How much would Kevin’s ‘Home Alone’ grocery list cost at a Tri-Cities store in 2024?
Ever watch a movie or TV show from decades ago? There are usually many glaring differences to the modern day, from outfits and hairstyles to social norms.
One of the most obvious differences is when characters are given a price for something. Whether it’s clothes, food, drinks or something else, current-day watchers often have to stop and reflect on the price change.
Like when characters in a ‘90s sitcom order coffee for a dollar, or get four pizzas delivered for $20. Today, those prices sound extremely low. But just a few decades ago, the cost of just about everything was dramatically lower.
Viral TikTok of price comparisons
One such example is in “Home Alone,” when the left-behind Kevin McCallister heads to the grocery store and fills up a cart for $20. Last year, a TikToker went viral for breaking down the price difference between Kevin’s total, and the same items when purchased in modern day.
The user, @sellitlikelyons, examines each item in Kevin’s cart and looks up the price listing at a nearby Target, finding the total is nearly 3.5 times what it was when “Home Alone” was released, presuming the scene was fairly accurate at the time.
Kevin’s cart contained:
Milk (half-gallon)
Wrappit! plastic wrap
Stouffer’s frozen turkey dinner
Snuggle dryer sheets
Wonder bread
Quilted Northern toilet paper (four-pack)
Kraft macaroni and cheese
Plastic army figurines
Tide liquid laundry detergent
Tropicana orange juice (half-gallon)
Factoring in the $1-off coupon Kevin had for the orange juice, his total in the movie is $19.83.
“Home Alone” groceries at Tri-Cities stores
So how much would it cost to buy the items on Kevin’s grocery list at Tri-Cities grocery stores? We did the math in 2023 for readers, and we’re back to compare again this year. We’ll also show the percentage increase since “Home Alone” by year. The store with the largest price increases was Fred Meyer. The store with the lowest price increases, and the only one that decreased from 2023 to 2024 in our comparison, was Walmart.
Target in 2023
Cheapest half-gallon of milk: $3.89
Cheapest plastic wrap: $1.99
Marie Callender’s roasted turkey breast and stuffing: $3.69
Cheapest dryer sheets: $4.99
Wonder bread: $2.99
Cheapest four-pack of toilet paper: $.99
Original Kraft macaroni box: $1.19
Cheapest pack of army figurines: $9.99
Tide liquid laundry detergent: $8.29
Tropicana orange juice (half-gallon): $4.49
Grand total, including state and local sales tax: $46.20
Increase from “Home Alone”: 132.98%
Target in 2024
Cheapest half-gallon of milk: $3.89
Cheapest plastic wrap: $1.99
Marie Callender’s roasted turkey breast and stuffing: $3.59
Snuggle dryer sheets: $3.99
Wonder bread: $2.99
Cheapest four-pack of toilet paper: $4.99
Kraft macaroni and cheese: $1.29
Cheapest pack of army figurines: $9.99
Tide liquid laundry detergent: $7.49
Tropicana orange juice (46 oz): $3.89
Grand total, including state and local sales tax: $47.94
Increase from “Home Alone”: 141.75%
Walmart 2023
Cheapest half-gallon of milk: $1.87
Cheapest plastic wrap: $1.97
Stouffer’s roast turkey dinner: $3.48
Snuggle dryer sheets: $4.92
Wonder bread: $2.92
Quilted Northern toilet paper (four-pack): $6.98 (six-pack)
Kraft macaroni and cheese: $1.12
Plastic army figurines: $5.44
Tide liquid laundry detergent: $3.44
Tropicana orange juice (half-gallon): $3.94
Grand total, including state and local sales tax: $39.22
Increase from “Home Alone”: 97.78%
Walmart 2024
Cheapest half-gallon of milk: $2.16
Cheapest plastic wrap: $1.97
Stouffer’s frozen roast turkey dinner: $3.48
Snuggle dryer sheets: $4.92
Wonder bread: $2.92
Quilted Northern toilet paper (6-pack, smallest available): $6.98
Kraft macaroni and cheese: $1.24
Plastic army figurines: $3.09
Tide liquid laundry detergent: $3.74
Tropicana orange juice (46 oz): $3.54
Grand total, including state and local sales tax: $37
Increase from Home Alone: 85.59%
Safeway 2024
Milk (half-gallon): $2.39
Cheapest plastic wrap: $2.99
Stouffer’s roast turkey dinner: $3
Snuggle dryer sheets: $4.99
Wonder bread: $3.99
Quilted Northern toilet paper (6-pack, smallest available): $9.49
Kraft macaroni and cheese: $1.25
Plastic army figurines: N/A
Tide liquid laundry detergent: $13.99
Tropicana orange juice (half-gallon): $4.99
Grand total, including state and local sales tax: $51.18
Increase from “Home Alone”: 158.09%
Safeway 2024
Cheapest half-gallon of milk: $3.89
Cheapest plastic wrap: $3.49
Stouffer’s frozen turkey dinner: $4.50
Snuggle dryer sheets: $5.99
Wonder bread: $4.99
Four-pack of toilet paper: $5.99
Kraft macaroni and cheese: $1.49
Plastic army figurines: $9.99
Tide liquid laundry detergent: $9.99
Tropicana orange juice (46 oz): $3.99
Grand total, including state and local sales tax: $59.03
Increase from “Home Alone”: 197.68%
Fred Meyer 2023
Milk (half-gallon): $2.39
Plastic wrap: $4.49
Stouffer’s roast turkey dinner: $3.99
Snuggle dryer sheets: $3.99
Wonder bread: $3.99
Quilted Northern toilet paper (6-pack, smallest available): $7.99
Kraft macaroni and cheese: $1.25
Plastic army figurines: $18.75
Tide liquid laundry detergent: $3.49
Tropicana orange juice (half-gallon): $4.69
Grand total, including state and local sales tax: $59.81
Increase from “Home Alone”: 201.61%
Fred Meyer 2024
Milk (half-gallon): $2.39
Cheapest available plastic wrap: $2.19
Stouffer’s frozen turkey dinner: $3.99
Snuggle dryer sheets: $4.29
Wonder bread: $3.99
Quilted Northern toilet paper (6-pack, smallest available): $7.99
Kraft macaroni and cheese: $1.25
Plastic army figurines: $16.99
Tide liquid laundry detergent: $12.99
Tropicana orange juice (46 ounces): $2.50
Grand total, including state and local sales tax: $63.67
Increase from “Home Alone”: 221.08%
This story was originally published December 5, 2024 at 1:48 PM.