Oh I'm aware -- I just mean that I think, bare minimum, a person could get by on around $200/month worth of food. Buy the cheapest ground meat possible, beans, and the cheapest vegetables available and just eat chili all the time and you can stretch that pretty far. Add rice into the mix and you've almost got some variety!

I was trying to be conservative here because food costs vary so much from person to person. I have a lot of friends who eat out probably at least once per day on average, and friends who never eat out. Friends who buy the nicest cuts of meat and friends who try to keep things as cheap as possible. I'd guess it varies a lot more than rent.

Agree entirely, on a bean oat potato egg and vegetable diet, you'll be healthy, eating fairly tasty, and spend maybe $100 / month. (Not sure how you got $200, my experience was different?

Food costs can be much higher if you choose to indulge in luxury, but those are all choices. You don't need to eat out or eat any meat at all. I sure enjoy it, but needs first, wants second.

The original topic was how much money you need, not want

I think you can still cut that budget in half. ( What are you cooking that takes up the most cost? Meat maybe?) I spend too much on food these days because I can and am lazy but when I was on top of it we spent $200 a month to feed TWO people with healthy tasty food. On that budget obviously it's just groceries and produce, no takeout or beverages or meat

Also, i found nyc and manhattan to not be much more expensive for groceries than central arkansas or NJ, my other adult reference points, contrary to popular belief