Take a look at the emergency food supplies for one year including the amount and cost of shelf-stable canned foods, dry foods, and professionally packaged emergency food kits. Let’s see what it would cost to feed one person for a year.
It costs $5215.83 to feed one person for a year with canned meat, fruit, vegetables, and other shelf-stable foods to attain 962,880 annual calories or 2,638 calories daily. Well above the FDA minimum requirement of 730,000 or 2000 calories per day.
Ready to start stockpiling emergency food? Read on.
Chart #1 Canned & dry packaged emergency food supplies
Chart #1 is an essential list of shelf-stable food for one person. The list is mostly canned items and dried foods you can pick up at the grocery store or a big box store like Sam’s Club or Costco. I’m not saying these are the foods you should stockpile but it will give you an idea of the general cost and what it looks like. Let’s take a look at the chart.
| Shelf-stable Food Type | # Of Containers Needed | Container Size | Calories Per Container | Total Calories | Publix Cost | Walmart Cost | Winn-Dixie Cost | Average Cost | Total Cost |
| Dak Canned Ham | 36 | 16oz can | 800 | 28,800 | NA* | $11.77 | NA* | $11.77 | 423.72 |
| Dinty Moore Beef Stew | 36 | 15oz can | 200 | 7,200 | $2.49 | $2.12 | $2.69 | $ 2.43 | $ 87.48 |
| Hormel Corned Beef Hash | 36 | 14oz can | 1140 | 41,040 | $ 2.79 | $2.74 | $3.31 | $2.94 | $105.84 |
| Progresso Beef Pot Roast Soup | 36 | 18.5oz can | 220 | 7920 | $2.99 | $1.68 | $3.49 | $2.72 | $97.92 |
| Spam Classic | 36 | 12oz can | 1,080 | 38,880 | $2.87 | $3.38 | $4.09 | $3.44 | $123.94 |
| Hormel Hot Chili With Beans | 36 | 15oz can | 700 | 25,200 | $2.79 | $2.74 | $2.99 | $2.84 | $102.24 |
| Keystone All Natural Beef | 36 | 28oz can | 980 | 35,280 | NA | $8.12 | NA | $8.12 | $292.32 |
| Keystone All Natural Pork | 36 | 28oz can | 980 | 35,280 | NA | $7.48 | NA | $7.48 | $269.28 |
| Keystone All Natural Turkey | 36 | 28oz can | 980 | 35,280 | NA | $6.88 | NA | $6.88 | $247.68 |
| Nabisco Saltine Crackers | 36 | 16oz box | 1960 | 70,560 | $3.35 | $2.88 | $4.09 | $3.44 | $123.84 |
| Ritz Crackers | 36 | 11.8oz box | 1680 | 60,480 | $5.95 | $3.56 | $5.29 | $4.93 | $177.48 |
| Jif Peanut Butter | 36 | 16oz | 2660 | 95,760 | $2.87 | 2.28 | $2.99 | $2.71 | $97.56 |
| Cliff Builder Protein Bar | 180 | 1 bar | 290 | 52,200 | NA | $2.62 | $1.99 | $2.30 | $414.00 |
| Pop-Tarts Breakfast Pastries | 180 | 13.5oz box | 740 | 133,200 | $2.58 | 2.08 | $2.69 | $2.45 | $441.00 |
| Power Bar Protein Plus | 180 | 1 bar | 210 | 37,800 | N/A | $1.16 | $1.19 | $1.17 | $210.60 |
| DelMonte Canned Sliced Peaches (heavy syrup) | 120 | 15.25oz can | 350 | 42,000 | $1.91 | $1.76 | $2.39 | $2.02 | $242.40 |
| DelMonte Fruit Cocktail (heavy syrup) | 120 | 15.25oz can | 350 | 42,000 | $1.91 | $1.76 | $1.99 | $1.88 | $225.60 |
| DelMonte Canned Pears | 120 | 15.25oz can | 350 | 42,000 | $1.91 | $1.76 | $1.99 | $1.88 | $225.60 |
| DelMonte Canned Corn | 120 | 15.25oz can | 210 | 25,200 | $1.91 | $1.76 | $1.99 | $1.88 | $225.60 |
| DelMonte Green Beans | 120 | 14.5oz can | 70 | 8,400 | $1.43 | $1.18 | $1.59 | $1.40 | $168.00 |
| DelMonte Mixed Vegetables | 120 | 14.5oz can | 157 | 18,840 | $1.79 | $1.18 | $1.59 | $1.52 | $182.40 |
| Ocean Spray Craisins | 36 | 24oz bag | 2210 | 79,560 | $8.58 | 5.88 | 9.59 | $8.01 | $288.36 |
| Daily Multi-Vitamin | 365 | 365 Tabs four 100-tab bottles | – | – | $43.16 | $43.88 | $37.56 | $41.53 | $41.53 |
| Fresh Potable Water | 365gl | 1gl | – | – | $1.15 | $.98 | $1.19 | $1.10 | $401.50 |
| Total Annual Cost | – | – | 962,880 | – | – | – | – | $5,215.83 |
Next up, total costs from chart #1.
Chart #2 Cost and calorie breakdown from chart #1
| Total Annual Calories Provided Chart #1 | 962,880 |
| FDA Suggested Minimum Annual Calories | 730,000 |
| Chart #1 Daily Calories Provided | 2,638 |
| FDA Suggested Minimum Daily Calories | 2000 |
| Total Cost | $5215.83 |
For an in-depth look at calorie counts and long-term food storage, check out the Ready Squirrel article, “How Much Food To Stockpile Per Person.”
Up next, are dry staple foods, the cornerstone of long-term food storage.
Dry staple foods (one year supply)
Dry Foods are, in my opinion, the cheapest, most effective emergency food for long-term storage. They are excellent for maximum shelf-life and nutrition, and they have proven, over thousands of years, that they can keep folks alive during hard times.
If you choose to stockpile dry emergency foods I suggest supplementing with canned meat, fruit, and vegetables to improve nutrition, and daily calorie count and to meet the need for short-term emergency food for a 72-hour to 2-week emergency kit.
Scott, Ready Squirrel
Let’s take a look at Chart #3, which includes enough dry staple foods for one year.
Chart #3 Dry staple food quantity and cost
The list of foods in charts #3 and #4 will provide 2000 calories per day for one person for 365 days. I suggest going over the 2000 calories because in a survival scenario or food shortage you may be using more than 2000 calories per day to do tasks like gardening and splitting firewood.
| Dry Staple Emergency Food For One Year | Amount For one year supply for one person | Walmart.com Cost Per Pound | Amazon.com Cost Per Pound | LDS Online Store #10 cans Cost Per Pound | Cost Per Pound Average | Total Cost |
| Hard White Wheat Berries | 132 lbs | $1.95 | $1.63 | $1.10 | $1.56 | $205.92 |
| Long Grain White Rice | 65 lbs | .72 | $1.16 | $1.47 | $1.12 | $72.80 |
| Rolled Oats | 29 lbs | $1.70 | $1.57 | $2.05 | $1.77 | $51.33 |
| Pasta (macaroni) | 21 lbs | .82 | $1.09 | $1.79 | $1.23 | $25.83 |
| Legumes (Navy Beans) (Beans, Split peas, Lentils) | 62 lbs | $1.78 | $1.95 | $1.65 | $1.80 | $111.60 |
| Milk Powdered Nonfat-Dry | 62 lbs | $5.00 | $8.49 | $5.07 | $6.18 | $383.16 |
| White Table Sugar | 70 lbs | $1.95 | .80 | $1.65 | $1.46 | $102.20 |
| Dried Apple Slices | 6 lbs | $9.49 | $9.39 | $11.67 | $10.18 | $61.08 |
| Dried Carrots | 8 lbs | $8.88 | – | $4.62 | $6.75 | $54.00 |
| Potato Flakes | 22 lbs | $3.60 | $3.07 | $4.51 | $3.72 | $81.84 |
| Dried Onions | 2.1 lbs | $7.19 | $4.32 | $4.35 | $5.28 | $11.10 |
| Iodized Salt | 8 lbs | $1.01 | .95 | – | .98 | $7.84 |
| Baking Soda | 1 lb | .92 | .77 | – | .85 | .85 |
| Baking Powder | 4 lb | $2.24 | $3.64 | – | $2.94 | $11.76 |
| Vitamin C tablet (90 mg) | 365 Tablets | $26.99 | $26.99 | – | $26.99 | $26.99 |
| Total Cost | – | – | – | – | – | $1208.36 |
Learn how to package dry foods for long-term storage. Check out the Ready Squirrel article “Mylar Bags For Food Storage: Beginner’s Guide.”
It would be nice if all of the emergency food supplies we need come with a 25 to 30-year shelf life but they don’t. You will have to store and rotate emergency food with a shorter shelf-life. Up next, short-life foods you need to stockpile.
Chart #4 Short shelf-life foods (emergency food supplies)
Include these short-term food items in your pantry, along with the list of dry staples from chart #3 above. Storing emergency food supplies with a short shelf-life is a necessary evil of long-term storage because you need the following items to make exciting recipes with dry staples like wheat, white rice, and dry beans. As you look at the chart keep in mind you can substitute for any of these items. Let’s look at the chart.
| Short-term food items with a short shelf-life | Amount Per Person Per Year | Store 1 Cost Per Pound | Store 2 Cost Per Pound | Cost Per Pound Average | Total Cost |
| – | – | Walmart.com | Amazon.com | – | – |
| Olive Oil | 2 gallons | $11.90 | $14.72 | $13.31 | $26.62 |
| Shortening | 3 lbs | $2.96 | $2.37 | $2.66 | $8.88 |
| Butter (freeze) | 6 lbs | $3.76 | $3.69 | $3.72 | $22.32 |
| Mayonnaise and Salad Dressing | 3 quarts | $3.48 | $3.79 | $3.63 | $10.89 |
| Peanut Butter And Nut Butter | 6 lbs | $2.89 | $3.44 | $3.16 | $18.96 |
| Dry Drink Mixes (Tang) | 18 lbs | $9.21 | $8.96 | $9.08 | $163.44 |
| Spices (estimate) | – | – | – | – | $100.00 |
| Powdered Eggs for baking | 6 lbs | $21.99 | $25.24 | $23.61 | $141.66 |
| Yeast or Make Levain For Free | 2 lbs | $18.50 | $10.99 | $14.74 | $29.48 |
| Sweeteners (Honey) | 10 lbs | $6.33 | $9.65 | $7.99 | $79.90 |
| Canned Fruit Preserves | 8 lbs | $10.24 | $11.07 | $10.65 | $85.20 |
| Dried Fruit Mix (Baker’s) | 1 lb | $21.95 | $39.68 | $30.81 | $30.81 |
| Short-term Food Cost | – | – | – | – | $718.16 |
| Dry Staple Cost See Chart 3 | – | – | – | – | $1208.36 |
| Total Cost For One Year | – | – | – | – | $ 1926.52 |
Survival food kits (emergency food supplies)
Survival or emergency food kits are professionally packaged food kits sold by the number of days they will supply nutrition. Check the actual daily calories count to ensure you are getting enough calories because calories provided by the different companies vary.
How Much Does It Cost To Feed One Person For A Year With An Emergency Food Kit?
It costs, on average, $4661.80 to feed one person for a year with a professionally packaged emergency food kit(s).
Storage tip: Purchase meals and test them before buying in bulk.
Chart #4 Survival food kits: calories and cost
Professionally packaged emergency food like Mountain House freeze-dried meals are outstanding for emergencies where weight is a concern. Consider purchasing small quantities for bugging out on foot or in a vehicle and rely on dry staples and canned foods for the bulk of your stockpile.
| Company Name | Cost of One Year Emergency Food Supply | Daily Calories | Kit Calories* |
| Mountain House | $7,829.00 | 1,724 | 629,260 |
| A-Pac MRE Self-heating ReadyStore.com | $4,095.36 | 1,700 | 549,325 |
| 4Patriots Supply | $2,987.00 | 2,000 | 730,000+ |
| My Patriot Supply.com Ready Hour | $2,987.00 | 2,000 | 730,000+ |
| Readywise.com | $5,159.99 | N/A | N/A |
| Valley Food Storage | $5,599.00 | 1551 | 566,400 |
| Costco Wholesale Mountain House 1 year | $4,999.99 | 1,985 | 724,525 |
| Walmart Augason Farms Deluxe | $1,290.00 | 1,700 | 620,500 |
| ThriveLife.com | $7,059.48 (one month kit $588.29 x12) | N/A | N/A |
| BePrepared.com Emergency Essentials | $3,468.00 | 2,011 | 724,080 |
| Rainy Day Foods | $2330.99 | 1,214 | 443,110 |
| Legacy Food Storage | $5,299.00 | 2,365 | 863,280 |
| Readystore.com | $7,499.00 | 1,938 | 707,512 |
Thanks for dropping by Ready Squirrel. If you have any thoughts or questions please leave them in the comments section.
Keep on prepping!
Kind Regards, Scott
