Thrifty Food Plan Costs Vary Widely Across US Regions and Cities

A recent studyopens in new tab/window in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavioropens in new tab/window (JNEB), published by Elsevier, examined how the cost of the USDA’s Thrifty Food Plan (TFP), which serves as the basis for determining maximum SNAP benefits, varied across geographic regions, metropolitan areas, and seasons from 2012 to 2018. Researchers found that where a household is located plays a much larger role in the cost of a healthy diet than year-to-year inflation.

Researchers used USDA Food-at-Home Monthly Area Prices data linked with the 2021 TFP market basket, which specifies the types and quantities of foods that an individual or household could purchase in a week to meet the TFP. They analyzed food prices across four census regions and 10 major metropolitan areas. The Northeast consistently had the highest weekly TFP costs, while the Midwest and South had the lowest. Among metropolitan areas, New York, Boston, and Los Angeles had the highest costs, while Detroit and Houston were among the lowest.

The study found that geographic differences explained nearly 90% of the variation in TFP costs, while seasonal fluctuations accounted for much of the remaining variation. Weekly TFP costs were typically highest during winter months and lowest during the fall. Researchers also identified several food categories that contributed heavily to geographic and seasonal cost differences, including whole fruit, vegetables, whole grain staple grains, poultry, eggs, and dairy products. Whole fruit prices, for example, were consistently higher in the Northeast and peaked during winter months.

“These findings show that the affordability of a healthy diet can differ dramatically depending on where families live,” said Parke Wilde, PhD, corresponding author of the study, Professor at the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, Boston, MA. “Because SNAP benefits are largely based on national average food prices, regional differences may affect whether households can realistically afford nutritious foods.”

The researchers highlighted that current SNAP benefit calculations generally do not account for geographic price variation outside of Alaska and Hawaii. They also noted that recent federal legislation now requires future reevaluations of the TFP to remain cost-neutral in inflation-adjusted terms, potentially limiting the flexibility of future SNAP updates to reflect changing food environments.

The study emphasizes the importance of continued research into regional and seasonal food price variation to better inform nutrition assistance policy, particularly as policymakers debate future SNAP funding levels and eligibility changes.

TFP is a model diet developed by the USDA to estimate the cost of an affordable, healthy diet in the US. It is designed to meet recommended nutrient intakes from the Dietary Reference Intakes and food group recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, while addressing practical considerations and minimizing differences from current food consumption patterns.

Notes for editors

The article is "Assessing Geographic and Temporal Variation in the Cost of the Thrifty Food Plan," by Hayley Fryling, MS; Elena Martinez, PhD; Parke Wilde, PhD (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2026.02.010opens in new tab/window). It appears in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, volume 58, issue 6 (June 2026), published by Elsevier.

The article is openly available via a CC BY-NC-ND license at https://www.jneb.org/article/S1499-4046(26)00046-1/fulltextopens in new tab/window.

Full text of the article is also available to credentialed journalists upon request; contact Eileen Leahy at +1 732 406 1313 or [email protected]opens in new tab/window to obtain a copy. To schedule an interview with the author(s), please contact Parke Wilde, PhD, at [email protected]opens in new tab/window.

An audio podcast featuring an interview with Parke Wilde, PhD, and other information for journalists are available at https://www.jneb.org/content/mediaopens in new tab/window. Excerpts from the podcast may be reproduced by the media with permission from Eileen Leahy.

About the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (JNEB)

The Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (JNEB), the official journal of the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior (SNEB), is a refereed, scientific periodical that serves as a resource for all professionals with an interest in nutrition education and dietary/physical activity behaviors. The purpose of JNEB is to document and disseminate original research, emerging issues, and practices relevant to nutrition education and behavior worldwide and to promote healthy, sustainable food choices. It supports the society’s efforts to disseminate innovative nutrition education strategies and communicate information on food, nutrition, and health issues to students, professionals, policy makers, targeted audiences, and the public.

The Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior features articles that provide new insights and useful findings related to nutrition education research, practice, and policy. The content areas of JNEB reflect the diverse interests of health, nutrition, education, Cooperative Extension, and other professionals working in areas related to nutrition education and behavior. As the Society's official journal, JNEB also includes occasional policy statements, issue perspectives, and member communications. www.jneb.orgopens in new tab/window

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