US prices · 2026
Protein per Dollar
How many grams of protein a dollar buys from whey, plant protein and everyday groceries, worked from US average prices and brand labels. Then check any tub on your own shelf.
Quick answer
- Most protein per dollar: dry beans, about 58 g per dollar.
- Best value powder we checked: True Nutrition Whey Concentrate, 19 g per dollar ($1.32 for 25 g).
- Whey: 9 g to 19 g per dollar, depending on brand and tub size.
- Bigger tubs pay: the same whey was 31% cheaper per gram in the large tub.
| Product | Protein per serving | 25 g protein |
|---|---|---|
| Dry beansCheapest foodPlant food1 lb, dry, $1.63 | 21 gin 100 g dry | $0.43 |
| Low-fat or skim milkFood1 gallon, $3.72 | 8.3 gin 1 cup | $0.73 |
| Eggs, largeFood1 dozen, $2.27 | 6.3 gin 1 large egg | $0.75 |
| Whole milkFood1 gallon, $4.23 | 8 gin 1 cup | $0.85 |
| Chicken breast, bonelessFood1 lb, raw, $4.17 | 22.5 gin 100 g raw | $1.02 |
| Pork chopsFood1 lb, raw, $4.24 | 21 gin 100 g raw | $1.11 |
| True Nutrition Whey ConcentrateCheapest wheyWhey concentrate, unflavored1 lb, $19.00 | 27 gin 1 scoop (34 g) | $1.32 |
| Vega Essential ProteinCheapest plant or yeastPea blend, flavored20 servings, $26.99 | 25 gin 1 scoop | $1.35 |
| Cheddar cheeseFood1 lb, $5.98 | 23 gin 100 g | $1.43 |
| Ascent Whey, unflavoredWhey blend, unflavored4 lb, 60 servings, $89.99 | 25 gin 1 scoop | $1.50 |
| Naked Whey, unflavoredWhey concentrate, unflavored5 lb, 76 servings, $139.99 | 25 gin 2 scoops (30 g) | $1.85 |
| Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey (5 lb tub)Whey blend, flavored5.05 lb, 74 servings, $131.99 | 24 gin 1 scoop (31 g) | $1.86 |
| Transparent Labs Whey IsolateWhey isolate2 lb, 30 servings, $64.99 | 28 gin 1 scoop | $1.93 |
| Ground beefFood1 lb, raw, $6.92 | 17.4 gin 100 g raw (80/20) | $2.19 |
| Orgain Organic Protein (plant)Pea, rice and chia blend2.03 lb, $37.99 | 21 gin 2 scoops (46 g) | $2.26 |
| KOS Organic Plant Protein, unflavoredPea blend, unflavored28 servings, $59.99 | 20 gin 1 scoop | $2.68 |
| Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey (2 lb tub)Whey blend, flavored1.98 lb, 29 servings, $74.49 | 24 gin 1 scoop (31 g) | $2.68 |
Powder prices are from each brand's own store on 2 Oct 2026, with protein and servings from the same page. Grocery prices are the US city averages for August 2026 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with protein from USDA FoodData Central. Costco and Walmart prices vary by store; type the price on your shelf tag into the calculator.
What the Ranking Tells You
Groceries beat powder on price. Beans, eggs and milk all deliver protein for less than any tub we checked, and chicken breast is close behind. A powder earns its place when you need protein without cooking or without many calories: a scoop of whey gives about 24 g of protein for roughly 120 kcal.
If you grew up on dal and paneer, the cheap end of this list will look familiar. Lentils, chana and soy chunks from an Indian grocery usually land near dry beans per gram of protein, and paneer nearer cheese. They are worth checking in the calculator with your local price.
Check Any Tub in Three Steps
The same sum works on anything with a nutrition label.
- 1
Servings in the pack
Pack weight ÷ scoop size
2,291 g ÷ 31 g = 73.9 scoops
- 2
Protein in the pack
Servings × protein per scoop
73.9 × 24 g = 1,774 g
- 3
Cost of protein
Price ÷ protein in the pack
$131.99 ÷ 1,774 g = 7.4¢ a gram, $1.86 for 25 g
Worked example: Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey (5 lb tub), 5.05 lb, 74 servings, from the checked list.
From our members' food logs
3rd
whey's rank among the foods members logged most
24 g
protein in the typical logged scoop, for 120 kcal
13 g
median protein in a logged snack, the weakest meal
36%
of logged snacks reached 20 g of protein
Members reach for whey where protein is hardest to find: between meals. That makes the price of one scoop a daily cost, not a one-off, which is why the cost per gram matters more than the price on the tub. Read the food-log study.
Source: A sample of member food logs from the YourTrainer app, 19 April to 17 September 2026. Members only, aggregated, each food logged by at least three members in the sample, using the app's food-database values for the portion logged.
Price Your Own
Start from a listed product and change the price, or type any powder or food from its label.
Both numbers are on the nutrition panel, usually as "per serving". Use the label, not the front of the pack.
Cost of 25 g protein
That is 7.4¢ per gram of protein, number 12 of 17 in our checked list.
$1.79
per scoop
77%
protein by weight
$55.82
a month at 25 g a day
70 to 80% protein by weight: typical of a whey concentrate.
Start Your Journey25 g of protein, cheapest first
- Dry beans$0.43
- Low-fat or skim milk$0.73
- Eggs, large$0.75
- Whole milk$0.85
- Chicken breast, boneless$1.02
- Pork chops$1.11
- True Nutrition Whey Concentrate$1.32
- Vega Essential Protein$1.35
- Cheddar cheese$1.43
- Ascent Whey, unflavored$1.50
- Naked Whey, unflavored$1.85
- Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey (5 lb tub) (yours)$1.86
- Transparent Labs Whey Isolate$1.93
- Ground beef$2.19
- Orgain Organic Protein (plant)$2.26
- KOS Organic Plant Protein, unflavored$2.68
- Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey (2 lb tub)$2.68
Green bars are everyday foods, grey are powders. Prices were read from each brand or store page on the date in the table below; they change often, so type today's price for an exact answer.
Read Next
Eating Indian food abroad and short on protein? See coaching for Indian vegetarians in the US and protein without dairy or whey. Set your daily number with the protein calculator.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest protein per dollar?
Dry beans, at US average prices: about 58 g of protein per dollar, or $0.43 for 25 g. Eggs (33 g per dollar) and whole milk (29 g) come next. Lentils, split peas and soy chunks from an Indian grocery usually land near dry beans; type the shelf price into the calculator to check yours.
Is protein powder cheaper than chicken?
Not at average prices. Boneless chicken breast came to $1.02 for 25 g of protein, and the whey powders we checked to $1.32 or more. The best value powders beat ground beef per gram, and powder needs no cooking, which is what most people buy it for.
How do I work out protein powder cost per serving?
Divide the price by the number of servings on the label. To compare products fairly, go one step further: divide the price by the total protein in the tub (servings times protein per serving). That gives the cost per gram, which does not depend on how big each brand makes its scoop.
Is a bigger tub of protein powder always better value?
Usually, once you know you like it. The same Optimum Nutrition whey cost 31% less per gram of protein in the 5.05 lb tub than in the 1.98 lb one on the brand's own store. Buy a small tub to test the taste, then move up.
Where do the grocery prices come from?
From the US Bureau of Labor Statistics average price series for August 2026, the national average across US cities. Your store may be higher or lower; the calculator takes any price. Protein values are from USDA FoodData Central.