating out for different types of people and family sizes.
Every year, the typical household in the UK now spends approximately £3,601 on groceries and an additional £1,744 on meals at restaurants and takeaways.
As you can see from the below post on Mumsnet, for some families, the spend is much more, and is something many families are worrying about.
The problem is that food prices are rising massively. As we mentioned above, in the 12 months between June 2021 and June 2022, food prices went up by 9.9%. This is a significant increase, especially as wages are not increasing simultaneously. The graph below shows the price increase of various foodstuffs.
About this data: Source .GOV.UK showing the per cent change in food prices over the course of a year.
In the 12 months between June 2021 and June 2022, food prices went up by 9.9%.
The answer to why food costs are currently increasing is complex and multifaceted. Most of the increases can be attributed to rising costs associated with labour, energy, fuel, and transportation. In addition to this, production issues have been brought on by terrible weather conditions. The war in Ukraine is also impacting some items due to the UK food supply chain disruption. Thanks to Brexit, we must also remember the import tariffs’ impact on food prices. All of these price increases are being passed on to consumers.
How does income affect spending?
The families with the highest incomes, which have disposable incomes of over 72,000 pounds per year, spend three times as much on food and alcoholic beverages yearly as the families with the lowest incomes, which have under 11,650 pounds. This difference in spending can be attributed to the higher standard of living enjoyed by higher-income families and really highlights the income disparity and food spending in the UK.
Compared to the national average, lower-income households spend a disproportionately higher percentage of their food budget on processed meats and milk. The households with the greatest earnings spend significantly less on processed meats than the average household, but they spend more on fresh vegetables, showing the link between economic status and dietary choices. Unsurprisingly, households with the lowest incomes devote the largest percentage of their entire budget to purchasing food and beverages, a big cause of poverty and food insecurity in the UK.
About this data: Source: GOV.UK showing the per cent of income spend on food and non-alcoholic drinks over the years.
Top tips to reduce your food spending
While your costs will undoubtedly go up as food prices continue to rise, there are some things you can do to make savings on groceries in the UK, including:
Don’t be afraid to try supermarket own brands. In my experience, they can be just as good – or even better – than big brands.
Beware of multi-buy offers. While it might seem like a great deal, it is a waste of food and money if you can’t use it before it goes off.
Compare prices per 100g to ensure you get a good deal. The price labels on supermarket shelves should display this information.
Use seasonal fruit and vegetables. As well as being cheaper, it can also be much more eco-friendly as it is not flown in from other countries.
Spend some time each week on meal planning – search online for ‘budget-friendly meals UK’ for ideas.
Freeze leftovers to use another time.
Use coupons and discounts for groceries in the UK.
Conclusion
Across all ages and genders, the average cost of food per person—including shopping and eating out—is about £44 per week (£189 per month). In the UK, one person’s typical weekly food budget is £29, and an additional £15 is spent on takeout or dining out. However, men spend more on food than women do. Thus the average adult man spends about £53 per week (or £230 per month), compared to about £40 per week (or £175 per month) for women.
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