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Food is one of the biggest line items in most budgets. According to Motley Fool Money research, the average American spends $847 per month on groceries and restaurants.
That’s over $10,000 a year, just on eating.
Here is the breakdown (and keep in mind these are averages — your personal spending might be much lower — or higher).
Average monthly food spending in America
The average American household spends $847 on food each month. Here’s how this number breaks down:
- Food at home (groceries): $519 per month
- Food away from home (restaurants, delivery, takeout): $329 per month
These numbers have been creeping up for years with inflation. According to the latest BLS data, grocery prices rose 1.9% year over year as of March 2026, while dining out climbed 3.8% over the same period.
The USDA’s Economic Research Service projects overall food prices will rise 3.6% in 2026 — with dining out expected to climb faster than groceries.
Using the right rewards card on food spending
You’ve probably heard the usual advice — eat out less, buy generic labels, meal prep on Sundays. All solid tips. But if you’re already doing those things, there’s another lever most people overlook: making your credit card work harder on the spending you’re already doing.
Right now, some of the top grocery cards offer up to 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets. And for dining out some cards offer around 3% back at restaurants.
If you’re using those types of cards, here’s what rewards could look like annually:
| Category | Monthly Spend | Reward Rate | Annual Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food at home (groceries) | $500 | 6% | $360 |
| Food away from home | $300 | 3% | $108 |
| Total | $468 |
That’s $468 a year in rewards, without changing how you eat — just using the right credit cards to pay.
Compare the top credit cards of 2026 across all categories to find the ones that reward you most.
Put your grocery bill to work
The average American household spends roughly $10,200 a year on food — but depending on your family size, where you live, and how you spend your number could look quite different in either direction.
Cutting costs on food is always worth doing. The usual advice applies: cook at home more, buy in bulk when it makes sense, and keep an eye on what you’re actually throwing away each week.
But regardless of where your food spending lands, putting it on the right rewards card means you’re at least getting something back on every dollar. Based on the national averages, that could add up to $468 a year — without changing how you eat at all.
See our picks for the best rewards credit cards of 2026.
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