How far do SNAP benefits go toward covering the cost of food? The Urban Institute’s interactive data tool, Does SNAP Cover the Cost of a Meal in Your County?, compares the maximum per-meal SNAP benefit with the estimated cost of a modestly priced meal in counties across the United States.
The findings reveal a growing gap between food assistance and the cost of eating: in 2025, SNAP benefits fell short of covering the cost of a modestly priced meal in 99% of U.S. counties. The average meal cost $3.57 in the last quarter of 2025, approximately 23% more than the maximum SNAP benefit.
Key findings include:
- The affordability gap is growing. Before the 2026 fiscal-year cost-of-living adjustment, the average meal cost $0.72 more than the maximum SNAP benefit, up from a $0.57 gap in 2024.
- Most counties face a substantial shortfall. In 2025, 76% of counties had meal costs exceeding the maximum SNAP benefit by more than $0.50. These counties represent approximately 90% of the U.S. population.
- Geography matters. The average gap between meal costs and the maximum benefit was larger in urban areas than in rural areas, at $0.98 and $0.67 per meal, respectively.
- Benefit adequacy depends on policy choices. The 2021 reevaluation of the USDA’s Thrifty Food Plan increased maximum SNAP benefits by 21% and reduced the share of counties where benefits fell short of meal costs from 99% to 78%. More recently, federal legislation has constrained the program’s ability to increase benefits through future updates to the plan.