Everyone wants to know: is an indoor hydroponic garden actually cheaper than the grocery store? We tracked every dollar in and every dollar saved across 12 months. Here are the real numbers.
Hardware (one-time)
- AeroGarden Harvest 360: $129
- Replacement grow lights (not needed year one): $0
- Extra "grow anything" baskets: $20
Consumables (per year)
- Seed pods or seeds + rockwool: $80
- Liquid nutrients (one bottle lasts 2 years): $15
- pH test kit and adjusters: $25
Electricity
A 6-pod unit runs ~25W average across 16 hours of light per day. At the U.S. average of $0.16/kWh, that's $24/year.
Total year-one cost
$293 — including hardware. Year two and beyond drop to $120/year.
Grocery savings
A 6-pod garden running continuously produces roughly:
- 3 heads of lettuce per month — $12 retail.
- 4 oz fresh basil per month — $16 retail.
- 3 oz fresh parsley per month — $9 retail.
That's ~$37/month or $444/year in fresh produce.
Break-even
Year one nets ~$151 saved. Year two and beyond: ~$324 saved annually. Plus produce that tastes dramatically better than anything from a clamshell.
Frequently asked questions
Does this account for failed harvests?
Yes — we assumed 15% loss, which is realistic for a beginner's first year.
Is the math different for premium systems?
Click & Grow runs higher (proprietary pods); Gardyn evens out at scale because of the 30-plant capacity.
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