The Real Cost of a Healthy Diet: Food vs. Healthcare

Late last year, when I started digging deeper into the connection between food and healthcare costs, one thing became clear: the price we pay at the grocery store is nothing compared to what we pay for chronic conditions like diabetes.

This isn’t about scare tactics—it’s about numbers. And the numbers show us that investing in healthier food is one of the most cost-effective “healthcare strategies” we have.

The Cost of Diabetes

Diabetes is one of the most well-known chronic conditions linked directly to diet and lifestyle—and it’s also one of the most expensive.

• In 2020–2021, members with diabetes cost about $20,000 per year, according to Nomi Health.

• Costs are increasing at 20% per year, far higher than general medical inflation.

• For those with complications like kidney disease, costs jump to $68,000 per year.

Put simply: diabetes is financially devastating for individuals, employers, and our healthcare system.

What That Means for You

Most Americans get healthcare through an employer. Here’s what that looks like on average for a single person:

• Premiums (your paycheck deduction): $1,136 per year (high-deductible plan) to $1,459 (PPO).

• Deductible: Average of $1,763, but could be as high as $7,500 (HDHP) or $9,100 (PPO).

• Out-of-pocket maximum: Average of $4,355, meaning that’s the most you’ll pay in medical bills in a year (excluding premiums).

👉 Even if you’re healthy, you’re paying at least your premiums and some out-of-pocket costs. Realistically, that’s about $2,300/year on average.

But if you have diabetes? You’re likely hitting your deductible and out-of-pocket max every year—on top of premiums. That’s $5,700/year or more in real spending.

Healthy Diet vs. Healthcare Costs

A 2013 study published in the British Medical Journal found that the healthiest diets cost about $1.48 more per day than the least healthy diets. Adjusted for inflation, let’s call it $2.50 per day.

That’s $912 per year for a healthier grocery basket.

Compare that to $5,700+ in medical bills, and the math speaks for itself.

Annual Cost Comparison

Scenario	What You Pay
Healthy (Baseline)	$2,300 (premiums + some OOP costs)
Healthy + Diet Upgrade	$3,200 (baseline + $912 healthier food)
Diabetes	$5,700+ (premiums + OOP + complications)

The Lifetime Impact

Let’s run this out. For someone age 38, if you avoid diabetes and invest in healthier eating instead:

• You save $2,500/year or more (that could fund a fun vacation!).

• Over 27 years (to age 65), with just 5% inflation growth, that’s nearly $150,000 saved.

• And that’s before we even talk about the non-financial benefits—like energy, longevity, or avoiding medications.

There's significant lifetime savings for a healthy diet

The Takeaway

We can’t ignore that healthy food is more expensive. But the cost difference at the grocery store is nothing compared to the cost difference in healthcare.

Every time you choose beans, whole grains, or fresh produce over ultra-processed foods, you’re not just fueling your body—you’re making one of the best long-term financial investments you can.