Methods

Definitions

Cost of a healthy diet

The cost of a healthy diet is defined as the cost of purchasing the least expensive locally available foods to meet requirements for energy and food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG) for a representative person within energy balance at 2 330 kcal/day. The cost of a healthy diet is converted to international dollars using purchasing power parity (PPP).

See CoAHD data on FAOSTAT

Affordability of a healthy diet

The affordability of a healthy diet is defined as the ability of a household or of an individual to purchase the least-cost combination of locally-available foods that meets the requirement for a healthy diet, after having accounted for the portion of their income they have to reserve for acquiring all basic needs other than food.

Resources

CoAHD original development, background and rationale

Cost and affordability of healthy diets across and within countries. Background paper for The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020. FAO Agricultural Development Economics Technical Study No. 9. Rome, FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cb2431en

Authors: Herforth, A., Bai, Y., Venkat, A., Mahrt, K., Ebel, A. & Masters, W.A. 2020.

Development and definition of the healthy-diet basket, the cost standard used for global monitoring

Methods and options to monitor the cost and affordability of a healthy diet globally. Background paper for The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2022. FAO Agricultural Development Economics Working Paper 22-03. Rome, FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cc1169en

Authors: Herforth, A., Venkat, A., Bai, Y., Costlow, L., Holleman, C. & Masters, W.A.

The Healthy Diet Basket is a valid global standard that highlights lack of access to healthy and sustainable diets. Nat Food 6, 622–631 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-025-01177-0

Authors: Herforth, A.W., Bai, Y., Venkat, A. & Masters, W.

Current methods for global affordability monitoring and use of International Comparison Program (ICP) data

Methods for monitoring the affordability of a healthy diet. FAO Statistics Working Paper Series, No. 24-44. Rome, FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cd3703en

Authors: Bai, Y., Herforth, A., Cafiero, C., Conti, V., Rissanen, M.O., Masters, W.A. & Rosero Moncayo, J.

Methods for monitoring the cost of a healthy diet based on price data from the International Comparison Program. FAO Statistics Division Working Paper. Rome, FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cd3037en

Authors: Bai, Y., Conti, V., Herforth, A., Ebel, A., Cafiero, C., Rissanen, M.O., Rosero Moncayo, J. & Masters, W.A.