Thanksgiving dinner will be a little easier on household budgets this year, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s latest annual cost survey. The organization’s 40th survey shows that a classic holiday meal for 10 people will average $55.18, or about $5.52 per person — a 5% drop from 2024 and the third consecutive yearly decline.
Prices remain well below the 2022 record high of $64.05, though the Farm Bureau noted that several years of steep increases have not been fully offset. This year’s declines were driven largely by a significant drop in turkey prices. A 16-pound frozen turkey averages $21.50, or $1.34 per pound, down more than 16% from last year. Grocery stores have also been running aggressive promotions heading into the holiday, pushing retail prices even lower than early November estimates.
Half of the items in the survey decreased in price, including dinner rolls and stuffing, as lower wheat prices reduced costs. Other staples, such as cranberries and miscellaneous ingredients used to prepare the meal, also edged down.
Still, not everything on the Thanksgiving table comes cheaper. Fresh vegetables and sweet potatoes saw the most significant increases. Sweet potatoes rose 37% and a basic veggie tray climbed more than 61%, spikes linked to hurricane damage in North Carolina — the nation’s top sweet potato producer — and ongoing supply-chain challenges affecting fresh produce. Rising farm labor costs and volatile growing conditions contributed to the jumps as well.
The Farm Bureau emphasized that even relatively small increases in low-cost produce can lead to sharp percentage swings from one year to the next.
Regional data shows notable differences in meal affordability. The South remains the cheapest region for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner at $50.01, followed by the Midwest at $54.38, the Northeast at $60.82, and the West at $61.75. Adding ham, Russet potatoes, and frozen green beans—an expanded menu—raises the national average to $77.09.
The price estimates come from volunteer shoppers who collected data in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, checking stores and online listings without using coupons or special deals. The Farm Bureau has conducted its Thanksgiving cost survey since 1986, keeping the menu consistent to track long-term trends.
Source: Farm Bureau