A new study challenges the widespread perception that plant-based diets are costly, finding that a low-fat vegan diet is significantly more affordable than both the standard American diet and the Mediterranean diet.
Published in JAMA Network Open, the research by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) reveals that adopting a low-fat vegan diet reduces daily food costs by 19%, or $1.80, compared to a standard diet, which includes meat and dairy. The vegan diet was also 25% cheaper than the Mediterranean diet, saving $2.40 per day.
“As the cost of groceries remains stubbornly high, consumers should swap the meat and dairy products for a low-fat vegan diet”
As grocery prices remain a significant concern for consumers, the findings offer a strong counter-narrative to the belief that plant-based eating is prohibitively expensive. Dr. Hana Kahleova, MD, PhD, lead author of the study and director of clinical research at PCRM, spoke on both the financial and health benefits of plant-based eating in a press release.
She states, “As the cost of groceries remains stubbornly high, consumers should swap the meat and dairy products for a low-fat vegan diet based on fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans.” Kahleova further explains that annual savings could total over $650 when transitioning from a standard American diet to a vegan diet, and $870 when compared to a Mediterranean diet.
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The study attributed the cost reductions on a vegan diet primarily to decreased spending on meat (saving $2.90 per day), dairy products (50 cents per day), and added fats (50 cents per day). These savings outweighed modest increases in spending on vegetables (50 cents per day), grains (30 cents per day), and plant-based meat alternatives (50 cents per day).
The findings are based on a secondary analysis of a 2019 randomized clinical trial that evaluated health and cost outcomes of low-fat vegan and Mediterranean diets. Researchers linked participants’ dietary records to the US Department of Agriculture’s Thrifty Food Plan, a database of national food prices based on consumer price index data. Statistical analyses were conducted to evaluate differences between the diets, with findings showing a significant cost advantage for the vegan diet.
Challenging cost misconceptions
The study’s results directly counter one of the most commonly cited barriers to plant-based eating: cost. As published by ProVeg, research from the Smart Protein Project previously found that 38% of European consumers view price as the largest obstacle to purchasing plant-based alternatives. And Mintel reports similar findings in the United States.
Some plant-based meat and dairy substitutes remain more expensive than their animal-based counterparts, which is driving ongoing efforts in the plant-based food industry to achieve price parity with animal products. This leads to misconceptions about affordability that may deter consumers from exploring the cost-saving potential of vegan diets. However, this study demonstrates that whole-food, plant-based diets can significantly reduce overall grocery bills.
As grocery prices continue to rise globally, this research shows the potential of low-fat vegan diets to address both health and financial concerns, helping to shift the narrative around plant-based eating affordability. Kahleova continues, “A vegan diet won’t just save money; it could save lives by helping to avoid or improve conditions like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.”
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