Table 5 Cost of current and recommended diets and components, and diet affordability, by remoteness

Food/food groups

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

$20.35 ± 1.64

3%

$20.35 ± 1.64

3%

$15.58 ± 3.76

2%

$15.58 ± 3.76

2%

$13.46 ± 4.63

1%

$13.46 ± 4.63

2%

Fruit

$53.38 ± 4.08

7%

$72.81 ± 7.97

12%

$56.14 ± 1.83

7%

$83.42 ± 5.57

13%

$69.21 ± 4.34

7%

$104.53 ± 8.62

13%

Vegetables (& legumes)

$43.59 ± 1.88

6%

$110.36 ± 5.38

18%

$41.17 ± 3.64

5%

$108.90 ± 6.54

17%

$50.82 ± 2.18

5%

$126.44 ± 7.97

16%

Grain (cereal) foods

$44.34 ± 1.98

6%

$109.99 ± 2.36

18%

$43.05 ± 4.62

6%

$106.24 ± 7.12

17%

$57.59 ± 5.11

5%

$143.29 ± 9.09

18%

Lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts, seeds & alternatives

$96.45 ± 3.63

12%

$184.52 ± 8.71

30%

$97.95 ± 5.67

13%

$192.07 ± 9.74

31%

$125.84 ± 8.47

12%

$253.20 ± 22.25

31%

Milk, yoghurt, cheese & alternatives

$47.93 ± 2.75

6%

$112.59 ± 8.35

18%

$48.96 ± 2.01

6%

$113.03 ± 3.88

18%

$67.13 ± 8.97

6%

$160.13 ± 23.70

20%

Unsaturated oils and spreads

$1.27 ± 0.06

< 1%

$8.42 ± 0.38

1%

$1.15 ± 0.12

< 1%

$7.86 ± 0.75

1%

$1.65 ± 0.10

< 1%

$12.13 ± 0.97

1%

Artificially sweetened beverages

$5.64 ± 10.21

1%

–

–

$5.64 ± 14.02

1%

–

–

$8.85 ± 12.57

1%

–

–

Sugar sweetened beverages

$31.14 ± 1.57

4%

–

–

$28.19 ± 3.11

4%

–

–

$45.43 ± 6.37

4%

–

–

Takeaway foods

$149.31 ± 6.05

19%

–

–

$156.40 ± 2.36

20%

–

–

$225.57 ± 10.16

21%

–

–

Alcoholic beverages

$96.36 ± 8.50

12%

–

–

$99.74 ± 51.60

13%

–

–

$89.62 ± 34.49

8%

–

–

All other discretionary choices

$182.42 ± 9.50

24%

–

–

$178.80 ± 15.87

23%

–

–

$304.41 ± 12.10

29%

–

–

Total diet

$772.20 ± 14.18

100%

$619.04 ± 22.66

100%

$772.68 ± 66.04

100%

$627.10 ± 21.12

100%

$1059.57 ± 36.90

100%

$813.18 ± 0.00

100%

Healthy foods and drinks

$312.96 ± 10.21

41%

$619.04 ± 22.66

100%

$309.54 ± 14.02

40%

$627.10 ± 21.12

100%

$394.54 ± 12.57

37%

$813.18 ± 0.00

100%

Discretionary foods and drinks

$459.24 ± 7.54

59%

–

–

$463.14 ± 49.74

60%

–

–

$665.03 ± 24.33

63%

–

–

Income categories

Current diet affordability (% of income)

Recommended diet affordability (% of income)

Current diet affordability (% of income)

Recommended diet affordability (% of income)

Current diet affordability (% of income)

Recommended diet affordability (% of income)

Median gross household income^a

24%

19%

27%

22%

44%

34%

Indicative low disposable household income

33%

26%

33%

27%

45%

34%

Indicative low disposable household income including government supplements due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

23%

19%

23%

19%

32%

24%