Table 4 Cost of current and recommended diets and components, and diet affordability, by area socioeconomic disadvantage
| Â | Least disadvantaged areas (SEIFA Quintile 5) | Median disadvantaged areas (SEIFA Quintile 3) | Most disadvantaged areas (SEIFA Quintile 1) | |||||||||
Total diet and food group costs for the reference household per fortnight | ||||||||||||
Food/food groups | Current diet | Recommended diet | Current diet | Recommended diet | Current diet | Recommended diet | ||||||
Mean cost ± SD (A$) | Proportion of total cost (%) | Mean cost ± SD (A$) | Proportion of total cost (%) | Mean cost ± SD (A$) | Proportion of total cost (%) | Mean cost ± SD (A$) | Proportion of total cost (%) | Mean cost ± SD (A$) | Proportion of total cost (%) | Mean cost ± SD (A$) | Proportion of total cost (%) | |
Water, bottled | $19.84 ± 0.51 | 3% | $19.84 ± 0.51 | 3% | $19.07 ± 1.59 | 2% | $19.07 ± 1.59 | 3% | $15.91 ± 5.77 | 2% | $15.91 ± 5.77 | 2% |
Fruit | $54.73 ± 5.12 | 7% | $76.03 ± 10.72 | 12% | $56.45 ± 7.60 | 7% | $81.83 ± 13.71 | 13% | $56.48 ± 4.47 | 7% | $79.56 ± 11.94 | 12% |
Vegetables (& legumes) | $42.45 ± 4.09 | 5% | $110.45 ± 6.33 | 18% | $44.81 ± 4.09 | 5% | $112.86 ± 10.85 | 18% | $43.33 ± 2.74 | 5% | $111.53 ± 4.50 | 17% |
Grain (cereal) foods | $44.17 ± 4.36 | 6% | $108.41 ± 5.61 | 17% | $45.95 ± 3.76 | 6% | $113.79 ± 9.12 | 18% | $45.91 ± 7.63 | 6% | $114.59 ± 17.40 | 17% |
Lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts, seeds & alternatives | $95.14 ± 4.04 | 12% | $185.84 ± 9.93 | 30% | $99.91 ± 8.21 | 12% | $192.21 ± 17.52 | 30% | $104.33 ± 13.99 | 13% | $203.85 ± 33.51 | 31% |
Milk, yoghurt, cheese & alternatives | $49.41 ± 1.96 | 6% | $118.99 ± 8.95 | 19% | $48.45 ± 4.90 | 6% | $113.44 ± 10.97 | 18% | $53.60 ± 10.11 | 7% | $123.55 ± 26.97 | 19% |
Unsaturated oils and spreads | $1.26 ± 0.14 | < 1% | $8.21 ± 0.77 | 1% | $1.27 ± 0.14 | < 1% | $8.85 ± 1.02 | 1% | $1.31 ± 0.21 | < 1% | $8.83 ± 1.96 | 1% |
Artificially sweetened beverages | $5.53 ± 14.74 | 1% | – | – | $5.96 ± 27.55 | 1% | – | – | $6.33 ± 35.95 | 1% | – | – |
Sugar sweetened beverages | $29.89 ± 2.52 | 4% | – | – | $31.54 ± 3.96 | 4% | – | – | $33.82 ± 8.37 | 4% | – | – |
Takeaway foods | $156.94 ± 5.36 | 20% | – | – | $168.80 ± 1.80 | 21% | – | – | $152.83 ± 9.35 | 19% | – | – |
Alcoholic beverages | $97.30 ± 7.94 | 13% | – | – | $98.66 ± 66.49 | 12% | – | – | $93.62 ± 102.02 | 12% | – | – |
All other discretionary choices | $181.58 ± 11.51 | 23% | – | – | $198.41 ± 40.49 | 24% | – | – | $201.97 ± 51.95 | 25% | – | – |
Total diet | $778.25 ± 136.99 | 100% | $627.77 ± 27.91 | 100% | $819.28 ± 93.16 | 100% | $642.04 ± 60.41 | 100% | $809.43 ± 130.17 | 100% | $657.83 ± 85.44 | 100% |
Healthy foods and drinks | $312.54 ± 14.74 | 40% | $627.77 ± 27.91 | 100% | $321.87 ± 27.55 | 39% | $642.04 ± 60.41 | 100% | $327.20 ± 35.95 | 40% | $657.83 ± 85.44 | 100% |
Discretionary foods and drinks | $465.72 ± 5.46 | 60% | – | – | $497.41 ± 66.4 | 61% | – | – | $482.23 ± 95.20 | 60% | – | – |
Income and diet affordability | ||||||||||||
Income categories | Income (A$) | Current diet affordability (% of income) | Recommended diet affordability (% of income) | Income (A$) | Current diet affordability (% of income) | Recommended diet affordability (% of income) | Income (A$) | Current diet affordability (% of income) | Recommended diet affordability (% of income) | |||
Median gross household incomea | $4241.61 | 18% | 15% | $3040.52 | 27% | 21% | $2157.72 | 38% | 30% | |||
Indicative low disposable household income | $2358.33 | 33% | 27% | $2358.33 | 35% | 27% | $2358.33 | 34% | 28% | |||
Indicative low disposable household income including government supplements due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic | $3336.02 | 23% | 19% | $3336.02 | 25% | 19% | $3336.02 | 24% | 20% | |||