According to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 29th annual Thanksgiving dinner survey, the average cost of Thanksgiving dinner is approximately $5.80 per person, or $58.08 for a classic holiday meal for 10.1
Furthermore, a recent Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute analysis of a typical Thanksgiving feast reports that consumers can expect to spend about 2% to 3% less this year on their Thanksgiving grocery list.1 The Consumer Price Index reports that although grocery prices are up 2.7% since September of last year, Thanksgiving Day staples have not seen major markups.2
Here are CreditNinja, we want to help you stretch your dollar as far as possible this holiday season. That includes comparing costs to make sure you find the best deal. Thankfully, CreditNinja has done the work for you! In this guide, we’ll break down the average cost of Thanksgiving dinner in general, as well as some specific meals you can put together from popular grocery stores like Whole Foods, Target, and Aldi.
Cost of Whole Foods Thanksgiving Dinner
A Whole Foods Thanksgiving dinner will cost approximately $84.28 if you stick to 365 by Whole Foods Market items. But if you buy organic or name-brand items, then the estimated Thanksgiving meal cost 2025 will increase significantly.
- Turkey ($34.86)
- Cranberry Sauce ($2.99)
- Sweet Potatoes ($8.84 / $2.21 per lb)
- Carrots ($2.79)
- Celery ($2.49)
- Green Beans ($3.99)
- 9” Pie Shells ($8.09)
- Pumpkin Pie Mix ($3.74)
- Stuffing ($2.23)
- Dinner Rolls ($3.58)
- Whole Milk ($4.69)
- Whipping Cream ($5.99)
Cost of Walmart Thanksgiving Dinner
The average cost of a cheap Thanksgiving dinner from Walmart is about $33.93. The items chosen below are all based on Great Value options.
- Turkey ($13.58)
- Cranberry Sauce ($1.66)
- Sweet Potatoes ($3.48)
- Carrots ($0.97)
- Celery ($0.97)
- Green Beans ($2.47)
- 9” Pie Shells ($2.08)
- Pumpkin Pie Mix ($1.16)
- Stuffing ($1.00)
- Dinner Rolls ($1.38)
- Whole Milk ($2.22)
- Whipping Cream ($2.96)
Cost of Target Thanksgiving Dinner
Buying your Thanksgiving grocery list at Target will cost about $38.81 when you choose Good & Gather or Favorite Day items, which are Target brands. Below are the average costs of other Thanksgiving staples from Target:
- Turkey ($11.06)
- Cranberry Sauce ($1.99)
- Sweet Potatoes ($3.96)
- Carrots ($1.49)
- Celery ($1.99)
- Green Beans ($2.49)
- 9” Pie Shells ($3.38)
- Pumpkin Pie Mix ($1.29)
- Stuffing ($1.89)
- Dinner Rolls ($3.99)
- Whole Milk ($2.29)
- Whipping Cream ($2.99)
Cost of Aldi Thanksgiving Dinner
Your 2025 Thanksgiving Day meal will cost approximately $35.72 at Aldi. When possible, choose Simply Nature or Friendly Farms Aldi store-brand items. Below is a breakdown of the average cost of a Thanksgiving Dinner from Aldi:
- Turkey ($13.58)
- Cranberry Sauce ($1.75)
- Sweet Potatoes ($1.95)
- Carrots ($1.99)
- Celery ($0.95)
- Green Beans ($2.65)
- 9” Pie Shells ($2.50)
- Pumpkin Pie Mix ($1.09)
- Stuffing ($0.79)
- Dinner Rolls ($1.99)
- Whole Milk ($2.49)
- Whipping Cream ($3.99)
Cost of Jewel-Osco Thanksgiving Dinner
By getting your Thanksgiving Day grocery items at Jewel-Osco, you could make a feast for $45.95. When possible, we opted for Jewel-Osco store brands, like Signature Select, O Organics, and Lucerne.
- Turkey ($9.66)
- Cranberry Sauce ($2.00)
- Sweet Potatoes ($5.16)
- Carrots ($2.69)
- Celery ($2.99)
- Green Beans ($2.50)
- 9” Pie Shells ($4.49)
- Pumpkin Pie Mix ($2.50)
- Stuffing ($1.99)
- Dinner Rolls ($3.99)
- Whole Milk ($2.99)
- Whipping Cream ($4.99)
Cost-Saving Tips for Your Thanksgiving Budget
Choosing generic, store brand items will generally always help you save more money. The Wells Fargo report states that buying only store-brand items for a budget Thanksgiving meal will cost about $80. In contrast, buying only national-name brand menu items can cost up to $95.1
Here are a few tips to keep in mind if you want to make a Thanksgiving dinner on a budget:
- Buy Frozen — Buying frozen instead of fresh can help you save a lot of money when it comes to the turkey and vegetables.
- Use Store-Brand Products — Most major grocery stores have their own food brands. Store-brand items are almost always significantly cheaper than name brands. If you like name brand products, pick and choose which items are worth the extra cost.
- Shop Early — Try and buy your grocery items as early as possible. The closer we get to Thanksgiving, the more items will cost and the higher the chance that stores will run out of what you need.
- Use Coupon Apps — Most stores now have their own apps that allow shoppers to clip coupons, make shopping lists, and earn rewards. There are also high-rated grocery shopping apps such as Flipp, AnyList, Ibotta, and Checkout 51.
Thanksgiving Meal Cost Comparison 2025
If you’re wondering what your Thanksgiving budget might look like this year, here’s a comparison table showing how much you can expect to spend at popular grocery stores across the country.
| Store | Basic Meal Cost | Upgraded Meal Cost |
| Whole Foods | $84.28 | $110–$130 |
| Walmart | $33.93 | $45–$55 |
| Target | $38.81 | $50–$60 |
| ALDI | $35.72 | $45–$55 |
| Jewel-Osco | $45.95 | $55–$70 |
Thanksgiving meal prices vary by store, but shoppers can expect to spend between $34 and $130 depending on where and how they shop. As the holiday approaches, watch for weekly specials and discounts on popular Thanksgiving items to make the most of your budget.
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