Published On: May 29, 2026 4:35 amLast Updated: May 28, 2026 9:43 pmBy

No.

A couple buying $600 of food per month is spending less than the amount estimated by The Living Wage Calculator, which puts annual food expenses for two adults in Sarasota County at  $9,147 — or about $762.25 per month.

The Living Wage Calculator’s estimates are based on the cost of meeting basic needs and draw data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Low-Cost Food plan designed around nutritious meals prepared at home. The model does not account for luxury spending or eating out.

The bigger the household, the higher the food costs. A couple with one child will spend nearly $950 a month on food. Add another child and it surpasses $1,200 a month.

Also important to note is that Sarasota’s average grocery prices are roughly 7% above the national average, and its overall cost of living is 4.5% higher than the national average.

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