The article evaluates the rate of qualitative growth in the level of wages in the regions of the Central Federal District based on an analysis of its purchasing power in relation to the main types of food products, identifies the prevailing trends in the context of socio-economic differentiation within the district. The methodology of the study is based on grouping the regions of the Central Federal District by the level of average wages in 2022, while it is assumed that in regions with higher average wages, the level of purchasing power of the population will be higher. The purchasing power of the average wage of the population was assessed on the basis of calculating the ratio of average wages to the price level per unit of the food product in question in each specific region. It is determined that, in the context of the formed groups, the differentiation of the main trends in the level of wages and their purchasing power has been revealed - in regions with higher average wages, the level of purchasing power of the population, as expected, is steadily higher. A general negative trend towards a decrease in purchasing power by 2022 has been identified in all food sectors (except pork) among those considered, due to high inflation rates in the food market. The authors came to the conclusion that in the regions of the Central Federal District with higher wages, the dynamic growth rates of the indicator contribute to maintaining the purchasing power of incomes at a higher level. The continued division of the Central Federal District regions according to the level of socio-economic development and the identification of similar trends in the main economic processes can be of great practical importance, since it will allow applying a differentiated approach to each group of regions and, potentially, forming more effective management solutions for a specific territory.