US Thanksgiving Dinner Cost Falls to $55.18

The cost of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people in the United States has fallen to $55.18 this year, marking the third consecutive annual decline and the lowest price since 2021, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation's annual survey. Conducted with volunteer shoppers across all 50 states and Puerto Rico, the estimate covers 12 classic ingredients, including turkey, stuffing, cranberries, rolls, sweet potatoes, peas, a vegetable tray, milk, whipping cream and pumpkin pie mix, equating to about $5.52 per person.

This modest relief comes despite broader economic pressures, as the U.S. Consumer Price Index rose 3 percent from September 2024 to September 2025, with grocery prices up 2.7 percent overall, per Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The AFBF survey, now in its 40th year, shows the total remains 3.5 percent higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019, reflecting lingering effects from inflation spikes that peaked in 2022 when the meal cost a record $64.05.

Turkey, the centerpiece of the meal, drove much of the savings, averaging $21.50 for a 16-pound frozen bird, or $1.34 per pound, down 16 percent from 2024. AFBF economist Faith Parum attributed the drop to...