The cheapest emergency food per calorie
We rank 34 emergency food kits by what they cost per 2,000 calories, about one adult's food for a day. The cheapest costs $9.42, the median is $16.43, and the most expensive is $39.07.
The 10 cheapest kits per calorie
| # | Kit | $ per 2,000 kcal | Price | Days of food | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ReadyWise 1 Year Emergency Food Supply | $9.42 | $3,499.99 | 371.6 | Label total |
| 2 | Augason Farms 30-Day 1-Person Emergency Food Supply Kit | $9.46 | $182.99 | 19.4 | Brand per-day claim |
| 3 | Augason Farms 3-Month Emergency Food Supply | $9.46 | $548.97 | 58.1 | Brand per-day claim |
| 4 | Augason Farms 1 Year 1-Person Emergency Food Supply | $9.46 | $2,195.88 | 232.2 | Brand per-day claim |
| 5 | ReadyWise 6 Month Emergency Food Supply | $9.59 | $1,799.99 | 187.6 | Label total |
| 6 | ReadyWise 3 Month Emergency Food Supply | $9.91 | $929.99 | 93.8 | Label total |
| 7 | My Patriot Supply 4-Week Emergency Food Supply | $9.93 | $277.95 | 28.0 | Brand per-day claim |
| 8 | ReadyWise 1 Month Emergency Food Supply | $10.23 | $319.99 | 31.3 | Label total |
| 9 | My Patriot Supply 2-Week Emergency Food Supply | $10.57 | $147.95 | 14.0 | Brand per-day claim |
| 10 | My Patriot Supply 72-Hour Food Kit Sample Pack | $11.21 | $34.99 | 3.1 | Label total |
"Days of food" is for one person at 2,000 calories a day. See the full rankings for all 34 kits.
Cheapest of each type
- 72-hour kit: My Patriot Supply 72-Hour Food Kit Sample Pack, $11.21 per 2,000 calories
- Multi-day supply: ReadyWise 1 Year Emergency Food Supply, $9.42 per 2,000 calories
- Bucket / variety pack: Legacy 120 Serving Breakfast Bucket, $12.59 per 2,000 calories
- Bulk package: Legacy Premium 1440 Serving Package, $13.88 per 2,000 calories
Cheapest with a stated calorie total
Some calorie totals are calculated from a brand's calories-per-day claim rather than a total printed by the brand (see methodology). If you only trust stated totals, these are the cheapest:
- ReadyWise 1 Year Emergency Food Supply: $9.42
- ReadyWise 6 Month Emergency Food Supply: $9.59
- ReadyWise 3 Month Emergency Food Supply: $9.91
- ReadyWise 1 Month Emergency Food Supply: $10.23
- My Patriot Supply 72-Hour Food Kit Sample Pack: $11.21
What to watch for
- Bigger kits usually cost less per calorie. The median kit with less than 10 days of food costs $18.93 per 2,000 calories; the median kit with 60 days or more costs $13.88.
- Augason Farms is cheap per calorie, but light per day. Its kits here supply about 1,290 calories per advertised day, so the 30-day kit lasts 19.4 days at 2,000 a day. That's fine if you plan by calories, but not if you plan by the label.
- Cost per calorie says nothing about taste, protein or nutrition. Check the menu before you buy: a kit that's cheap per calorie only saves money if you'll eat it.
Prices are list prices on each brand's store, checked November 8, 2026. They change often, and sales are common.