NY Farm Bureau Says Thanksgiving Meal Costs Less This Year, But Prices in New York Still Higher Than National Average

The New York Farm Bureau says this year’s Thanksgiving meal is expected to cost less than last year, marking the third straight year of decreasing prices. However, prices in New York State are still higher than the national and regional averages.

The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 40th annual Thanksgiving dinner survey showed the third straight year of prices declining. The survey provides a snapshot of the average cost of Thanksgiving staples that make up a classic holiday feast for 10. This year, the national average cost for 10 people is $55.18, or about $5.52 per person — a 5% decrease from 2024.

Unfortunately though for New Yorkers, that average is $60.82, or about $6.08 per person. And, in New York, the average is $66.06, or about $6.61 per person — nearly 20% higher than the national average and nearly 9% higher than the Northeast average.

According to the NY Farm Bureau, other regions in the country, the cost for the classic meal is $50.01 in the South, $54.38 in the Midwest and $61.75 in the West.

The centerpiece on most Thanksgiving tables — the turkey — has substantially decreased in price, helping bring down the overall cost of dinner. The average price for a 16-pound frozen turkey is $21.50 ($1.34 per pound), down more than 16% from last year. In New York, the average price for a 16-pound frozen turkey is $28.27, or $1.77 per pound.

According to AFBF, while the wholesale price for fresh turkey is up from 2024, grocery stores are featuring Thanksgiving deals and attempting to draw consumer demand back to turkey, leading to lower retail prices for a holiday bird. And, according to the most recent USDA Agricultural Marketing Service data, the average per-pound feature price for whole frozen turkeys declined further during the second week of November. Grocery stores often feature whole turkeys at even lower prices in the days leading up to Thanksgiving.