Affordability of healthy foods by household type in 2014
The Healthy Food Access Basket (HFAB) survey measured the cost and availability of healthy food for 5 different household types in 2014:
See Table 2: Family structures and associated income (XLSX, 14KB) for more detailed descriptions of these households and their calculated income.
One person household
The 1 person household was a single unemployed person. The calculated income of this household is $611.76 per fortnight (government assistance only).
In 2014, the average cost of the HFAB in Queensland for a one person household was $126.15. Nearly one-quarter (20.6%) of the household income would be needed to purchase the food in the basket. Lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts and seeds (6.4%) and vegetables and legumes (5.6%) require the greatest proportion of income.
The greatest proportion of income (25.9%) needed for the HFAB was for households in very remote areas. Households in inner regional areas would use the least amount of income (20.3%) on the HFAB.
Table 10: Cost of Healthy Food Access Basket and basic food groups in 2014 for 1 person household - average and range (XSLX, 14KB)
Two person household
The 2 person household included an older couple with no dependent children. The calculated income of this household is $1398.40 per fortnight (government assistance only).
In 2014, the average cost of the HFAB in Queensland for a 2 person household was $234.68. Compared to other households, less of this household’s income (16.9%) would be needed to purchase the food in the basket. Lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts, and seeds (4.5%) and vegetables and legumes (4.3%) require the greatest proportion of income.
The greatest proportion of income (21.3%) needed for the HFAB was for households in very remote areas. Households in major cities and inner regional areas would use the least amount of income (16.7%) on the HFAB.
Table 9: Cost of Healthy Food Access Basket and basic food groups in 2014 for 2 person household - average and range (XLSX, 32KB)
Three person household
The 3 person household included a single mother of 2 dependent children (14 year old boy, 8 year old girl). The calculated income of this household is $1545.63 per fortnight (combination of paid employment and government assistance).
In 2014, the average cost of the HFAB in Queensland for a 3 person household was $328.04. More than one-fifth (21.2%) of the household income would be needed to purchase the food in the basket. Lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts, and seeds (6.2%) and vegetables and legumes (5.2%) require the greatest proportion of income.
The greatest proportion of income (26.5%) needed for the HFAB was for households in very remote areas. Households in major cities would use the least amount of income (21.0%) on the HFAB.
Table 8: Cost of Healthy Food Access Basket and basic food groups in 2014 for 3 person household - average and range (XLSX, 32KB)
Four person household
The 4 person household included partnered parents of 2 dependent children (14 year old boy, 8 year old girl). The calculated income of this household is $2137.32 per fortnight (combination of paid employment and government assistance).
In 2014, the average cost of the HFAB in Queensland for a 4 person household was $453.84. More than one-fifth (21.2%) of the household income would be needed to purchase the food in the basket. Lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts, and seeds (6.2%) and vegetables and legumes (5.3%) require the greatest proportion of income.
The greatest proportion of income (26.1%) needed for the HFAB was for households in very remote areas. Households in major cities and inner regional areas would use the least amount of income (20.6%) on the HFAB.
Six person household
The 6 person household included partnered parents of 3 dependent children (14 year old boy, 8 year old girl, 4 year old boy) and a grandmother (aged 70+ years). The calculated income of this household is $2679.38 per fortnight (government assistance only).
In 2014, the average cost of the Healthy Food Access Basket (HFAB) in Queensland for a 6 person household was $652.10. Nearly one-quarter (24.3%) of the household income would be needed to purchase the food in the basket. Lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts, and seeds (6.9%) and vegetables and legumes (6.7%) require the greatest proportion of income.
The greatest proportion of income (30.3%) needed for the HFAB was for households in very remote areas. Households in major cities would use the least amount of income (23.9%) on the HFAB.
Table 6: Cost of Healthy Food Access Basket and basic food groups in 2014 for 6 person household - average and range (XSLX, 32KB)