By Region
West
The West grocery basket price was $56.46 in June 2026 for a comparable 11-item regional staple basket, 0.4% above the national comparable basket, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average price data.
Comparable basket, West. Latest available regional BLS prices · most items through June 2026 · some regional items update bi-monthly.
Groceries in the West are 0.4% more expensive than the national average. The comparable 11-item basket costs $56.46 here versus $56.25 for the U.S. city average, using each item's latest BLS price. Over the past year the regional basket is down 4.2%.
Relative to the rest of the country, the West pays the most above average for bananas (+12%) and bread (+11%). It comes in below the national average on potato chips (-15%) and lemons (-7%). Each figure is the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average price, not an estimate.
The regional basket rose 0.8% from the prior month. For a concrete shelf comparison, the price of potato chips is $5.62 per 16 ounces in the West against $6.63 for the U.S. city average — a discount of about 15%. The ranking is limited to the 11 staples the BLS prices in every region, which it refreshes on a roughly bi-monthly cadence, so it moves more slowly than the monthly national index.
Frequently asked questions
How much do groceries cost in the West?
The West comparable grocery basket cost $56.46 in June 2026, covering 11 staples priced by the BLS for every region.
Are groceries more expensive in the West than the U.S. average?
The West comparable basket is 0.4% above the national comparable basket of $56.25 as of June 2026.
Which grocery item differs most in the West?
Potato chips differs most: $5.62 per 16 ounces in the West versus $6.63 nationally, a 15% discount.
Where does the West grocery price data come from?
From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Average Price Data program. BLS publishes grocery average prices for the U.S. city average and the four census regions, not individual metro areas.
Item by item vs. the national average
| Item | West | U.S. avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bananas /lb | $0.72 | $0.65 | +11.5% |
| Bread /lb | $2.00 | $1.81 | +10.5% |
| Chicken breast /lb | $4.61 | $4.18 | +10.1% |
| Ground beef /lb | $7.11 | $6.83 | +4.2% |
| Chicken /lb | $2.10 | $2.04 | +2.8% |
| Bacon /lb | $6.67 | $6.56 | +1.6% |
| Potatoes /lb | $0.92 | $0.92 | -0.8% |
| Ham /lb | $5.38 | $5.51 | -2.4% |
| Oranges /lb | $1.45 | $1.54 | -5.6% |
| Lemons /lb | $1.97 | $2.11 | -6.5% |
| Potato chips /16oz | $5.62 | $6.63 | -15.2% |