Highlights
- Louisiana ranks as the 10th most expensive state for groceries, with residents spending an average of $283 per week on food
- Restaurant dining costs have jumped 3.7 percent in the past year, with the average restaurant meal costing $20.37 per person compared to $4.31 for home cooking
- Louisiana restaurants face additional pressure from skyrocketing insurance premiums on top of the national 29 percent food cost increase over four years
- New Orleans leads state costs at 17 percent above Louisiana average, while Hammond offers the most affordable dining at 15 percent below national average
- Food-at-home prices have surged 25 percent compared to pre-pandemic levels, with eggs and dairy products hitting hardest
Breaking Down Louisiana’s Food Costs: What Families Are Really Paying to Eat in 2025
Louisiana families are seeing higher prices whether they shop for groceries or eat out
LAFAYETTE, La. (KPEL News) — Louisiana families know something’s different when they check out at the grocery store or sit down at their favorite restaurant.
Recent U.S. Census Bureau data shows that Louisiana residents spent nearly $283 per week on groceries in 2023, putting the state among the nation’s 10 most expensive for food costs. The numbers affect everyone from families planning crawfish boils in Lafayette to couples dining out in New Orleans.
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The situation is tougher for some families than others. Louisiana has food insecurity rates at 16.2 percent, well above the 12.2 percent national average, meaning food cost increases hit vulnerable families particularly hard.
Louisiana’s Grocery Bill Reality
Louisiana residents paid more at the grocery store than most Americans last year. The state’s grocery costs reflect both national inflation and problems specific to Louisiana…