Is it really though? I think it depends on accessibility.
Every week I dry 40 minutes round-trip to a grocery store that specializes in raw foods (vegetables, fruits, cheeses, etc) and get enough food for about $60 to feed myself and my friend for the full week.
Those prices just aren't available to someone without a vehicle and those in the city are probably paying more for less (for instance, the Shaw's across the street from me in Boston sells lettuce for 2.50 and I pay 98 cents for organic outside the city).