Was Your Thanksgiving Cheaper This Year Than Last?
It might have been, but it depends on what was on the table
For many Americans, Thanksgiving dinner in 2025 came in a little cheaper than it did in 2024—but only if you kept the menu modest. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), a standard feast for 10 people this year cost about $55.18, or roughly $5.52 per person—a drop of about 5% from last year’s $58.08. Even better for those of us in the South, the cost was lowest here at $50.01, while being highest in the West, $61.75.
The savings flowed mostly from one big item: the turkey. The average price for a 16-pound frozen bird fell to $21.50, down more than 16% from 2024. That’s about $1.34 per pound.
Unfortunately, the story isn’t quite that simple. The AFBF’s total—and many headlines—are based on a pared-down meal plan that only includes turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls, peas, cranberries, a veggie tray and pumpkin pie with whipped cream, which they describe as a “classic” Thanksgiving dinner. It assumes small portions, minimal leftovers, and excludes what many consider essentials—mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and pecan pie—and, of course, enough leftovers to feed Hannibal and his elephants.
If you add in the coats of a fuller, more traditional meal—adding ham, mashed potatoes and green bean casserole—the price could run around $76.50 for eight people.
Still, if you kept things simple this year, your Thanksgiving likely came out a bit lighter on the wallet. The cheaper turkey and reduced grain-based side costs (helped by lower wheat prices) gave relief where it counted.
Yes, Thanksgiving could have been cheaper this year than last. But, if your table held mashed potatoes, casseroles, desserts other than pumpkin pie, or realistic portions with plenty of leftovers (as we here in the South consider to be mandatory), the savings might not have felt like much at all.
