A holiday feast for 10 people can total $55.18, that’s $5.52 a person according to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2025 Thanksgiving dinner survey. Turkeys have seen the most drastic drop in price at 16 percent less than 2024. While the wholesale price for fresh turkey has increased.
“In some markets, in the US they’ve been hit by bird flu, that’s wiped out a lot of turkeys in time for Thanksgiving. It’s our conventionally produced frozen turkey that looks like that might be where the best deal might be.” Texas A & M Economist, David Anderson, said.
As far as the classic staples, that go with the turkey, the results of the AFBF survey show a mixture of higher and lower prices compared to last year.
The price increases are in dairy- such as whipped cream and milk, fresh vegetables- such as celery carrots, as well as pumpkin pie mix and frozen pie crusts.
The goods reflecting a decrease include stuffing, dinner rolls, and cranberries.
The AFBF survey also showed an increase in sweet potatoes- up 37 percent. Depending on what area of the country you live in- that price may vary.
“We grow a lot of sweet potatoes in North Carolina, and they were really hit by hurricanes and weather disasters that cut supply and have driven up prices in a lot of parts of the country. We produce sweet potatoes in East Texas too. Depending on where they come from, we can get a much better price than those areas hit hard.” Anderson said.
HEB in the Galleria, currently, has sweet potatoes for 25 cents a pound.
The AFBF analysis revealed regional differences in the cost of the meal. The most affordable meal in the South at $50.01, followed by the Midwest at $54.38, the Northeast at $60.82 and the West at $61.75.
Overall, Anderson recommends buying a frozen turkey and taking advantage of a store package deal for the most savings for your Thanksgiving dinner.