Despite a year characterized by consumer caution regarding grocery price hikes, the cost of preparing a Thanksgiving meal has actually decreased compared to 2024, thanks in large part to the star of the show: the turkey.
The American Farm Bureau Federation reported that the average cost of cooking a traditional Thanksgiving feast for 10 people this year is $55.18, which breaks down to approximately $5.52 per person. This reflects a 5% drop from last year’s Thanksgiving dinner costs.
2025 marks the third consecutive year of declining prices, following the peak cost in 2022 of $64.05.
Lower prices for commodities and efforts by grocery stores to offer discounts have significantly contributed to the decrease in Thanksgiving meal costs. Retailers have implemented various deals to attract budget-conscious shoppers, with Target, for instance, providing a $20 Thanksgiving meal for four people.
The cost of turkeys has dropped by 16% from the previous year, with the average price of a 16-pound frozen turkey coming in at $21.50, or around $1.34 per pound. Despite challenges such as bird flu outbreaks affecting producers, turkey prices have remained low due to declining consumer demand.
A turkey typically represents the largest expense in a Thanksgiving meal, according to AFBF economist Faith Parum.
Parum stated, “Farmers are still working to replenish turkey flocks impacted by avian influenza, but overall demand has decreased as well. This combination is expected to keep turkey an affordable choice for families celebrating Thanksgiving.”
While items like dinner rolls and stuffing have become more affordable due to lower wheat prices, the costs of fresh vegetables and sweet potatoes have risen.
AFBF reported a 61% increase in the cost of veggie trays and a 37% rise in sweet potato prices compared to the previous year. This spike was attributed to natural disasters, including hurricanes in North Carolina, a major sweet potato producer in the U.S.
The organization also provided regional cost breakdowns, indicating that the South offers the most affordable Thanksgiving meal at $50.01, followed by the Midwest at $54.83, the Northeast at $60.82, and the West at $61.75.
Since 1986, AFBF has conducted an annual survey focusing on the prices of Thanksgiving essentials like turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls, peas, cranberries, veggie trays, and pumpkin pie with whipped cream. The survey encompasses data from all 50 states and Puerto Rico, collected from both in-store and online sources.