Groceries from the Home Alone movie are super expensive in 2023

By Melissa Moore on December 11, 2023

ILLINOIS, USA – DECEMBER 1: “Home Alone” house, located at 671 Lincoln Avenue in Winnetka, Illinois is seen on December 1, 2021. Airbnb is offering a one-night-only rental of the iconic “Home Alone” house in Winnetka, Illinois. Guests will be welcomed by actor Devin Ratray, who played Kevin McCallister’s older brother Buzz. The home will be available to book starting on Dec. 7. (Photo by Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

If you’re a Home Alone fan, you remember the scene where Kevin McCallister (Macauley Caulkin) takes $20 and heads to the grocery store. 

In the movie our eight year-old super child walks to the grocery with a $20 bill and gets a good amount of food.

I love that someone on Tik Tok wondered about the cost of the groceries when the movie came out in 1990, versus the cost today.

@sellitlikelyons

Groceries in 1990 vs Today Breakdown ☠️ #fyp #homealone #rockwalltx #geoffreylyons #lyonsden #northtexas #dallastx #dallasrealestate #dfw #dfwrealtor

♬ original sound – Geoffrey Lyons

In 1990:

• Half a gallon of milk: $1.71
• Half a gallon of OJ: $3.99
• Butternut large white bread: $2.79 (Wonderbread not available)
• TV dinner: $4.49 (Stouffer’s classic meatloaf frozen meal)
• Frozen mac and cheese: $1.49
• Tide liquid detergent: $12.99
• Saran wrap: $3.39
• Snuggle dryer sheets: $2.94
• Toilet paper: $7.99
• Toy soldiers (not available so Amazon price listed): $9.99

One article I read on USA Today said that $1.00 in 1990 is equal to about $2.30 today. According to this video- the cost using a coupon today would be $69.00.  That’s almost a 250% increase in price! 

Did this shock you to see the prices from 1990?

-Melissa