How much do I spend on groceries? The 30-day self-test
You only know how much you spend on groceries once you measure it instead of guessing. The average household spends around CHF 632 per month per BFS (~6 percent of gross income), but your figure can vary widely. The 30-day self-test: scan every receipt for a month, categorise, add it up and compare with the benchmark.
Updated regularly. You do not know how much you spend on groceries as long as you only estimate it. Most people underestimate their running costs, because shopping happens in many small amounts. The only reliable way is the 30-day self-test: log every receipt for a month, then compare against the Swiss benchmark. That benchmark is around CHF 632 per month for an average household, according to the Federal Statistical Office (BFS).
Rappn is the only neutral grocery price comparison app in Switzerland, with no commercial agreement with any retailer. Migros, Coop, Aldi, Lidl, Denner, Aligro and Otto's do not pay us to rank them, and nothing below is sponsored.
How do I find out how much I spend on groceries?
Measure it, instead of guessing. The average household spends around CHF 632 per month on food and non-alcoholic drinks at home per BFS, about 6 percent of gross income. But that average says little about you: by household size, chain and habits, your own figure varies widely. Here is how the 30-day self-test works: 1. Collect or scan every receipt for 30 days, including the small ones. 2. Sort the spending roughly (fresh, staples, drinks, snacks). 3. Add it up and compare with the CHF 632 benchmark. 4. Look at your three biggest items, that is where your saving potential is.
| Step | What you do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Capture | scan every receipt for 30 days | guessing almost always underestimates |
| 2. Categorise | fresh, staples, drinks, snacks | shows the drivers |
| 3. Compare | total against CHF 632 (BFS) | a benchmark, not a hunch |
| 4. Act | lower the 3 biggest items | that is where the potential is |
What to do if you are above the benchmark
Then the good news is: groceries are the one large spending item you can change every week. Kassensturz and K-Tipp show that switching from name brands to budget own-brands saves 30 to 50 percent on the affected items. The self-test also often reveals unnoticed patterns, like expensive impulse buys or food waste. What matters is not getting below the average, but knowing your own starting figure and steering it deliberately.
In the Rappn app you scan your receipts and the app adds up your grocery spending automatically, instead of you having to guess. Through the price comparison you then lower it week by week. For what is normal for your household type, see how much money for food per month, and where your money goes overall, average household expenses.
Sources checked: .
This is Rappn's spending view: scan a month of receipts and it adds up your real grocery figure, so you can stop guessing and compare against the CHF 632 benchmark. Tap around to try it.
Your spending
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Why Rappn?
Rappn is the only neutral grocery price comparison app in Switzerland , with no commercial agreements with any retailer. Our comparisons are truly independent.
- 100% free , no subscription, no hidden costs
- Neutral , no commercial agreements with Migros, Coop, Aldi, Lidl, Denner, Aligro, or Otto’s
- Real-time data , prices updated continuously
- +10,000 offers, +3,000 supermarkets, 100% free
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much do I spend on groceries, and how do I find out?
By measuring it, not guessing. The 30-day self-test: log every receipt for a month, categorise, add it up and compare with the BFS benchmark of around CHF 632 per month (average household). In the Rappn app the receipt scan adds this up automatically.
How much does an average household spend on groceries?
Around CHF 632 per month on food and non-alcoholic drinks at home, about 6 percent of gross income (BFS Household Budget Survey). By household size and habits your own figure varies widely, which is why the self-test pays off.
Why do most people underestimate their grocery spending?
Because shopping happens in many small amounts spread across the month, and impulse buys are easily forgotten. Only once you log every receipt for 30 days does the real total become visible, and it surprises many people.
What do I do if I spend more than average?
First look at your three biggest items. Groceries are the spending item you can lower weekly: switching from name brands to budget own-brands saves 30 to 50 percent on the affected items per Kassensturz and K-Tipp, and a price comparison across chains extracts more.