Veganism is expensive

Last reviewed: August 7, 2026

Quick Answer

The cheapest foods in most grocery stores are vegan: rice, beans, lentils, pasta, oats, frozen vegetables. Specialty vegan products can be expensive, but they're not necessary for a healthy vegan diet.

Supported by 7 cited sources

What People Usually Mean

"Vegan food is too expensive—it's only for privileged people."

Key Points

1Beans and rice are a complete, cheap, nutritious meal
2Specialty products are conveniences, not necessities
3Plant-based diets CAN be cheaper than omnivore diets

Evidence Summary

The reality:

The cheapest foods are vegan:

Dried beans: ~$0.10-0.20 per serving
Rice: ~$0.10-0.15 per serving
Lentils: ~$0.15-0.25 per serving
Oats: ~$0.10-0.20 per serving
Pasta: ~$0.15-0.25 per serving
Frozen vegetables: ~$0.50-1.00 per serving
Bananas, potatoes, carrots: among cheapest produce

What's expensive:

Specialty vegan products (fake meats, vegan cheese)
Organic, artisanal, or niche products
Restaurant vegan options
Fresh, out-of-season produce

But these aren't necessary:

A healthy vegan diet doesn't require expensive substitutes

Comparative costs:

Studies consistently find that:

Cost depends on what specific foods you buy
Meat (especially quality meat) is expensive
Cheese is expensive

What makes veganism seem expensive:

Marketing of specialty products
Restaurant markup on vegan options
Perception shaped by high-end vegan restaurants
Comparison with factory-farmed, subsidized meat

Evidence quality: Based on USDA food pricing data and economic analyses of dietary patterns.

Addressing real barriers:

Time poverty:

Valid concern—cooking from scratch takes time
Batch cooking helps
Canned beans are nearly as cheap as dried
Some prep time required for any healthy diet

Food deserts:

Real issue affecting all healthy eating
Dried goods often available even in limited stores
Frozen vegetables have long shelf life
Not an argument against veganism for those with access

Cultural factors:

Unfamiliar foods can seem expensive initially
Learning curve has real costs (time, failed experiments)
Many cuisines have cheap vegan traditions

Supporting Evidence

Sources:

Springmann et al. (2021, Lancet Planetary Health) compared the cost of several sustainable diets to the current typical diet across 150 countries using World Bank price data. In high-income countries, vegan diets were the most affordable option, cutting food costs by roughly 21 to 34%, largely because pulses, grains, and vegetables are cheaper per calorie and per gram of protein than meat and dairy. The perception that veganism is expensive usually reflects the price of processed meat and dairy substitutes, not the cost of a staples-based plant diet.

Caveats: This is a modeling study, and the savings apply most clearly to high-income countries; in some lower-income settings the picture differs. Savings are realized with whole-food staples, not with premium meat/dairy analogues.

Sources:

Springmann M et al.. The global and regional costs of healthy and sustainable dietary patterns (2021)

Based on Vegetarian Resource Group cost analysis comparing protein yield per dollar across common protein sources at US retail prices.

Sources:

Vegetarian Resource Group. Cost of Beans versus Meat (2024)

Based on Farm Action analysis of USDA subsidy data and New Roots Institute analysis of agricultural funding.

Sources:

An honest answer concedes that "cheaper on paper" is not "easy for everyone." People living in food deserts may lack access to affordable fresh produce and bulk legumes; those working long or irregular hours may lack time to cook from scratch; and the most visible vegan products in many stores are premium analogues. The strongest, most defensible claim is therefore narrow: a staples-based vegan diet is inexpensive, but realising that saving depends on food access and cooking capacity that not everyone has equally.

Caveats: This does not concede that veganism is inherently expensive - only that structural barriers to cheap, healthy food affect everyone and are not unique to, or created by, plant-based eating.

Sources: