Monthly figure
How much does a week of dinners cost for a family of four in the UK?
A week of seven home-cooked dinners for a family of four cost £45.95 in September 2026, costed in whole packs at Office for National Statistics average UK shop prices. That is down £0.13 (0.3%) on August 2026 and down £0.01 (under 0.1%) on September 2025.
Last updated 3 November 2026, when ONS figures for September 2026 were added. The date changes only when the figures do.
The week we cost
The menu is fixed, so a change in the figure means prices moved, not the meals. Forkcast's planner chose it once as a cheap, balanced week from its own recipes. It is a budget menu, not a measure of what households actually spend.
- Red lentil dal with rice
- Spaghetti bolognese
- Cauliflower and potato curry
- Creamy chicken and mushroom pasta
- Egg fried rice with peas and sweetcorn
- Beef keema with peas and rice
- Chickpea and pea curry
Every month so far
| Month | Family of four | Two people |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | £45.95 | £32.17 |
| August 2026 | £46.08 | £32.22 |
| July 2026 | £46.19 | £32.26 |
| June 2026 | £46.17 | £32.25 |
| May 2026 | £46.42 | £32.39 |
| April 2026 | £46.26 | £32.33 |
| March 2026 | £46.51 | £32.44 |
| February 2026 | £46.11 | £32.14 |
| January 2026 | £46.15 | £32.18 |
| December 2025 | £46.20 | £32.19 |
| November 2025 | £45.97 | £32.06 |
| October 2025 | £45.92 | £31.99 |
| September 2025 | £45.96 | £32.05 |
| August 2025 | £45.65 | £31.89 |
| July 2025 | £45.60 | £31.85 |
| June 2025 | £45.15 | £31.53 |
| May 2025 | £44.86 | £31.39 |
| April 2025 | £44.34 | £31.11 |
| March 2025 | £43.74 | £30.71 |
| February 2025 | £43.83 | £30.81 |
| January 2025 | £43.44 | £30.54 |
Download these figures as a CSV file
The September 2026 shopping list, for four
| Item | Packs or loose items | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Basmati rice | 2 | £3.80 |
| Chopped tomatoes (400g tin) | 6 | £3.90 |
| Cook-in sauce jar | 1 | £2.26 |
| Dried pasta | 2 | £1.98 |
| Tinned pulses: chickpeas, kidney beans or lentils (400g) | 5 | £3.35 |
| Tinned sweetcorn | 1 | £0.93 |
| Double cream | 1 | £1.57 |
| Eggs | 1 | £3.95 |
| Frozen peas | 1 | £2.07 |
| Carrots | 4 | £0.36 |
| Cauliflower | 1 | £1.40 |
| Mushrooms | 2 | £1.95 |
| Onions | 12 | £2.05 |
| Potatoes | 1 | £0.99 |
| Chicken breast fillets | 1 | £4.52 |
| Lean beef mince | 2 | £10.87 |
How it is worked out
- Source: the average UK price of each item, from the data behind the ONS shopping prices comparison tool, used as published.
- Whole packs: each item is bought in whole packs, the way you pay at the till, so the total includes whatever is left over. Food sold by weight is priced from the ONS price per kilo for a typical pack size.
- Left out: cupboard basics such as oil, salt, spices, garlic and stock cubes.
- How ONS builds its prices: it sets an average for each January, then moves it each month in line with its price index for that kind of product. ONS says its sample is designed to measure price change rather than exact price levels, so read small differences with care.
Questions
How much does a week of dinners cost a UK family of four?
Forkcast's fixed budget week of seven dinners for four cost £45.95 in September 2026 at Office for National Statistics average UK shop prices. It is a home-cooked budget menu, not a measure of what households actually spend.
How much is that per person per dinner?
£1.64 a portion in September 2026: £45.95 across 28 portions, counting whole packs and leaving out cupboard basics.
What does the same week cost for two people?
£32.17 in September 2026. It is more than half the family figure because packs are only sold whole, so a smaller household pays for more leftovers.
Are dinners getting more expensive?
The same week was down £0.13 (0.3%) on August 2026 and down £0.01 (under 0.1%) on September 2025. The dearest month since January 2025 was March 2026, at £46.51. The menu never changes, so these moves come only from ONS prices.
Is this what my own shop will cost?
Treat it as a guide. ONS prices are UK averages across shops, so budget supermarkets are often cheaper and convenience stores dearer, and offers and own-brand choices change the bill.
Last updated 3 November 2026. Source: Office for National Statistics. Prices are a guide. Check allergens and food safety yourself.