Food Prices & Nutrition 2,300 kcal Daily Basket 2026 Mid-Year Data

Food Prices & Recommended Minimum Food Budget

Explore, share and compare food price information across 206 global locations. We estimate the recommended minimum daily and monthly food cost per person based on a standard 2,300-calorie diet across Western and Asian cuisine food baskets.

Western Food Basket Asian Food Basket Grocery & Dining Prices Browse 200+ Cities
Global Benchmarks2,300 kcal / Day
Avg Western Diet:$214.99/d (~$6,665/mo)
Avg Asian Diet:$165.67/d (~$5,136/mo)
Most Affordable:🇪🇬 Alexandria ($2.41/d)
Most Expensive:🇺🇬 Kampala ($15,200.13/d)
Minimum Food Budget & Poverty Line Threshold

Our recommended minimum amount of money for food is based on the prices we collect and a 2300-calorie diet. We provide information for two food baskets: one based on Western cuisine and another for Asian cuisine. According to our research, if a person's food budget falls below our recommended amount, that person is considered to be living below the poverty line.

🇮🇳 Food Prices in India

Daily and monthly recommended grocery budgets and staple food prices in India (calibrated for 2026).

Groceries Index: 28.5 (NYC = 100.0)
🥖

Recommended Minimum Amount of Money for food (2,400 calories, Western food types)

Calculated using raw grocery prices for a 2,300–2,400 calorie daily Western diet model.
Western Food Model
ItemWestern Diet / dayPrice (₹)
Daily recommended minimum amount of money for food ₹ 365.12
Monthly recommended minimum amount of money for food (31 days) ₹ 11,318.72
Note: This model assumes 100% home cooking with grocery ingredients without restaurant dining or alcohol.

Distribution of food expenses in our model

(Western food types)

🍚

Recommended Minimum Amount of Money for food (2,400 calories, Asian food types)

Rice-based carbohydrate model with fresh poultry, eggs, greens, and produce.
Asian Food Model
ItemAsian Diet / dayPrice (₹)
Daily recommended minimum amount of money for food ₹ 298.40
Monthly recommended minimum amount of money for food (31 days) ₹ 9,250.40
The Asian basket prioritizes rice, legumes, poultry, and local seasonal greens, resulting in a lower budget footprint in Asian economies.

Distribution of food expenses in our model

(Asian food types)

Food Prices from our Cost of Living Section

Comprehensive supermarket grocery prices and restaurant dining benchmarks for India.

22 Staple Items
Food Item & QuantityAverage Price (₹)Price Range (Min — Max)

Global Food Cost Highlights (Western 2,300 kcal Baseline)

Top 6 Most Expensive Cities for Food

Highest Daily Cost
1
🇺🇬 Kampala
Uganda
$15,200.13/d
2
🇹🇿 Dar es Salaam
Tanzania
$11,581.05/d
3
🇦🇴 Luanda
Angola
$5,790.53/d
4
🇷🇼 Kigali
Rwanda
$4,704.80/d
5
🇸🇳 Dakar
Senegal
$3,980.99/d
6
🇩🇿 Algiers
Algeria
$506.67/d

Top 6 Most Affordable Cities for Food

Lowest Daily Cost
206
🇪🇬 Alexandria
Egypt
$2.41/d
205
🇪🇬 Cairo
Egypt
$2.86/d
204
🇳🇬 Lagos
Nigeria
$2.90/d
203
🇮🇳 Kolkata
India
$3.22/d
202
🇳🇬 Abuja
Nigeria
$3.26/d
201
🇮🇳 Ahmedabad
India
$3.43/d
206 of 206 cities

2,300 Calorie Food Basket Composition & Nutritional Methodology

A daily intake of 2,300–2,400 calories represents the international standard energy requirement for an active adult, recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Our model compares two distinct regional dietary baskets:

Western Food Basket (2,400 kcal / day)

Composed of dairy, bakery, meat, fresh fruits, and root vegetables typical in European and North American households:

  • Milk (regular): 0.25 liter
  • Fresh White Bread: 125 g (0.25 of 500g loaf)
  • White Rice: 100 g
  • Eggs: 2.4 eggs (~0.2 of 12-pack)
  • Local Cheese: 100 g
  • Chicken Fillets & Beef Round: 150g chicken + 150g beef
  • Fresh Produce: Apples (300g), Bananas (250g), Oranges (300g), Tomatoes (200g), Potatoes (200g), Onions (100g), Lettuce (0.2 head)

Asian Food Basket (2,400 kcal / day)

Composed of rice-based carbohydrates, poultry, eggs, legumes, and fresh greens common across East, Southeast, and South Asia:

  • White Rice (grain staple): 250 g
  • Loaf of Fresh White Bread: 50 g
  • Eggs: 2.4 eggs
  • Chicken Fillets & Beef/Red Meat: 200g chicken + 100g beef/tofu
  • Fresh Produce: Apples (250g), Bananas (250g), Oranges (150g), Tomatoes (200g), Potatoes (200g), Onions (100g), Lettuce (0.10 head)

Frequently Asked Questions About Food Prices

Our recommended minimum daily food budget is calculated using prices of staple groceries for a balanced 2,300-calorie diet. Globally, the average minimum food cost is approximately $214.99/day (~$6,665/month) for a Western diet and $165.67/day (~$5,136/month) for an Asian diet.

A 2,300-calorie diet represents the minimum physiological energy threshold required by an active adult to maintain basic metabolic functions, immunity, and health without suffering nutritional deficiency. If an individual cannot allocate this minimum sum for raw groceries, they fall below the food poverty line.

According to our 2026 data, Kampala (Uganda) has the highest minimum food cost at $15,200.13/day ($471,204.03/month), followed by Dar es Salaam ($11,581.05/day). Conversely, Alexandria (Egypt) is the most affordable at $2.41/day ($74.71/month) and Cairo ($2.86/day).

The Western food basket includes dairy (milk, cheese), bread, beef, and temperate fruits (apples, oranges), whereas the Asian food basket emphasizes rice as the primary grain base, poultry, eggs, bananas, and leafy vegetables. Due to grain and dairy price variations, the Asian basket is typically 10% to 25% more cost-effective.