Grocery store prices have been on the rise in recent years, and many Americans feel the financial pinch on Thanksgiving — a holiday where food is the star of the show.
In 2024, Thanksgiving hosts reportedly planned to spend 19% more than they did the previous year, averaging $431 on food, drinks, and decorations.
But the actual cost of holiday groceries depends on a few factors, including how many people you’re expecting and what they like to eat and drink. Another important component to consider is where you live — that’s why Hers looked at the 25 biggest American cities to find which ones had the cheapest shopping list for Thanksgiving.
Researchers analyzed online prices from three different grocery chains in each city for the following ingredients commonly used on Thanksgiving Day:
Turkey
Gravy
Sweet potatoes
Green beans
Cranberry sauce
Dinner rolls
Pumpkin pie
From there, they averaged the costs to find the most affordable cities for Thanksgiving dinner.
Key Findings
Most affordable overall: Southern and southwestern cities, like Phoenix, Arizona; Fort Worth, Texas; and Charlotte, North Carolina.
Most expensive overall: Coastal cities, notably Seattle, Boston, and Los Angeles.
Whole turkey prices fluctuate dramatically by region: For example, a bird costs $1.20 per pound in Phoenix, but $2.82 in Los Angeles.
Hers
25 Cities Ranked by Thanksgiving Dinner Grocery Prices, Least to Most ExpensivePhoenix, ArizonaFort Worth, TexasCharlotte, North CarolinaIndianapolis, IndianaDallas, TexasHouston, TexasColumbus, OhioLas Vegas, NevadaWashington, D.C.Detroit, MichiganAustin, TexasSan Diego, CaliforniaNew York City, New YorkOklahoma City, OklahomaJacksonville, FloridaNashville, TennesseeDenver, ColoradoSan Francisco, CaliforniaSan Antonio, TexasChicago, IllinoisEl Paso, TexasSan Jose, CaliforniaLos Angeles, CaliforniaBoston, MassachusettsSeattle, WashingtonThanksgiving Dinner Affordability By City: Trends and Insights
Here’s how each city compares, according to specific ingredient categories.
Where Is Turkey the Least Expensive?
Least Expensive Cities for Turkey Prices
Phoenix: $1.20 per poundFort Worth: $1.53 per poundCharlotte, Indianapolis, and Washington, D.C. (tied): $1.58 per pound
Most Expensive Cities for Turkey Prices
Los Angeles: $2.82 per poundSan Jose and Seattle: $2.74 per poundChicago: $2.68 per poundWhere Is Gravy the Least Expensive?
Least Expensive Cities for Gravy Prices
Phoenix: $0.85 per ounceDallas: $1.17 per ounceHouston: $1.23 per ounce
Most Expensive Cities for Gravy Prices
Boston: $2.66 per ounceSeattle: $2.31 per ounceEl Paso: $1.90 per ounceWhere Are Sweet Potatoes the Least Expensive?
Least Expensive Cities for Sweet Potato Prices
Dallas and Fort Worth (tied): $1.11 per poundNew York City: $1.63 per poundCharlotte, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, and Washington, D.C. (tied): $1.67 per pound
Most Expensive Cities for Sweet Potato Prices
Seattle: $2.42 per poundBoston: $1.91 per poundDenver: $1.81 per poundWhere Are Green Beans the Least Expensive?
Least Expensive Cities for Green Bean Prices
Dallas: $0.117 per ounceCharlotte, Indianapolis, and Phoenix (tied): $0.123 per ounceAustin and San Antonio (tied): $0.127 per ounce
Most Expensive Cities for Green Bean Prices
San Jose: $0.25 per ounceSeattle: $0.20 per ounceDetroit: $0.17 per ounceWhere Is Cranberry Sauce the Least Expensive?
Least Expensive Cities for Cranberry Sauce Prices
San Francisco: $0.143 per ounceColumbus, Detroit, and Indianapolis (tied): $0.147 per ounceSan Diego: $0.15 per ounce
Most Expensive Cities for Cranberry Sauce Prices
Seattle: $0.22 per ounceOklahoma City: $0.187 per ounceAustin, Jacksonville, and San Antonio (tied): $0.183 per ounceWhere Are Dinner Rolls the Least Expensive?
Least Expensive Cities for Dinner Roll Prices
New York City: $0.29 per rollPhoenix: $0.30 per rollColumbus: $0.31 per roll
Most Expensive Cities for Dinner Roll Prices
Boston: $0.59 per rollJacksonville and Nashville (tied): $0.56 per rollSeattle: $0.54 per rollWhere Is Pumpkin Pie the Least Expensive?
Least Expensive Cities for Pumpkin Pie Prices
Jacksonville, Las Vegas, and Oklahoma City (tied): $0.21 per ounceCharlotte: $0.235 per ouncePhoenix: $0.24 per ounce
Most Expensive Cities for Pumpkin Pie Prices
El Paso and Nashville: $0.42 per ounceBoston: $0.415 per ounceHouston: $0.415 per ounce3 Tips for a Budget-Friendly Thanksgiving Dinner
Keep your Thanksgiving budget on track, no matter where you live, with the help of these three tips.
Host a potluck celebration: Ask guests to bring a Thanksgiving side dish to spread out the cost (and the effort) of meal-prepping. Send out a sign-up sheet in advance to avoid duplicates, then leave yourself to handle the turkey and any missing staples that guests didn’t claim.Shop multiple grocery stores: Comparison shopping effectively lowers your grocery spending before Turkey Day. Once you finalize your shopping list, compare sales prices at nearby grocery stores to help you find the best price for each ingredient.Make a plan for leftovers: Be sure to include leftovers in your Thanksgiving weekend plans. By eating everything in your refrigerator, you’ll avoid food waste and reduce your overall grocery spending. Methodology: How Scores Were Calculated
The researchers analyzed 25 of the largest U.S. cities based on online grocery prices at three chains in each area. They looked at seven popular Thanksgiving food categories: turkey, gravy packets, sweet potatoes, frozen green beans, canned cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, and fresh pumpkin pie.
For consistency, each grocery item was compared by unit price: per pound, ounce, or count (for dinner rolls). Those unit prices were then averaged across the three grocery stores in each city, and all the categories were combined to calculate overall affordability for Thanksgiving dinner across the 25 cities.
This story was produced by Hers and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
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