"Is Veganism More Expensive?"

This article is part of my FAQs series.

For well over a decade, I have been answering anonymously submitted questions on my Tumblr blog. Over that time, I have noticed many recurring themes, concerns, and misunderstandings.

This series brings together concise, practical responses to the questions I am asked most often, based on real conversations with people at every stage of thinking about veganism.

If you’d like to see more entries in this series, you can find them here.

The Short Answer

A plant-based diet does not have to be expensive. In many cases it can even be cheaper than a diet that includes meat and dairy.

The perception that plant-based diets are costly largely comes from highly processed plant based substitutes and speciality products. These items can be convenient, but they are not necessary. Most traditional plant foods such as beans, lentils, rice, potatoes, oats, and vegetables are among the least expensive foods available in supermarkets.

Like any diet, costs depend on what you choose to buy. A plant-based diet built around basic staple foods is usually inexpensive and widely accessible.

The Detail

Where the Perception Comes From

The idea that plant-based diets are expensive often arises from the visibility of speciality vegan products. Supermarkets now sell plant-based burgers, ready meals, and dairy alternatives that are designed to resemble familiar animal products. They are pre-packaged, easy to cook and are priced higher due to that convenience.

These products can be useful for people transitioning away from animal foods. However, they are not the foundation of a typical plant-based diet. When plant-based diets are judged based on these convenience items alone, the overall cost can appear higher than it actually is. We wouldn’t judge the affordability of a diet that includes meat solely on the basis of sirloin steaks and ready meals, and we shouldn’t do that for plant-based diets, either.

The Role of Staple Foods

Most traditional plant-based diets rely heavily on staple foods such as rice, pasta, oats, potatoes, bread, lentils, beans, chickpeas, and seasonal or frozen fruit and vegetables. These foods provide carbohydrates, protein, fibre, and essential nutrients at a relatively low cost.

Legumes in particular are an affordable source of protein. For example, lentils, beans, and chickpeas can often replace meat in dishes such as stews, curries, soups, and grain based meals. Options like textured vegetable protein (soy chunks) are significantly cheaper than even the lowest quality meat options, and are easily as adaptable.

These ingredients also have long shelf lives, especially when purchased dried or canned, which can reduce waste and help with meal planning.

Comparing Typical Meals

The cost of meals depends on how they are constructed. A meal built around lentils, beans, soy or tofu as the protein source is often cheaper than a meal built around meat.

For example, a dish that includes rice, vegetables, and lentils or chickpeas can provide comparable protein and calories to a meal containing chicken and rice. Because legumes are usually less expensive than meat, the overall cost per portion will likely be signficantly lower. The most expensive items in most people’s shopping carts are meat and dairy, alongside alcohol.

Plant-based ingredients are also versatile. A small number of staple foods can be combined in many ways, which allows a variety of meals without increasing costs significantly.

Time and Convenience

Another concern is that plant based meals require more preparation time. In practice this depends on the ingredients used.

Canned beans and lentils require little preparation and can be cooked as quickly as many meat based ingredients. Larger batches of plant-based meals like curry, chilli or paste dishes can also be prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator or freezer.

Planning meals ahead of time can make vegan cooking efficient and reduce the need for more expensive convenience foods.

Real Barriers to Food Access

Although plant-based diets can be inexpensive, it is important to recognise that some people face genuine barriers to dietary change.

Food deserts, limited access to fresh produce, financial insecurity, and dependence on others for food purchases can all affect what someone is able to eat. These issues affect many types of diets, not only plant-based ones.

For most people with access to basic staple foods, however, a plant based diet can be affordable.

Veganism and Diet

You will notice that throughout, I have referred to a plant-based diet, not a vegan one. Veganism is because generally understood as an ethical position that seeks to avoid the exploitation of animals as far as possible and practicable.

Diet is one part of that commitment, but it also includes choices about clothing, cosmetics, and other products. Vegan versions of cosmetics and cleaning products, for example, are no more expensive than their counterparts. When it comes to fabrics, many cheap options such as cotton and denim are already vegan and widely available.

As with any dietary change, you may find that your costs increase in the short term, as you are still figuring out the best places to buy which items, and how to stretch your money further with new ingredients. If you need some early help with this, you may find my budgeting section helpful, as well as my list of cheap vegan groceries.

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“Is Veganism More Expensive?”