How much do you spend on food and drink?

UK households are spending more on food and drink - both at home and when eating out. 

But while much of this is down to higher prices, it’s also because the way we eat is changing.

According to the government’s latest National Food Survey, the average household spent £47.19 per person each week on food and drink in 2024.

That’s 3.2% higher than it was in 2023.

Eating at home getting more expensive

The amount we spend each week on food to eat at home has gone up from £35.11 to £35.94 per person - a 2.4% increase.

On average, households spent 11.3% of their total budget on food and non-alcoholic drinks.

But for the poorest 20% of households, that figure rises to 14.3% - a measure of how price rises hit those on the lowest incomes the hardest.

Eating out is surging

At the same time, spending on food and drink outside the home has gone up by an even higher rate.

In 2023, households spent £10.62 a week on eating out.

But in 2024, the figure rose by 5.9% to £11.25.

And compared to 2021, spending on eating out has rocketed by 184.4%, showing just how quickly dining out has bounced back since the pandemic.

Britain’s tastes are changing

The survey also looked at how much Britain’s food tastes have evolved.

Back in the 1950s, typical household staples included:

• salmon sandwiches
• tinned fruit with evaporated milk
• fish every Friday

But today’s plates look very different.

For example:

• we’re eating less bread and embracing other carbohydrates like pasta, rice and grains
• chicken is now the UK’s most popular meat, despite being eaten far less before the 1950s
• tea drinking has dropped dramatically since the 1970s, while ground coffee has surged in popularity since the 2010s

How can I cut my spending on food?

If you’re struggling with the cost of your groceries, or simply want to save a bit money, shopping around can be a good idea.

The same items can often cost very different amounts, depending on where you shop, so look at different supermarkets to see where you can get the best deals.

Lidl was recently named the cheapest supermarket by Which?, based on a comparison of the prices of 70 popular grocery items, ahead of the likes of Aldi, Asda and Tesco.

Small changes in your behaviour, such as planning your meals in advance and buying plenty of non-perishable food, could also make a big difference.

We’ve put together 12 handy tips to help you get started and get more for your hard-earned money.