If you’re rewatching “Home Alone” this holiday season, one particular scene may stand out to you. Fictional 8-year-old Kevin McCallister makes a trip to the grocery store to pick up some food and household necessities. He leaves with quite the haul and spends a modest $19.83.
The 1990 film follows the antics of Kevin, played by Macaulay Culkin, as he is accidentally left behind by his parents as they jet off to Paris for Christmas.
As with previous holiday seasons, viral TikTok videos highlight the inflation groceries have seen over the years. This TikTok post estimates that Culkin would spend close to $56 on the same haul.
We calculated the total cost of goods using prices from Schnucks grocery, a store nearby the McCallister’s Chicago suburb residence. Here is how much Kevin’s groceries would cost in 2025:
- Half a gallon of milk: $1.44
- Half a gallon of OJ: $5.69 ( $4.69 with $1 coupon, of course)
- Butternut large white bread: $2.89 (Wonder Bread not available)
- TV dinner: $2.99 (Stouffer’s roast turkey frozen meal)
- Frozen mac and cheese: $2.99
- Tide liquid detergent: $12.99
- Saran wrap (Cling and Seal): $4.29
- Dryer sheets: $8.19 (Downy brand)
- Toilet paper: $6.49
- Toy soldiers (not available, so Amazon price listed): $5.99
Kevin would have spent a $53.95 plus tax in 2025, or $52.95 with his dollar-off coupon. That’s a price increase of 167% over the past 35 years.
A portion of this story was originally published in 2024.
Contributing: Sara Chernikoff and Javier Zarracina
