Most items at a jail or prison commissary cost between $0.30 and $8.00, but that range only tells part of the story. A pack of ramen might run $0.30 to just over $1.00, a bar of soap about $1.15, a bottle of ibuprofen around $2.20, and a name-brand jar of coffee close to $8.95. Prices are noticeably higher than at a grocery store or drugstore, and the true cost of keeping someone supplied in jail commissary items goes well beyond the sticker price once deposit fees, account deductions, and communication charges are added in.
Typical Commissary Prices
Inventory varies by facility, but most commissaries stock food, hygiene items, over-the-counter medications, stationery, and a few electronics. The figures below come from federal Bureau of Prisons commissary lists, which tend to sit on the lower end nationally. State prisons and county jails often charge more.
Food and Snacks
Facility meals meet minimum nutritional standards, so snacks and shelf-stable food make up a big share of commissary spending.
- Ramen noodles: $0.30 to $1.06 per packet. Ramen is popular enough that it sometimes works as informal currency inside.
- Tuna pouches: around $1.50
- Spam: about $1.30
- Chips and pretzels: $1.35 to $1.95
- Cookies: $0.50 to $2.15
- Peanut butter: roughly $2.65
- Coffee: $2.05 for a basic bag, up to $8.95 for a name brand like Taster’s Choice
- Sodas: around $5.15 for a multi-pack
These are federal prices.1Federal Bureau of Prisons. Commissary List USMCFP Springfield – Jan-Mar 2025 Some state systems mark food up 40% to 65% over wholesale.
Hygiene Products
Facilities issue a minimum kit, and most people buy upgrades. A bar of soap runs about $1.15. Deodorant is around $2.00. Shampoo, toothpaste, and razors generally fall between $1.00 and $4.00.
Over-the-Counter Medications
A 50-count bottle of ibuprofen costs about $2.20, and a 100-count bottle of acetaminophen runs around $3.05 at federal facilities.1Federal Bureau of Prisons. Commissary List USMCFP Springfield – Jan-Mar 2025 Antacids and cold medicine are usually stocked too, though selection varies. Anything beyond basic OTC items requires going through the medical system, which has its own costs.
Stationery, Tablets, and Entertainment
Writing paper, envelopes, stamps, and greeting cards are staples. Small AM/FM radios, headphones, and playing cards are common. Many facilities now offer electronic tablets through the commissary or a contracted vendor. Music downloads run around $1.59 per song. Movies and games often cost about $0.05 per minute, roughly $3.00 per hour. Institutional services like checking a balance or filing a grievance are usually free on the tablet.
Why Prices Run So High
Most facilities contract with a single private vendor for the commissary. With no competition and a captive customer base, there is little pressure to keep prices near retail. A 2024 analysis of 26 state prison systems found commissary prices running up to five times higher than community retail, with markups reaching 600% on some items. Ramen that costs $0.30 or less in bulk at a grocery store was priced $0.42 to $1.06 in state prisons. Reading glasses that Walgreens sells for a few dollars ran over $15 in one state. Peanut butter markups exceeded 70% in Georgia, and California’s ranged from 63% to 200% before a recent cap of 35%.
Some states set limits. Delaware caps commissary surcharges at 20%.2Delaware Department of Correction. Policy 3.9 – Commissary Services Michigan cut food markups to 14%. Many states have no cap, and even where caps exist, the wholesale base price can already be inflated. Security logistics and restricted delivery schedules get built into the price. In some jurisdictions, sales tax applies on top of the markup, though hygiene items and legal supplies may be exempt.
Spending Caps and Shopping Days
Facilities limit how much someone can spend per week or month. This prevents hoarding and reduces bartering. Caps vary widely: some state systems allow $40 per week, others permit $250 or $500 per month. Federal facilities set monthly caps that depend on the institution.
Shopping usually happens once a week on an assigned day. People in restrictive housing may only shop once a month, with limits as low as $20. Missing your assigned day generally means waiting for the next cycle.
How Money Gets Onto the Books
No cash changes hands inside. Every purchase runs through a trust account the facility manages on the inmate’s behalf.3Montana State Legislature. Montana Code 53-1-107 (2025) – Inmate Financial Transactions and Trust Account System Money comes in from outside deposits or facility wages, and commissary purchases are deducted automatically.
Deposits From Family
Most funding comes from family. Deposits go through online portals, phone systems, or lobby kiosks, and each deposit carries a service fee from the third-party processor. Those fees fall hardest on small deposits. Sending $20 online might cost $2.95 to $3.95 in flat fees, effectively a 15% to 20% surcharge before the money even reaches the account. Phone deposits often cost more.
Inmate Wages
Facility jobs like kitchen duty, laundry, and grounds maintenance pay a few cents to around $0.33 per hour in many systems. At that rate, a $2.65 jar of peanut butter can represent a full day’s work. Federal Prison Industries (UNICOR) jobs pay better, but the positions are limited.
What Gets Taken Off the Top
Money hitting the trust account does not always stay whole. Facilities deduct for court-ordered obligations. In the federal system, the Inmate Financial Responsibility Program sets a priority order: special assessments first, then restitution, fines, court costs, and other government obligations.4eCFR. 28 CFR 545.11 – Procedures Deductions apply to both wages and outside deposits. Some state systems take 50% or more of incoming funds for restitution, plus an administrative fee. A $100 deposit can shrink to $40 or $50 by the time it reaches the spendable balance.
Other Charges That Hit the Same Account
The commissary is not the only expense drawing on that balance.
Medical Co-Pays
Non-emergency sick calls trigger a co-pay in most systems. Federal prisons charge $2.00 per inmate-initiated health care visit.5Federal Bureau of Prisons. Inmate Copayment Program State fees usually run $2 to $5 per visit, though at least one state charges a flat $100 annual fee. Emergency care, staff-initiated referrals, and mental health services are generally exempt at federal facilities. Two dollars can represent several days of work at prison wages, which is enough to keep some people from seeking care they need.
Phone and Video Calls
The FCC has set per-minute caps that vary by facility size: roughly $0.10 to $0.11 per minute for large prisons and jails, up to $0.19 per minute for the smallest facilities. A 15-minute call runs about $1.50 to $2.85. Video calls range from about $0.18 to $0.41 per minute. Before FCC action, some facilities charged over a dollar per minute.
Electronic Messaging
Many facilities use electronic messaging systems in place of physical mail. Messages typically cost $0.25 to $0.50, and both sender and recipient may be charged. Photo attachments often cost extra. Where incoming physical mail is scanned and digitized, a printed copy runs $0.10 per page in black and white or $1.00 per page in color.
What the Facility Has to Provide for Free
Facilities must supply meals, basic clothing, bedding, and a minimum hygiene kit that usually includes soap, a toothbrush, and toothpaste.6Federal Bureau of Prisons. Entering Prison Federal facilities must also provide tampons and sanitary napkins to incarcerated women at no cost under the First Step Act.7Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 4042 – Duties of Bureau of Prisons The issued products are usually the cheapest available, which is why commissary purchases matter even for people with almost no money.
Indigent Status
Someone whose account stays below a threshold for a set period is classified as indigent. Common thresholds are $5.00 to $6.00 for 30 consecutive days, though some facilities use less than $1.00 for seven days. Indigent status brings a small free kit: soap, a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, a razor, a pencil, a couple of sheets of writing paper, and stamped envelopes. The kits are basic and distributed infrequently, and indigent status means no commissary access at all.
What Families Should Expect to Spend
For families supporting someone inside, monthly costs typically land between $100 and $300. That covers commissary spending of $40 to $200 depending on facility limits and needs, phone calls of $20 to $75 for regular contact, electronic messaging fees, deposit transaction fees, and the occasional medical co-pay. Facilities with aggressive markups or expensive communication contracts push the total higher. Deposit fees are easy to overlook: sending $50 twice a month can cost $6 to $10 in transaction fees alone, money that never reaches the person you are trying to support.