Prices
Vegan groceries are often the cheaper ones
~25%Cheaper than typical diets across 150 countries
Across 150 countries, vegan eating patterns cost about 25% less than typical diets — and in high-income countries, up to about one third less. In US trials, grocery bills fell by 16–25%; one crossover found the vegan bill 19% lower than a standard American diet and 25% lower than a Mediterranean diet. Whole-food plants ran about $9.78 a day versus about $15.72 for a typical diet. Staples like beans and grains cost less than meat and dairy. We do not have to harm or eat animals at all — and it costs less.
What the evidence says
The main points first. Every claim is tied to a source below.
Across 150 countries, vegan diets were the cheaper option
Springmann and colleagues priced healthy, sustainable diet patterns worldwide. Vegan and vegetarian patterns were generally the most affordable. In high-income countries, a vegan plate cut food costs by up to about one third compared with a typical meat-heavy bill.
In a trial, grocery bills fell about 16%
Overweight adults randomized to a low-fat vegan diet spent about 16% less on food — more than $500 a year — while the control group’s bill did not change. The savings came from spending less on meat and dairy.
Cheaper than a Mediterranean diet too
In a crossover trial, the vegan grocery bill was 19% lower than a standard American diet and 25% lower than a Mediterranean diet. The diet often sold as the affordable healthy option still cost more than the plant-based plate.
Whole-food plants: about $9.78 a day versus $15.72 for a typical diet
In a DASH comparison of meals as actually eaten, the whole-food plant-based pattern cost $9.78 per day — about 38% less than the typical baseline and about 23% less than DASH (which still includes dairy, fish, and poultry).
Plant-based shoppers were not the expensive ones
In Portugal, vegans and other plant-based consumers spent less on food than omnivores. The idea that plant foods are always a boutique luxury does not match the spending data.
Sources
Papers and datasets. Caveats stay on the card — small samples and single animals included on purpose.
The Lancet Planetary Health, 2021 · Review
The global and regional costs of a healthy and sustainable diet
Across 150 countries, vegan and vegetarian patterns were generally the most affordable. In high-income countries vegan diets cut food costs by up to about one third (25–29%) versus current typical diets.
University of Oxford · Review
Sustainable eating is cheaper and healthier — Oxford
Write-up of Springmann et al.: vegan diets were the most affordable option in countries such as the US, UK, and Australia, cutting food bills by up to a third.
JAMA Network Open, 2023 · Clinical
Vegan diet and food costs among adults with overweight
Secondary analysis of an RCT: a low-fat vegan diet cut total food costs about 16% (~$1.51/day, more than $500 a year) versus no change on the control diet. Savings came from dropping meat and dairy.
JAMA Network Open, 2024 · Clinical
Food costs of a low-fat vegan diet vs a Mediterranean diet
Crossover trial: vegan groceries were 19% cheaper than a standard American diet and 25% cheaper than a Mediterranean diet (~$2.40/day less than Mediterranean).
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2024 · Clinical
WFPB vs DASH vs typical diet — grocery costs
Post-hoc analysis of meals as eaten: whole-food plant-based cost $9.78/day versus $15.72 for the typical baseline diet (about 38% less) and $12.74 for DASH (about 23% less).
Agricultural and Food Economics, 2022 · Observational
Do plant-based consumers spend more on food?
Survey of Portuguese consumers: plant-based eaters, especially vegans, were associated with lower food expenditures than omnivores — not higher.