If you’re planning a Memorial Day cookout in Jacksonville, get ready to spend a little more at the grocery store than much of the country.
A new analysis from digital signage company Mandoemedia found that a standard backyard cookout for eight people costs about $81.92 in Jacksonville, making it the fourth-most expensive metro area out of 30 major U.S. cities surveyed.
That puts Jacksonville just behind Miami and Tampa, tied at $84.54, and ahead of most of the country, including cities where the same spread of burgers, hot dogs, sides, and drinks costs far less.
For comparison, the same Memorial Day cookout costs just $58.87 in Indianapolis, the cheapest city in the study, which is nearly $26 less than Jacksonville. Here are some of the findings that lead to this conclusion.
What’s the national average cost for having a BBQ in the U.S.?
The national average is $68.37 for eight people, or $8.55 per person. Per person, that figure tracks RaboBank’s 2025 national BBQ Index figure of $10.30 once you adjust for the smaller basket and serving size.
How does the cost of a BBQ in Jacksonville compare to the national average?
The national average for a Memorial Day cookout came in at $68.37, meaning Jacksonville’s estimated total of $81.92 sits well above what most Americans are paying for a holiday cookout.
Same cookout, very different price tags. How were the results determined?
The study tracked a 14-item basket designed to feed eight people, including ground beef, hot dogs and buns, cheese, lettuce and tomatoes, condiments, chips, a 12-pack of domestic beer, soda, and ice cream.
Why are Memorial Day cookouts more expensive in Jacksonville?
Jacksonville isn’t alone when it comes to high cookout prices. According to the study, Florida dominates the expensive end of the rankings, with Miami, Tampa, and Jacksonville all landing in the top four most expensive metro areas in the country.
What items are driving up the cost of cookouts?
Jacksonville ranks as the 4th most expensive city for a Memorial Day cookout. How does it compare to the rest of the country?
The cost of hosting a Memorial Day cookout can look very different depending on where you live, and Jacksonville is near the top of the price range.
According to the study, there’s now a $25.67 difference between the cheapest and most expensive cookout cities in the country, a gap of nearly 44 percent for the exact same backyard barbecue.
Cities in the Midwest and parts of Texas tend to have the lowest cookout costs, while Florida and West Coast metros are among the most expensive.
Florida stood out more than any other state in the rankings. Miami and Tampa tied for the highest cookout costs in the country, with Jacksonville close behind as the fourth most expensive metro overall.
Memorial Day cookout costs across 30 major U.S. metros. See rankings
Doris Alvarez is a Breaking and Trending Reporter for The Florida Times-Union. You can get all of Jacksonville’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free Daily Briefing and News Alerts newsletters at jacksonville.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Memorial Day BBQ costs in Jacksonville are higher than most U.S cities
Reporting by Doris Alvarez Cea, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
