The Farm Bureau's supermarket check finds a classic Thanksgiving dinner for 10 now costs $55.18, down 5% from 2024 and the lowest since 2021, largely due to deep retail discounts on turkey. Despite the drop, the meal is still about 13% more expensive than in 2019. Roughly half the menu items rose in price, led by fresh vegetable trays (+61.3%), sweet potatoes (+37%), and frozen peas (+17.2%). The estimate equates to approximately $5.52 per person and is based on volunteer shoppers' early-November store visits.
Thanksgiving Dinner for 10 Falls to $55.18 — Lowest Since 2021 as Turkey Deals Drive Savings
The Farm Bureau's supermarket check finds a classic Thanksgiving dinner for 10 now costs $55.18, down 5% from 2024 and the lowest since 2021, largely due to deep retail discounts on turkey. Despite the drop, the meal is still about 13% more expensive than in 2019. Roughly half the menu items rose in price, led by fresh vegetable trays (+61.3%), sweet potatoes (+37%), and frozen peas (+17.2%). The estimate equates to approximately $5.52 per person and is based on volunteer shoppers' early-November store visits.
07:23 PM, 11/19/2025Economy
The cost of a classic Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people has declined for a third straight year, reaching $55.18 — a 5% drop from 2024 and the lowest total since 2021. Deep retail discounts on turkey have driven the overall decline even as many side dishes remain more expensive than a year ago.
Highlights
Overall cost: $55.18 for a 10-person meal, or about $5.52 per person. This estimate is based on volunteer shoppers who visited stores across the country during the first week of November.
Turkey: The centerpiece 16-pound turkey is 16.3% cheaper at retail, a result of grocery promotions that are offsetting higher wholesale turkey prices.
Sides and other items: Roughly half the menu items rose in price versus 2024. Notable increases include frozen peas (+17.2%), sweet potatoes (+37%), and fresh vegetable trays (+61.3%).
Context
Although the meal is cheaper than last year, it remains about 13% more expensive than the same menu cost in 2019 before the pandemic. Broader inflationary pressure persists: the Consumer Price Index showed an annual inflation rate of 3.0% in September, the latest available figure due to temporary government disruptions.
In policymaking developments affecting food prices, the administration recently rolled back steep tariffs on hundreds of imported food items — including beef, bananas and coffee — following electoral setbacks that prompted a shift in approach.
This report reflects a consistent menu tracked since 1986 and provides a snapshot of grocery-price trends as households prepare for the holiday.
Written by Dan Burns; Edited by Neil Fullick.