A pound of uncooked white rice costs the average U.S. shopper around $1.07 at the grocery store, but the price drops as low as $0.45–$0.60 when buying in bulk from warehouse clubs or Asian markets.
The price you pay for a pound of rice depends entirely on where and how you shop. If you grab a 2-pound bag off the grocery shelf, you are paying the standard consumer price tracked by the federal government. If you haul home a 50-pound bag from Costco or an Asian supermarket, you are paying wholesale-adjacent pricing. The gap between the two is wide enough to matter for anyone cooking rice regularly.
The table below breaks down every major price tier, so you can see exactly what your next bag will cost per pound.
What Does a Pound of Rice Cost Right Now?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks the average retail price of white, long-grain, uncooked rice every month. As of May 2026, that national average is $1.071 per pound. That number includes both organic and conventional rice across package sizes and store types.
The price has held steady around $1.06 to $1.08 per pound through early 2026. It edged up from $1.059 in January to $1.076 in April, then ticked down slightly in May.
How Rice Prices Change By Where You Buy
Your per-pound cost depends on the package size and the type of store. The difference between the smallest bag and the biggest bulk bag can be more than half off.
Grocery Store (Standard Shelves)
Most shoppers pay $1.00 to $1.50 per pound for standard brands like Mahatma or store labels in 1- to 5-pound bags. A 5-pound bag of Great Value Jasmine rice at Walmart costs $7.23, which works out to about $1.45 per pound. Smaller specialty bags, like an 8-ounce pack of Mahatma extra long grain, ring up at a much higher per-pound rate — around $5.13.
Warehouse Clubs (Costco, Sam’s Club)
Bulk buying drops the price dramatically. A 50-pound bag of white long-grain rice at Costco or Sam’s Club costs roughly $0.60 per pound. That is nearly half the standard grocery price.
Asian Markets
Asian grocery stores often undercut mainstream chains on rice. A 50-pound bag from an Asian market can land at $0.45 to $0.50 per pound. These stores also carry jasmine, basmati, and sticky rice varieties at similarly strong per-pound rates.
Walmart Bulk (20+ lbs)
Walmart sells a 20-pound bag of Great Value long-grain white rice for $11.14, which works out to $0.56 per pound — close to warehouse pricing without the membership fee.
Retail Price Comparison Table
| Price Type | Price Per Pound | Date Recorded / Source |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. National Average (BLS) | $1.07 | May 2026 |
| Great Value Long Grain (Walmart, 20-lb) | $0.56 | Current Walmart shelf price |
| Costco / Sam’s Club (50-lb bag) | $0.60 | Current club pricing |
| Asian Market (50-lb bag) | $0.45 – $0.50 | Current market reports |
| Great Value Jasmine (Walmart, 5-lb) | $1.45 | Current Walmart shelf price |
| Mahatma Basmati (Dillons, 32 oz) | $2.20 | Current Dillons shelf price |
| Wholesale Commodity (per cwt) | $0.12 | Futures contract, June 2026 |
| Organic Premium | $1.50 – $2.50 | Typical retail markup |
Why the Commodity Price and Store Price Are So Different
Rice futures — what raw, unmilled rice trades for on the commodities market — settled at about $0.12 per pound in June 2026. That is the cost of the agricultural raw material. The rice you buy at the store includes milling, polishing, packaging, shipping, warehousing, and the store’s own markup. That processing chain roughly multiplies the raw cost by eight or nine times by the time it reaches the shelf.
This is the most common point of confusion when people search rice prices. The $0.12 commodity price is not something a consumer can walk into a store and pay. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average is the real-world number you should expect at checkout.
Does the Rice Variety Change the Price?
Yes, and sometimes significantly. Long-grain white rice is the cheapest variety across all store types. Jasmine and basmati rice carry a premium because they are imported and have higher demand. On standard retail shelves, jasmine rice runs about $1.45 per pound, while basmati can hit $2.20 per pound or more depending on the brand.
The BLS regular rice price series includes only white, long-grain, uncooked rice, so aromatic varieties and specialty rices are not captured in the main federal number.
How Much Is a Pound of Rice in Different Store Formats?
If you do not buy 20 pounds at a time, your per-pound cost will be higher. That is the central trade-off. The table below maps what a pound costs at each common buying size, using real current prices.
| Buying Size | Typical Price Per Pound | Best Store Type To Use |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 lb bag | $1.00 – $1.50 | Dillons, Kroger, Publix |
| 5 lb bag | $0.80 – $1.45 | Walmart, Target |
| 20 lb bag | $0.56 | Walmart (Great Value) |
| 50 lb bag | $0.45 – $0.60 | Costco, Sam’s Club, Asian markets |
| 100+ lb (wholesale) | $0.22 – $0.23 | Restaurant supply / bulk distributor |
Pick Your Price Point
The fastest way to pay less per pound is to buy the biggest bag that makes sense for your kitchen. A 20-pound bag from Walmart gives you rice at $0.56 per pound — nearly half the national average. A 50-pound bag from an Asian market or warehouse club drops it to $0.45–$0.60 per pound. If you only need a small bag, expect to pay the $1.07 average or slightly more for specialty varieties.
References & Sources
- Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED). “Average Price: Rice, White, Long Grain, Uncooked (APU0000701312).” Primary source for the $1.071 national average retail price for May 2026.
- Tridge. “Rice Price in United States.” Wholesale price data ($0.22–$0.23/lb for 2024).
- Trading Economics. “Rice.” Commodity futures data ($0.1247/lb as of June 22, 2026).
- Walmart. “White Rice.” Current shelf prices for Great Value and other brands.
- Dillons. “1 Pound Rice.” Current price for Mahatma Basmati and other varieties.
