SNAP meal cost shortfall

SNAP benefits on a per-meal basis fall short of covering the cost of a moderately priced meal in every California county, including throughout the San Joaquin Valley, according to an analysis by the Urban Institute. Hover or click a county on the map for details.

SNAP data is derived from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service for July 2024. Average cost per meal data is from the Urban Institute. The shortfall figure is based on a maximum SNAP benefit, but many households receive less than the maximum.
Chart: Tim Sheehan / Central Valley Journalism CollaborativeSource: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates; U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service; Urban InstituteGet the dataCreated with Datawrapper