The cost of groceries per person per day in Mizoram was Rs 77.5 in November 2025, about Rs 20 more than the all-India average (Rs 57), as per Food Price Watch, IndiaSpend’s realtime dashboard, which aggregates food prices from various groups across the country to estimate how much an individual or family would need to spend to consume the most affordable balanced diet.

Meanwhile, in Rajasthan, Telangana and Uttarakhand, the cost was just above Rs 50, which means a person’s average grocery bill in these states was Rs 1,500 in November 2025. In contrast, it was around Rs 2,324 in Mizoram.

Mizoram’s neighbouring states had among the most expensive food in the country. Among the states for which data are available, Arunachal Pradesh has the second highest food prices, with groceries for a day (two meals) costing Rs 66. In Meghalaya, the same meals cost Rs 63 to prepare (not including the cost of fuel). 

Outside of the north-eastern states, Tamil Nadu had the most expensive groceries at Rs 60 for the essentials.

IndiaSpend analysed the price of food commodities released by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs every day and calculated the cost of the simplest meal that meets the National Institute of Nutrition’s guidelines. Different from the consumer food price index released by MoSPI, our analysis shows the costs of meeting nutrition requirements.

This cost is calculated based on the most affordable vegetarian foods required to meet the nutrition requirements suggested by the NIN. We used pulses (chana dal, which is the least expensive dal), cereal (rice and wheat flour), vegetables (onions, potatoes and tomatoes), palm oil, milk, salt and sugar. Daily prices from across the country are updated at 6 p.m., and monthly averages are added on the first of the following month.

This basket, which can be used to cook an inexpensive thali for four people twice a day, does not include leafy vegetables or fruits, sources of protein other than pulses, cereals like millets, or packaged foods. It also does not account for regional variations or personal preferences for cereals or cooking oils. The cost of cooking fuel was also not considered, leaving us with just the cost of groceries.

Food inflation, as measured by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, was -5.02 percent in October 2025. This broadly means that food items were cheaper compared to last year. Some states saw........

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