# Monthly grocery list for an Indian family of 4

URL: https://mykitchenradar.com/guides/monthly-grocery-list-india/
Updated 2026-11-08 · By SyntyAxis

> A monthly grocery list for an Indian family of four covers rice and atta, dal, oil and ghee, spices, milk, vegetables, fruit and breakfast items. The average Indian city dweller uses about 4.2 kg of rice and 3.6 kg of wheat products a month (MoSPI HCES 2023-24). Four people therefore use about 17 kg of rice and 14.5 kg of atta and other wheat. A Tamil Nadu city family of four is closer to 26 kg of rice, and a Punjab city family uses about 25 kg of wheat.

MyKitchenRadar is a family kitchen app that tells you how many days each food at home will last, like "rice: about 6–11 days", and reminds everyone before it runs out. This page is a printable monthly kirana list, with an amount and a source on every row where one exists.

## What the amounts are based on

The list is for a family of four. Dad and Mom are adults with mostly seated days (ICMR-NIN's "sedentary" level). Emma is 8 and Jack is 12. Every amount comes from one of two official Indian sources, and each row says which.

| Label | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|
| **Observed** | What Indian households actually used in a month, from a national survey | MoSPI Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2023-24 |
| **Recommended** | What India's national nutrition institute suggests people eat each day | ICMR-NIN Dietary Guidelines for Indians (DGI) 2024, Table 1.6 |

The survey report publishes quantities for cereals only: rice, wheat and coarse grains. For dal, oil, milk, vegetables, fruit and nuts we show the recommended amount for this family. Where neither source has a number, the list says "amount depends on your family". We did not fill those gaps with guesses.

## The monthly grocery list

### Monthly grocery list for an Indian family of 4

For 2 adults and 2 children (8 and 12). Amounts are per month unless the row says per week. Observed = MoSPI HCES 2023-24, city average. Recommended = ICMR-NIN DGI 2024.

#### Grains and flours

| Have it | Item | Amount for 4 | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☐ | Rice (chawal), including poha and puffed rice | 16.8 kg (all-India city average). Check your state in the table below | Observed |
| ☐ | Atta, maida, suji/rava, sewai | 14.5 kg combined | Observed |
| ☐ | Millets and other coarse grains: ragi, jowar, bajra, maize | 0.8 kg | Observed |
| ☐ | Besan | Amount depends on your family | No published amount |
| | All cereals together, for this family | 27.9 kg | Recommended |

#### Dals and pulses

| Have it | Item | Amount for 4 | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☐ | Toor (arhar) dal | Part of 9 kg total | Recommended total |
| ☐ | Moong dal | Part of 9 kg total | Recommended total |
| ☐ | Urad dal | Part of 9 kg total | Recommended total |
| ☐ | Chana dal | Part of 9 kg total | Recommended total |
| ☐ | Masoor dal | Part of 9 kg total | Recommended total |
| ☐ | Rajma, kabuli chana, other dried beans | Part of 9 kg total | Recommended total |

#### Oils and ghee

| Have it | Item | Amount for 4 | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☐ | Cooking oil (groundnut, mustard, sunflower, coconut) | Part of 3.45 kg total | Recommended total |
| ☐ | Ghee | Part of 3.45 kg total | Recommended total |
| ☐ | Butter | Part of 3.45 kg total | Recommended total |

#### Spices, salt and sugar

| Have it | Item | Amount for 4 | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☐ | Salt (iodized) | Amount depends on your family | No published amount |
| ☐ | Sugar or jaggery (gur) | At most 25–30 g a day per person | ICMR-NIN limit on a 2,000 kcal diet |
| ☐ | Haldi (turmeric) | Amount depends on your family | No published amount |
| ☐ | Red chili powder | Amount depends on your family | No published amount |
| ☐ | Dhania (coriander) powder | Amount depends on your family | No published amount |
| ☐ | Jeera (cumin), rai (mustard seeds), methi seeds | Amount depends on your family | No published amount |
| ☐ | Garam masala, sambar powder or your usual masala | Amount depends on your family | No published amount |
| ☐ | Hing (asafoetida), tamarind | Amount depends on your family | No published amount |

#### Milk and dairy

| Have it | Item | Amount for 4 | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☐ | Milk and curd (dahi) | 42 L combined (1,400 ml a day) | Recommended |
| ☐ | Paneer, buttermilk | Amount depends on your family | No published amount |

#### Vegetables and fruit (buy every week)

| Have it | Item | Amount for 4 | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☐ | Green leafy vegetables: palak, methi, other greens | 2.8 kg a week | Recommended |
| ☐ | Other vegetables, including onion, tomato, ginger, garlic, green chilies, coriander leaves, curry leaves | 5.25 kg a week | Recommended |
| ☐ | Roots and tubers: potato, sweet potato, arbi | 2.8 kg a week | Recommended |
| ☐ | Fruit | 2.8 kg a week | Recommended |

#### Nuts and seeds

| Have it | Item | Amount for 4 | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☐ | Peanuts, almonds, til (sesame), other nuts and seeds | 3.6 kg in total | Recommended |

#### Breakfast and snacks

| Have it | Item | Amount for 4 | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☐ | Tea or coffee powder | Amount depends on your family | No published amount |
| ☐ | Poha, rava (counted in grains above) | See grains | Observed |
| ☐ | Oats, vermicelli, cornflakes | Amount depends on your family | No published amount |
| ☐ | Bread, biscuits, namkeen | Amount depends on your family | No published amount |

#### Cleaning and household (optional)

| Have it | Item | Amount | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☐ | | | |
| ☐ | | | |
| ☐ | | | |

A few notes on reading the list:

- **Rice and atta numbers are observed.** They are what an average person in an Indian city actually used in 2023-24, times four. The survey's rice group includes poha (chira) and puffed rice (muri). Its wheat group includes atta, maida, suji/rava and sewai.
- **Ration rice and atta count.** The survey records free and subsidized ration (PDS) grain as consumption. If part of your rice comes from the ration shop, buy that much less at the kirana.
- **Dal, oil, milk, vegetables, fruit and nuts are recommended amounts.** They are what ICMR-NIN suggests for a healthy diet, which is often not what a family buys. Treat them as a ceiling or a target, not a forecast.
- **Eggs, fish and meat.** ICMR-NIN lets non-vegetarians swap about 30 g of pulses a day for eggs, fish or meat. Add those to the list in the amount your family eats.

## Rice or atta? Regional notes from the survey

Where you live changes the list more than anything else. In Tamil Nadu cities, rice is 89.5% of all cereals eaten. In Punjab cities it is 13.6%, and in Rajasthan cities 6.4% (MoSPI HCES 2023-24, Table 3.8U).

This table shows observed use per person per month in cities, and the same figure for four people.

| State (urban) | Rice per person | Rice for 4 | Wheat per person | Wheat for 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Odisha | 8.19 kg | 32.8 kg | 1.81 kg | 7.2 kg |
| Telangana | 7.54 kg | 30.2 kg | 0.96 kg | 3.8 kg |
| Andhra Pradesh | 7.48 kg | 29.9 kg | 0.64 kg | 2.6 kg |
| West Bengal | 6.54 kg | 26.2 kg | 2.32 kg | 9.3 kg |
| Tamil Nadu | 6.47 kg | 25.9 kg | 0.68 kg | 2.7 kg |
| Kerala | 5.78 kg | 23.1 kg | 0.84 kg | 3.4 kg |
| Bihar | 5.29 kg | 21.2 kg | 4.99 kg | 20.0 kg |
| Karnataka | 4.88 kg | 19.5 kg | 1.36 kg | 5.4 kg |
| **All-India** | **4.19 kg** | **16.8 kg** | **3.62 kg** | **14.5 kg** |
| Maharashtra | 3.10 kg | 12.4 kg | 3.93 kg | 15.7 kg |
| Uttar Pradesh | 2.56 kg | 10.2 kg | 5.50 kg | 22.0 kg |
| Gujarat | 2.10 kg | 8.4 kg | 4.83 kg | 19.3 kg |
| Madhya Pradesh | 2.01 kg | 8.1 kg | 6.49 kg | 26.0 kg |
| Delhi | 1.65 kg | 6.6 kg | 4.57 kg | 18.3 kg |
| Haryana | 1.00 kg | 4.0 kg | 6.10 kg | 24.4 kg |
| Punjab | 1.00 kg | 4.0 kg | 6.33 kg | 25.3 kg |
| Rajasthan | 0.62 kg | 2.5 kg | 8.77 kg | 35.1 kg |

Source: MoSPI HCES 2023-24, Statement 5U (urban, kg per person per 30 days). "For 4" is the per-person figure times four.

What the table tells you:

- **South and east India cook mostly rice.** In Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, a city family of four uses 23–33 kg of rice a month. Wheat stays under 10 kg.
- **North, west and central India cook mostly wheat.** In Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, a city family of four uses 22–35 kg of wheat. Rice stays under 11 kg.
- **Bihar and Maharashtra are close to half and half.** Plan for both a large rice bag and a large atta bag.
- **Karnataka eats the most coarse grains.** City households use 1.11 kg of coarse grains per person a month, the survey's group for jowar, bajra, maize, barley, ragi and small millets. The all-India city figure is 0.20 kg.
- **Village homes eat more cereal.** The all-India rural average is 9.35 kg of cereals per person a month, against 8.02 kg in cities (Table 3.7).
- **Older lists buy too much.** Cereal use per person has fallen in every survey since 1999-2000. In cities it went from 10.42 kg to 8.02 kg a month (Table 3.7). A list copied from an older guide will over-buy rice and atta.

## How to adjust the list for your family size

### Rice and atta: multiply by the number of people

The survey figure is for an average person, which already mixes adults, children and elders. Multiply it by the number of people at home. Use your state's row from the table above if it is listed.

| People at home | Rice (all-India city average) | Wheat (all-India city average) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4.2 kg | 3.6 kg |
| 2 | 8.4 kg | 7.2 kg |
| 3 | 12.6 kg | 10.9 kg |
| 4 | 16.8 kg | 14.5 kg |
| 5 | 21.0 kg | 18.1 kg |
| 6 | 25.2 kg | 21.7 kg |

Source: MoSPI HCES 2023-24, Statement 5U. A home with toddlers will use less than this. A home with teenage boys will use more.

### Dal, oil and milk: add up each person

ICMR-NIN gives a recommended amount for each age group. Add one row per person in your family to get a monthly total. These are recommended amounts, not observed use.

| Family member | Cereals | Pulses and beans | Milk and curd | Fats and oils |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult man, sedentary | 7.8 kg | 2.55 kg | 9 L | 0.9 kg |
| Adult woman, sedentary | 5.7 kg | 1.8 kg | 9 L | 0.75 kg |
| Child 1–3 | 3 kg | 1.5 kg | 10.5 L | 0.6 kg |
| Child 4–6 | 4.8 kg | 1.8 kg | 10.5 L | 0.6 kg |
| Child 7–9 | 6 kg | 1.95 kg | 12 L | 0.75 kg |
| Boy 10–12 | 8.4 kg | 2.7 kg | 12 L | 1.05 kg |
| Girl 10–12 | 7.5 kg | 2.55 kg | 12 L | 0.9 kg |
| Boy 13–15 | 11.7 kg | 3.9 kg | 12 L | 1.35 kg |
| Girl 13–15 | 9 kg | 3 kg | 12 L | 1.2 kg |
| Boy 16–18 | 13.5 kg | 4.5 kg | 12 L | 1.65 kg |
| Girl 16–18 | 9.45 kg | 3.15 kg | 12 L | 1.2 kg |
| Man over 60 | 5.1 kg | 2.25 kg | 12 L | 0.75 kg |
| Woman over 60 | 4.2 kg | 2.1 kg | 12 L | 0.45 kg |

Source: ICMR-NIN DGI 2024, Table 1.6, daily grams times 30 days. The guidelines say cereal and pulse amounts go up or down with body weight and activity. Children and people over 60 get more milk than adults in these guidelines. A moderately active man is listed at 370 g of cereals a day instead of 260 g. Pregnant and breastfeeding women have their own rows in the same table.

If Grandma (over 60) lives with them, add her row. That is 4.2 kg cereals, 2.1 kg pulses, 12 L milk and 0.45 kg fats and oils a month.

### Or let the estimator do it

The free [How long will it last? estimator](/tools/how-long-will-it-last/) takes your family's ages, your state and the size of your bag, and gives a range of days with the sources shown.

## How to store monthly groceries

These storage times come from USDA FoodKeeper, the US government's public food storage data. It has no entries for curd, paneer, idli or dosa batter, or atta itself. For those, follow the date on the pack. FSSAI makes a use-by or expiry date mandatory on packaged food in India.

| Item | Pantry, unopened | After opening | Fridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| White rice | 2 years | 1 year | 6 months after opening |
| Brown rice | 1 year | 1 year | 6 months after opening |
| Whole-wheat flour (nearest match to atta) | 3–6 months | | 6–8 months after opening |
| White flour (nearest match to maida) | 6–12 months | 6–8 months | 1 year after opening |
| Millet flour | 1 month | | 2 months in the freezer |
| Whole millet grain | 2 months | | 4 months in the freezer |
| Lentils (dal) | 1 year | 1 year | |
| Dried beans (rajma, chana) | 1–2 years | 1 year | |
| Cooking oil | 6–12 months | 3–5 months | 4 months after opening |
| Ghee | 6–8 months | | 1–2 years |
| Sugar | Indefinitely | 18–24 months for best quality | |
| Salt | Indefinitely | | |
| Ground spices | 2–3 years | 2–3 years | |
| Whole spices | 3–4 years | 3–4 years | |
| Garam masala | 1 year | | |
| Tea bags / loose tea | 18–36 months / 2 years | 6–12 months | |
| Onions | 1 month | | 2 months |
| Potatoes | 1–2 months | | 1–2 weeks (pantry is better, see below) |
| Garlic, whole bulbs | 1 month | | Single cloves 3–14 days |
| Ginger | 2–5 days | | 2–3 weeks |
| Leafy greens | | | 1–4 days |
| Milk | | | Package use-by date |

Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper data, version 128. Most pantry times count from the date of purchase.

Three things worth knowing from the same data:

- **Millet flour goes stale first.** FoodKeeper gives it 1 month in the pantry, against 3–6 months for whole-wheat flour. Buy ragi or jowar flour in small packs, or keep it in the freezer.
- **Keep potatoes out of the fridge.** FoodKeeper quotes the US Potato Board that cold makes potatoes darken when cooked and taste sweet. Store them in a cool, dark place.
- **Keep dals and beans dry.** FoodKeeper's note for dried moong is to keep them in an airtight container.

## Why monthly lists fail in the middle of the month

A monthly list assumes everything runs out on the same day. Staples run out at different speeds.

Take the all-India city average for four people. A 10 kg bag of rice lasts about 18 days. A 10 kg bag of atta lasts about 21 days. Milk lasts a day. Leafy greens last 1–4 days in the fridge. Ground spices keep for 2–3 years, so the haldi packet finishes on a day nobody can predict.

A typical month looks like this. The big shop happens on the 1st. Rice runs low around the 18th, the night before guests. Milk finishes at breakfast. Someone buys a second bag of atta because nobody knew there was a full one behind the oil tin. The list on the fridge says nothing about any of it, because a list only knows what someone wrote on it.

## How MyKitchenRadar handles the middle of the month

MyKitchenRadar keeps a countdown for each item instead of one list for the month. You set up the family once: how many people, their ages, veg or non-veg, and your food culture. The app makes a first guess from typical use for that culture and family size, and shows it as a range, like "Rice: about 6–11 days". Now and then it asks one question, "How much rice is left?", and you tap Full, Half, Low or Out. Each answer tightens the range.

The buy list groups items into "Needed by tomorrow" and "This week", with a suggested amount, and is ready the evening before your shopping day. It is the same kitchen on every phone in the family, so the person at the kirana sees what the cook sees. Spices and snacks that have no steady rate show "last bought 6 weeks ago" instead of a fake date. Order links open Blinkit, Zepto, Instamart, BigBasket or Amazon with the item already searched.

Coming soon for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Android after that. Free core app. One optional Family plan. No ads.

Read [how the countdown works](/how-it-works/), see the app on the [home page](/), or check one bag now with the [free estimator](/tools/how-long-will-it-last/).

## Related guides

- [Pantry staples list with storage times](/guides/pantry-staples-list/)
- [How to keep track of groceries at home](/guides/how-to-keep-track-of-groceries-at-home/)
- [How long will rice last?](/guides/how-long-will-rice-last/)

## Questions

### How much rice does an Indian family of 4 need per month?

About 17 kg at the all-India city average of 4.2 kg per person (MoSPI HCES 2023-24). Rice-eating states need more, about 26 kg in Tamil Nadu cities and 30 kg in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana cities. Wheat-eating states like Punjab and Rajasthan need 2.5–4 kg.

### How much atta does a family of 4 need per month?

About 14.5 kg of wheat products at the all-India city average, and 22–35 kg in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan cities (MoSPI HCES 2023-24). The survey's wheat figure includes maida, suji and sewai along with atta.

### How much dal does a family of 4 need per month?

ICMR-NIN recommends about 9 kg of pulses and beans a month for two adults and children aged 8 and 12 (DGI 2024). That is a recommended amount, not what families buy. The national survey does not publish dal quantities in its report.

### How much cooking oil does a family of 4 need per month?

ICMR-NIN recommends about 3.45 kg of fats and oils a month in total for this family, which covers cooking oil, ghee and butter together (DGI 2024). Many families will want less.

### Should I buy less rice if we get ration (PDS) rice?

Yes. The national survey counts free and subsidized ration rice and atta as consumption, so the amounts on this page include them. Subtract what you get from the ration shop before you buy at the kirana.

### How long does atta last after opening?

Atta itself is not in USDA FoodKeeper. Its nearest match, whole-wheat flour, keeps 3–6 months in the pantry. Packed atta in India also carries a use-by or expiry date, which FSSAI makes mandatory, so follow the pack.

### Why does my monthly list run out before the month ends?

Staples run out at different speeds. At the all-India city average, a 10 kg bag of rice lasts a family of four about 18 days and a 10 kg bag of atta about 21 days. Milk goes in a day, and spices last months.

## Sources

- [MoSPI, Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2023-24 (NSS Report 592), Statements 5R/5U, Tables 3.7 and 3.8, Appendix D](https://mospi.gov.in/sites/default/files/publication_reports/Final_Report_HCES_2023-24L.pdf)
- [ICMR-NIN, Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024, Table 1.6](https://www.nin.res.in/dietaryguidelines/pdfjs/locale/DGI_2024.pdf)
- [ICMR-NIN, My Plate for the Day policy brief](https://www.nin.res.in/brief/Policy%20Brief%20My%20Plate%20J18%2024.pdf)
- [USDA FSIS FoodKeeper data (CC0), data version 128](https://catalog.data.gov/dataset/fsis-foodkeeper-data)
- [FSSAI, Labelling and Display Regulations 2020 (compendium)](https://fssai.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/Compendium_Labelling_Display_04_01_2022.pdf)