In 1851 the New York Tribune reported the prices for items on a typical weekly grocery list for an average family of five living in Philadelphia:

Butcher's meat, at 2 lbs. per,,day10 cents per pound, for a total of $1.40

A barrel of flour, 62 cents (Purchased once in two months).

2 lbs. of butter, 63 cents.
1.2 bushels of potatoes, 50 cents
4 lbs. sugar, 32 cents
Coffee and tea, 25 cents
milk, 2 cents per day
salt, pepper, vinegar, starch, soapy, soda, yeast, cheese and eggs 40 cents.