How Much Does the Average Person Spend on Food a Month?

The cost of feeding yourself—or a whole household—has ballooned in the past two years. Britain’s grocery inflation peaked at 14.3 % in late 2023 before easing, while café and restaurant prices continue to outpace wage growth. So, what does “average” look like in 2025—and where do you fit in? Let’s dig into authoritative numbers from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Eurostat, then unpack the drivers, regional quirks, and smart ways to trim the tab.

1. What the Latest Data Says (2023-25)

*Groceries exclude alcohol; eating-out covers restaurants, cafés, and takeaways.

Key Takeaways

• The typical UK household now spends ~£425/month on food and drink (groceries + eating out)—up 8 % vs 2022 even after price relief.
  
  

• European food budgets swing from ~11 % of household spend in Germany to ~15 % in Italy.
  
  
  

2. Why Do Food Budgets Vary So Much?

1. Income Elasticity (Engel’s Law) – High-earners devote a smaller share of pay to food, even if the cash amount rises.
   
   

2. Lifestyle Mix – Home-cooked vs Deliveroo, branded vs own-label, vegan vs high-protein diets.
   
   

3. Location Premiums – London supermarkets average 9 % above the UK price index; rural Wales sits 4 % below.
   
   

4. Inflation & Supply Shocks – Cocoa futures up 120 % YoY, pushing chocolate prices higher.
   
   
   

3. How Rising Prices Hit Different Households

11 % real-terms drop in UK household food volumes 2022-23 despite spending more cash (ONS).

High-Income Households

• Absorb cost hikes by trading up to premium items.
  
  

Low-Income Households

• Down-shift to value ranges; food-bank usage up 19 % YoY (Trussell Trust 2024).
  
  

Urban Singles

• Pay the highest per-kg prices (smaller pack sizes, convenience stores).
  
  

4. Smart Budgeting Hacks for 2025

1. Meal-Plan Around the Yellow-Sticker Window – UK supermarkets mark down perishables ~7 p.m. weekdays.

2. Use Price-Tracking Apps – Trolley.co.uk now covers > 30 k SKUs and sends instant alerts.

3. Batch-Cook & Freeze – More energy-efficient if you fill the oven.

4. Swap Branded to Own-Label – Saves ~ 30 % per basket 

5. Leverage Loyalty & Cashback – Tesco Clubcard, Lidl Plus, and Curve Pay Rewards can stack.
   
   

5. How Curve Pay Helps You Control (and Cut) Food Spend

1. Smart Rules – Auto-route every supermarket transaction to your “Food” pot or the card that earns the most points—set it once, forget it.
   
   

2. Go Back in Time® – Accidentally used the wrong card at Pret? Shift the spend up to 120 days later.*
   
   

3. Curve Rewards – Earn up to 20 % cashback at selected grocers and food-delivery partners—activated in-app, no codes needed.
   
   

4. Real-Time Insights – Category-level spend charts show if you’re busting this month’s grocery cap.
   
   

*Feature limits vary by plan. See Terms.

TL;DR – Your Monthly Food Spend, Decoded

• UK average household outlay: £425/month; single adults: ~£160–£200.
  
  

• Europe ranges from ~11 % of spend in Germany to ~15 % in Italy.
  
  

• Slash costs by meal-planning, switching to own-label, and stacking loyalty cashback—then let Curve Pay automate the rest.

Read more about Curve Pay plans.