Cost of the Healthy Food Access Basket in 2014

The Healthy Food Access Basket (HFAB) survey measured cost and availability of food in Queensland in 2014.

Average cost of the HFAB

The average price of the 49 healthy food items in the basket for each household and the price difference between very remote areas and major cities is listed below.

Weighting for Queensland is proportional to the counts for each household type and remoteness classification. Basket costs reflect the amount of food consumed over a two week period for the family structures described.

One person household

  • Average cost was $126.15.
  • Lowest average cost was $123.92 in inner regional areas.
  • Highest average cost was $158.31 in very remote areas.
  • 26.9% more costly in very remote stores compared to stores in major cities.

Two person household

  • Average cost was $234.68.
  • Lowest average cost was $232.05 in inner regional areas.
  • Highest average cost was $295.75 in very remote areas.
  • 27.4% more costly in very remote stores compared to stores in major cities.

Three person household

  • Average cost was $328.04.
  • Lowest average cost was $323.90 in major cities.
  • Highest average cost was $409.93 in very remote areas.
  • 26.6% more costly in very remote stores compared to stores in major cities.

Four person household

  • Average cost was $453.84.
  • Lowest average cost was $448.67 in major cities.
  • Highest average cost was $568.24 in very remote areas.
  • 26.6% more costly in very remote stores compared to stores in major cities.

Six person household

  • Average cost was $652.10.
  • Lowest average cost was $641.88 in major cities.
  • Highest average cost was $812.27 in very remote areas. 
  • 26.5% more costly in very remote stores compared to stores in major cities.

See Affordability of healthy foods by household type for more detailed data on each household.

Figure 3: Cost of HFAB in 2014 - average and range

The small black bars represent the range of the minimum and maximum basket cost for each remoteness classification.

Cost of HFAB in 2014 average and range

Source: Healthy Food Access Basket Survey 2014, Queensland Government Statistician's Office, Queensland Treasury and Trade.

© The State of Queensland (Queensland Treasury and Trade) (2014). Creative Commons: BY. This figure is suitable for Open Data.

Figure 4: Quantity of food for 6 person household

Quantity of food for 6 person household

Generic (non-branded) food products cost comparison

The cheapest HFAB contains generic (non-branded) food items, which typically cost less than the equivalent branded items. The average cost of the cheapest HFAB is listed below.

Weighting for Queensland is proportional to the counts for each household type and remoteness classification. Basket costs reflect the amount of food consumed over a two week period for the family structures described.

One person household

  • Average cost was $103.33.
  • $22.82 (18.1%) cheaper than the HFAB which included only branded products. 

Two person household

  • Average cost was $194.63.
  • $40.05 (17.1%) cheaper than the HFAB which included only branded products. 

Three person household

  • Average cost was $269.91.
  • $58.13 (17.7%) cheaper than the HFAB which included only branded products.

Four person household

  • Average cost was $372.72.
  • $81.12 (17.9%) cheaper than the HFAB which included only branded products.

Six person household

  • Average cost was $538.11.
  • $113.99 (17.5%) cheaper than the HFAB which included only branded products.

Figure 5: Cost of cheapest basket - average and range

The small black bars represent the range of the minimum and maximum basket cost for each remoteness classification.

Cost of cheapest basket average and range

Healthy Food Access Basket Survey 2014, Queensland Government Statistician's Office, Queensland Treasury and Trade.

© The State of Queensland (Queensland Treasury and Trade) (2014). Creative Commons: BY. This figure is suitable for Open Data.

Last updated: 24 March 2016