Rs 77.5 a Day for Food in Mizoram: The Highest Grocery Cost in India, But What’s Driving the Surge?
How much are you really paying for your daily vegetables? Whether it’s tomatoes, potatoes, broccoli or even chicken, the cost of a basic meal continues to rise sharply in Mizoram, making everyday food items significantly more expensive compared to the rest of the country.
A recent ground report from Aizawl reveals that a person in Mizoram now needs Rs 77.5 per day to afford a basic, balanced diet, the highest in India. This figure, sourced from IndiaSpend’s Food Price Watch dashboard, is nearly Rs 20 higher than the national average of Rs 57, underscoring the intense pressure on household budgets in the state.
Local market prices further illustrate this burden. Tomatoes, mostly imported from outside the state, retail at around Rs 100 per kg, while locally grown tomatoes can cost as much as Rs 120 per kg. Potatoes, consumed daily in most households, are selling for Rs 60 per kg, adding to the strain.
Among vegetables, broccoli remains one of the most expensive, commanding a steep Rs 300 per kg in Aizawl’s markets. For protein, families rely largely on chicken, but even that now costs about Rs 350 per kg, making balanced meals increasingly unaffordable for many.
Why Are Prices So High in Mizoram?
Market observers cite two major structural reasons behind the state’s consistently high food prices:
High transportation costs are due to the state’s challenging terrain and heavy dependence on supplies from outside.
High rental charges for market stalls push vendors to increase retail rates.
With these factors showing no signs of easing, grocery shopping in Mizoram remains costlier than anywhere else in India. If you’re living in Mizoram, you’re undoubtedly spending more on your daily essentials than the rest of the country.
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