The Cost of a Healthy Food Basket in Ireland 2014 - 2022

• Project start date: 1 January 2014
• Project status: Completed
• Project type: Communications
• Discipline: Nutrition
• Principal researcher/s: Minimum Essential Standards of Living Research Centre at St. Vincent de Paul

Research objective

To examine the food element of the Minimum Essential Budget Standards (MESL) data in the Republic Of Ireland (ROI) from 2006 to 2014 for six sample household types:

• Two parents and two children, one in pre-school (age 3) and one in primary school (age 10)
• Two parents and two children, at primary school (age 10) and in second level (age 15)
• One parent and two children, one in pre-school (age 3) and one in primary school (age 10)
• Single adult male of working age, living alone
• Pensioner couple
• Female pensioner, living alone

To examine the expenditure on food as a proportion of core minimum essential expenditure. Core expenditure excludes items that can vary according to location, employment status and secondary social welfare entitlements. Therefore, the cost of housing, childcare and entitlement to secondary benefits, such as a medical card, which affects health expenditure, is excluded from the analysis.

To examine expenditure on food in the context of household income for two income scenarios:

• Dependent on social welfare transfers
• Working and earning the national minimum wage in working age households
• To analyse food costs for children as part of a household.

Research report

• Title: The cost of a healthy food basket in Ireland - 2014-2022
• Publication date: 12 September 2023
• Summary: A series of food basket studies in Ireland from 2014-2022.
• Findings:

  2014

  • Food required approximately a quarter of the core household budget (outgoings) for most household types.
  • Households with two adults and two older children spent the most (€) on food while a single male of working age households spent the least.
  • For most households, living in rural areas increased food costs due to more food being bought in local stores which tend to be more expensive.
  • Approximately a quarter to a third of a low income household income is needed to buy a healthy food basket.
  • For households working and on minimum wage a healthy food basket required less of the household income than if they are reliant of social welfare payments.
  • The cost of providing a nutritionally adequate diet was significant for all households with children, particularly those with an adolescent child.
  • The cost of feeding a teenager was double the cost that of feeding a pre-schooler and €12–13/wk more expensive than for a primary school child.
  • The costs were higher for those living in rural areas.
  • Change in cost of food between 2006 and 2014
  • Overall food and non-alcoholic beverage prices were 2.4% higher in 2014 than in 2006. They reached a high of 10% in 2008 than in 2006.
  • Fruit and vegetables were cheaper in 2014 than they were in 2006. They were highest in 2008. Other food categories including breads and cereals; milk, cheese and eggs; oils and fats were more expensive in 2014 than in 2006.
  • Between 2011 and 2014 the overall proportion of household incomes required for a nutritionally adequate food basket remained the same.

  2016

  • Low income households need to spend between 15% and 36% of their take-home income to buy a healthy minimum essential food basket. 
  • The cost of the food basket depends on household composition. Food costs rise as children grow older, food is a significant cost for households with an adolescent. The cost of feeding a teenager was almost double the cost of feeding a pre-school child. 
  • The cost of the food basket fell slightly between 2014 and 2016. 
  • This research highlights the challenges when trying to balance buying a healthy food basket with other weekly household expenses. 
  • Meat, fruit and vegetables take up the largest share of the food basket. 
  • Spending on restaurants, cafes, fast food, takeaways and visitors are an important part of the food basket highlighting the social and cultural aspects of food. It ensures that households can participate in activities that are considered to be part of everyday life. 
  • Households receiving state benefits spend a larger percentage of take home income on the food basket compared to households with an employed adult.

  2018

  • The average weekly cost of a minimum healthy food basket in 2018 has fallen by 4.4% since 2016.
  • Low-income households need to spend between 14% and 33% of their take-home income to buy a healthy minimum essential food basket. This is dependant of household composition and location.
  • Food costs rise as children grow older, food is a significant cost for households with an adolescent. The cost of food for a teenager was almost double the cost of food for a pre-school child.
  • Food costs are more expensive for rural households except for the single adult.
  • Households receiving state benefits only spend a larger percentage of take-home income on the food basket than households with an employed adult. 
  • This research highlights the challenges when trying to balance buying a healthy food basket with other weekly household expenses. 
  • Meat, breads and cereals, dairy products, fruit, and vegetables account for the largest share of the food basket. 
  • Spending on restaurants, cafes, fast food, takeaways and visitors are an important part of the food basket highlighting the social and cultural aspects of food.

  2020

  • Low income households need to spend between 13% and 35% of their take-home income to buy a healthy minimum essential food basket. This is dependant of household composition and location.
  • Food costs rise as children grow older, food is a significant cost for households with an adolescent. The cost of food for a teenager was almost double the cost of food for a pre-school child. 
  • Food costs are more expensive for rural households with the exception of the single adult.
  • Households receiving state benefits only spend a larger percentage of take home income on the food basket than households with an employed adult.
  • This research highlights the challenges when trying to balance buying a healthy food basket with other weekly household expenses.
  • Meat, breads and cereals, dairy products, fruit, and vegetables account for the largest share of the food basket.
  • Spending on restaurants, cafes, fast food, takeaways and entertaining visitors are an important part of the food basket highlighting the social and cultural aspects of food. It ensures that households can participate in activities that are considered to be part of everyday life. 

  2022

  • Low income households need to spend between 12% and 32% of their take-home income to buy a healthy minimum essential food basket. This is dependent on household composition and location 
  • Food costs rise as children grow older, food is a significant cost for households with an adolescent. The cost of food for a teenager was more than double the cost of food for a pre-school child. 
  • Food costs are more expensive for rural households with the exception of the single adult 
  • Households receiving state benefits spend a larger percentage of take home income on the food basket than households with an employed adult. 
  • This research highlights the challenges when trying to balance buying a healthy food basket with other weekly household expenses. 
  • Meat, breads and cereals, milk, cheese, eggs, fruit, and vegetables account for the largest share of the food basket. 
  • Spending on restaurants, cafes, fast food, takeaways and visitors are an important part of the food basket highlighting the social and cultural aspects of food. It ensures that households can participate in activities that are considered to be part of everyday life.

  You can download the reports below.

Other outputs

Summary reports

2014 | 2016 | 2018 | 2020 | 2022

7-day sample menus

2020 | 2022

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The cost of a healthy food basket in Northern Ireland 2014-2022