Firing up the grill in Jacksonville this Memorial Day weekend will not be cheap. A recent analysis found that a grocery run for an eight-person cookout in the metro area rings up at about $81.92, or roughly $10.24 per person. That price tag makes Jacksonville the fourth-most expensive metro out of 30 cities surveyed, well above the national average of $68.37 for eight people, and has plenty of locals eyeing the total at the register before they load up the cart.
Study: What the tab included
According to the Florida Times-Union, the figures come from a Mandoe Media breakdown of a 14-item grocery basket meant to feed eight people. The basket covers cookout staples like burgers and buns, chips, lettuce and tomato, condiments, ice cream and a 12-pack of beer. That beer alone varied from about $12.99 to $19.99 depending on the city. The paper notes that Miami and Tampa also landed near the top of the list, with totals in those metros hovering around $84.54.
Beef and supply squeeze are key drivers
Tight cattle supplies and elevated wholesale costs have pushed retail beef prices close to record territory, and that pain shows up squarely in the holiday cookout bill. Ground beef averaged roughly $6.70 per pound in March, and analysts say rebuilding the national herd will take years, which helps explain why burger meat is so pricey at checkout, according to Axios. When beef jumps that much, the squeeze on protein prices amplifies the effect of smaller increases on items like buns, cheese and beer.
Why Florida metros scored high
The study found that Florida sits firmly on the expensive end of the rankings. Jacksonville placed fourth out of 30 metros, and Tampa and Miami were also among the priciest. Seasonal demand, coastal distribution costs and the level of retail competition all play a role in widening the gap between Florida and cheaper Midwestern cities, according to the Florida Times-Union. Differences in beer pricing and limited grocery options in certain neighborhoods further help explain why the same cookout can cost noticeably more in one city than another.
How to trim your cookout tab
Hosts looking to dodge sticker shock still have options. Swapping beef for chicken, shopping meat sales and turning the event into a potluck so guests contribute dishes can all lighten the load. Opting for store-brand sides, buying beer in larger formats and leaning on discount grocers or weekly sales flyers can shave a few extra dollars off the bill. Planning out purchases this week, ahead of Memorial Day next Monday, may also help shoppers snag markdowns on meat and bundled holiday deals.
Bottom line
Industry reporting on national barbecue indexes finds that beer and beef make up a hefty share of backyard cookout costs, so Jacksonville’s higher total fits into a broader national pattern rather than some quirky local outlier, according to Beef Magazine coverage of Rabobank’s BBQ Index. With Memorial Day falling next Monday, May 25, Jacksonville shoppers who plan ahead, watch the sales and share the shopping list stand a better chance of keeping the long-weekend party from breaking the bank.
