How the grocery calculator works
Type an ingredient (e.g. chicken breast), pick the amount and unit, and add it to your list. The calculator multiplies the amount by a current average discount-store price (own brands) and shows the estimated cost per item plus the total. You'll see before you shop whether your plan fits your budget — and which ingredients drive the cost.
Where do the prices come from?
The price database covers 150+ common ingredients and is checked regularly against current German supermarket and discounter prices (last updated: July 2026). Values are calculated as consumption costs: 300 g of flour costs a few cents proportionally, even if the bag holds 1 kg. That answers the real question — "what does cooking this week cost me?" — more honestly than package prices. Actual prices vary by region, store, and brand; expect a 20–40% premium for brand products or full-range supermarkets.
5 quick levers for a cheaper shop
- Plan the week ahead and shop once with a list — impulse buys are the biggest cost driver.
- Lean on cheap proteins like lentils, beans, eggs, and quark instead of daily meat.
- Use ingredient overlap: the same ingredient across several dishes lowers cost per meal.
- Frozen vegetables are as nutritious as fresh, often cheaper, and produce zero waste.
- Own brands over brand names: same quality, often 30–50% cheaper.
Automatic instead of by hand: the weekly planner
This calculator is for quick estimates. In the Culinse weekly planner it all happens automatically: you pick recipes for the week, Culinse builds the shopping list with combined amounts — including a price estimate for the whole week. Free.
Plan your week free →Related guides
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is the price estimate?
Prices reflect discount-store level (own brands) and are checked regularly. As guidance for weekly planning they're realistic; actual prices can differ by 10–40% depending on region, store, and brand.
Why does the calculator use consumption amounts instead of packages?
Because that answers the real question: what does cooking this week cost? 300 g of flour from a 1 kg bag costs about 25 cents proportionally — the rest of the bag is still there for the following weeks. If you're planning a first big stock-up shop, budget extra for pantry staples once.
What does an average weekly grocery shop cost for one person?
If you plan and cook yourself, €30–50 per week is realistic in Germany — with budget recipes even less. Without a plan, with impulse buys and delivery, the amount quickly doubles.
Is the grocery calculator free?
Yes, completely — no sign-up, no limit. And if you don't want to do the math by hand: the Culinse weekly planner builds the shopping list with a price estimate automatically from your recipes, also free.