Prices for eggs and other food products have fallen again over the course of the year, but are still not at the level that many consumers would consider “normal”.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, national food prices rose 2.9% year-over-year in November. Eating out was even more expensive: the cost of eating out rose 5.7% year-over-year.
Everyone buys groceries differently. Those who earn more do not always spend more. Some high earners like to splurge at restaurants, while others are still looking for ways to save.
Here's how much five people with a six-figure salary spend on groceries per month.
- Annual salary: $130,000
- Monthly food expenses: $1,110 in January 2023
Kelly's job as a traveling artist – who shoots flaming arrows with her feet, no less – takes her around the world. However, her monthly income fluctuates because she is self-employed.
When her career as a footy shooter wanes, Kelly plans to focus on other ways to make money online, such as writing e-books.
Athena Kolb for CNBC Make It
Kelly keeps her living expenses low by renting a room in a friend's house for just $300 a month, which gives her the opportunity to spend more on food, something she enjoys doing, whether for fun with friends or networking.
“Spending money on food is one of my big habits, and it's probably not a great habit,” she said in April. “But I've had so many great experiences, either meeting people or hanging out with my friends, that I don't regret it.”
- Annual salary: $210,000
- Monthly food expenses: $662 in September 2023
Rodriguez invests most of her income in saving and investing for her future. Still, she loves traveling and experiencing different cultures, which often adds to her food budget.
Rodriguez visits her hometown of New York every few weeks.
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“I try to save on the things that aren't that important to me, but I spend on the things that are important to me, like food and experiences when I travel to another country,” she told CNBC in October Make it.
- Annual salary: $194,000
- Monthly food expenses: $363 in June 2023
Although he spends more on takeout from restaurants than on food he can prepare at home, Nguonly manages to keep his food costs relatively low. It helps that he works for Google, which provides an important employee benefit.
Ngunur lived with his great-grandmother for a year before buying his house, about 15 minutes from her.
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“The office has free food for breakfast and lunch,” he told CNBC Make It in August. “I go to the office three days a week, so that eliminates about three or four meals a week.”
- Annual salary: $230,000
- Monthly food expenses: $432 in March 2023
As co-founder and co-owner of Sarah's Handmade Ice Cream, Park knows better than many grocery shoppers how much of an impact the price of items like eggs, milk and sugar can have on your life. She and her boyfriend also enjoy exploring the different restaurants their city has to offer.
Park in front of Sarah's Handmade Ice Cream in North Bethesda, Maryland.
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“Food is always a big expense for us,” she told CNBC Make It in May. “There's just never an end to all of the amazing restaurants in DC and we always love going and trying out the newest restaurants.”
Similar to most people, Park's food budget varies. She said she eats out about one to three times a week, which can add up quickly. In an expensive month, “it could cost anywhere from $600 to $800 for restaurants alone,” she said.
- Annual salary: $187,000
- Monthly food expenses: $1,440 in December 2022
As a travel nurse, Tucker often works for weeks at a time in different locations across the United States. But he remains rooted in his hometown of Spartanburg, where he owns a townhouse and the cost of living is relatively low.
When Tucker is not working or traveling, he enjoys spending time with family, playing basketball, and playing pool.
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Still, his grocery costs can add up quickly if he's on the go and eats a lot of meals out. Last December, he spent more than $1,400 on groceries while on contract in Fresno, California. His grocery costs were higher than normal this month, he said, because he was cooking less.
When they're on the road, Tucker and his girlfriend – who is also a travel nurse – try to cook a few meals, but their work schedule makes it difficult.
“To be honest, my food doesn’t even taste that good,” Tucker said March. “So I try to eat out at different places.”
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