United States vs Spain Food Prices
Median supermarket prices in New York, United States (USD) vs Madrid, Spain (EUR). 58 products with data in both countries.
Overall, Spain is cheaper for groceries. The official monthly food basket costs $97.51 vs $125.34 in United States (22% lower). Spain has lower prices on 48 of 58 comparable products.
United States
$125.34
Official basket / month
$4.12 Daily basket cost
Spain
$97.51
Official basket / month
$3.20 Daily basket cost
10 / 48
Products cheaper
United States / Spain
-33%
Avg. price gap
USD equiv.
Official food basket
Government reference basket filled with median supermarket prices in each country.
Biggest price differences
| Product | United States | Spain | Gap | Price difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bananas (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $0.59 | $3.30 | +154% | Cheaper in United States |
| Buckwheat (1 kg) | $22.02 | $1.03 | -95% | Cheaper in Spain |
| Cookies (400 g) | $11.27 | $0.78 | -93% | Cheaper in Spain |
| Pasta (1 lb box) (≈454 g) | $4.84 | $0.69 | -87% | Cheaper in Spain |
| Minced Beef (1 kg) | $44.09 | $6.31 | -86% | Cheaper in Spain |
| Mineral Water (1.5 L) | $4.52 | $0.79 | -83% | Cheaper in Spain |
| Oat Flakes (1 kg) | $8.69 | $1.87 | -78% | Cheaper in Spain |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb loaf) (≈500 g) | $3.98 | $1.00 | -77% | Cheaper in Spain |
Comparison by category
| Category | United States cheaper | Spain cheaper | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Produce | 3 | 14 | -22% |
| Other | 2 | 11 | -44% |
| Dairy & Eggs | 4 | 6 | -14% |
| Grains | 0 | 8 | -53% |
| Meat | 1 | 6 | -30% |
| Bakery | 0 | 3 | -61% |
All products compared
| Product | United States | Spain | USD equiv. | Gap | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bananas (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $0.59 | $3.30 | $1.30 / $3.30 | +154% | |
| Buckwheat (1 kg) | $22.02 | $1.03 | $22.02 / $1.03 | -95% | |
| Cookies (400 g) | $11.27 | $0.78 | $11.27 / $0.78 | -93% | |
| Pasta (1 lb box) (≈454 g) | $4.84 | $0.69 | $5.34 / $0.69 | -87% | |
| Minced Beef (1 kg) | $44.09 | $6.31 | $44.09 / $6.31 | -86% | |
| Mineral Water (1.5 L) | $4.52 | $0.79 | $4.52 / $0.79 | -83% | |
| Oat Flakes (1 kg) | $8.69 | $1.87 | $8.69 / $1.87 | -78% | |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb loaf) (≈500 g) | $3.98 | $1.00 | $4.39 / $1.00 | -77% | |
| Grapes (1 kg) | $6.15 | $1.43 | $6.15 / $1.43 | -77% | |
| Ground Coffee (12 oz) (≈340 g) | $12.99 | $2.58 | $9.55 / $2.58 | -73% | |
| Bell Pepper (1 kg) | $1.67 | $2.87 | $1.67 / $2.87 | +72% | |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $11.65 | $8.27 | $25.69 / $8.26 | -68% | |
| White Rice (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $1.71 | $1.38 | $3.76 / $1.38 | -63% | |
| Milk (1 gallon) (≈3.79 L) | $3.18 | $1.36 | $0.84 / $1.37 | +63% | |
| Carrots (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $1.69 | $1.38 | $3.73 / $1.38 | -63% | |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $10.99 | $9.03 | $24.23 / $9.03 | -63% | |
| Baguette (250 g) | $1.37 | $0.53 | $1.37 / $0.53 | -61% | |
| Sugar (2 lb bag) (≈907 g) | $2.39 | $1.03 | $2.64 / $1.03 | -61% | |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $2.74 | $2.41 | $6.04 / $2.41 | -60% | |
| Ketchup (500 g) | $2.39 | $1.01 | $2.39 / $1.01 | -58% | |
| Plain Yogurt (17.6 oz) (≈500 g) | $2.75 | $1.19 | $2.75 / $1.19 | -57% | |
| Pears (1 kg) | $6.81 | $3.02 | $6.81 / $3.02 | -56% | |
| Dark Chocolate (100 g) | $4.47 | $2.01 | $4.47 / $2.01 | -55% | |
| Lettuce (1 head) | $2.29 | $1.03 | $2.29 / $1.03 | -55% | |
| Zucchini (1 kg) | $4.61 | $2.12 | $4.61 / $2.12 | -54% | |
| Beetroot (1 kg) | $6.59 | $3.18 | $6.59 / $3.18 | -52% | |
| Eggs (1 dozen, Large) (12 eggs) | $6.99 | $3.44 | $6.99 / $3.44 | -51% | |
| Cucumbers (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $1.52 | $1.72 | $3.35 / $1.72 | -49% | |
| Black Pepper (50 g) | $2.03 | $1.07 | $2.03 / $1.07 | -47% | |
| Flour (2 lb bag) (≈907 g) | $1.40 | $0.83 | $1.54 / $0.83 | -46% | |
| Wholegrain Bread (500 g) | $4.34 | $2.45 | $4.34 / $2.45 | -44% | |
| Pork Loin (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $2.99 | $9.19 | $6.59 / $9.19 | +39% | |
| Turkey Fillet (1 kg) | $16.15 | $10.04 | $16.15 / $10.04 | -38% | |
| Mozzarella (200 g) | $2.64 | $1.65 | $2.64 / $1.65 | -38% | |
| Sausages (1 kg) | $9.68 | $6.10 | $9.68 / $6.11 | -37% | |
| Broccoli (1 kg) | $4.69 | $2.97 | $4.69 / $2.97 | -37% | |
| Corn Flakes (500 g) | $5.38 | $3.44 | $5.38 / $3.44 | -36% | |
| Vegetable Oil (1 qt) (≈946 ml) | $2.74 | $1.90 | $2.89 / $1.90 | -34% | |
| Salt (1 kg) | $2.43 | $1.66 | $2.43 / $1.66 | -32% | |
| Black Tea (100 g) | $3.69 | $2.57 | $3.69 / $2.57 | -30% | |
| Onions (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $1.19 | $1.84 | $2.62 / $1.84 | -30% | |
| Fruit Jam (300 g) | $1.76 | $1.25 | $1.76 / $1.25 | -29% | |
| Lemons (1 kg) | $6.60 | $4.70 | $6.60 / $4.70 | -29% | |
| Oranges (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $1.12 | $1.78 | $2.48 / $1.78 | -28% | |
| Kefir (1 Liter) | $5.49 | $4.13 | $5.49 / $4.13 | -25% | |
| Cottage Cheese (500 g) | $3.80 | $2.87 | $3.80 / $2.87 | -24% | |
| Sour Cream (300 g) | $1.84 | $2.27 | $1.84 / $2.27 | +23% | |
| Sliced Ham (200 g) | $3.23 | $2.58 | $3.23 / $2.58 | -20% | |
| Butter (8 oz) (≈227 g) | $8.47 | $2.81 | $2.34 / $2.81 | +20% | |
| Milk (Lactose Free, 1 Liter) | $0.96 | $1.14 | $0.96 / $1.13 | +18% | |
| Fish Fillet (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $9.99 | $25.81 | $22.04 / $25.81 | +17% | |
| Apples (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $1.33 | $2.52 | $2.93 / $2.52 | -14% | |
| Cabbage (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $1.14 | $2.81 | $2.51 / $2.81 | +12% | |
| Dry Peas (1 kg) | $3.62 | $3.21 | $3.62 / $3.21 | -11% | |
| Salmon Fillet (1 kg) | $24.49 | $26.96 | $24.49 / $26.96 | +10% | |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $4.11 | $8.37 | $9.07 / $8.37 | -8% | |
| Lentils (1 kg) | $5.93 | $5.57 | $5.93 / $5.57 | -6% | |
| Potatoes (1 lb) (≈454 g) | $0.82 | $1.78 | $1.81 / $1.78 | -2% | |
| Whole Chicken (1 kg) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Garlic (250 g) | — | $16.87 | — | — | — |
| Mayonnaise (400 g) | — | $1.10 | — | — | — |
| Oats (1 kg) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Shrimp (1 kg) | — | $19.03 | — | — | — |
| Bottled Water (1 L) | — | — | — | — | — |
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Frequently asked questions
- Which country has a cheaper food basket, United States or Spain?
- Based on official government basket quantities and median supermarket prices, the monthly cost is about $125.34 in United States vs $97.51 in Spain.
- Where do these prices come from?
- We collect public online catalog prices from major supermarket chains in each country, normalize them to standard pack sizes, and compare medians. Reference cities: New York (United States) and Madrid (Spain).
- What staples differ most between United States and Spain?
- The largest gaps are in Bananas (1 lb), Buckwheat (1 kg), Cookies (400 g). Prices can diverge due to local supply, taxes, and retail competition.