Want to Save Money? Go Plant-Based.

Help the planet, animals, your health — and yes, your wallet!

Image credits: Jonathan Borba & Morgan von Gunten

Many people are aware of the damage caused by the meat and dairy industries — including deforestation, ocean dead zones, greenhouse gas emissions, excessive land use, animal suffering, pandemic risks, and antibiotic resistance — but hesitate to switch to a plant-based diet out of concern that it might drive up their food costs.

The good news is, this is nothing but a myth. The exact opposite is true. Living plant-based doesn’t cost more — it actually saves you money! 👇

What the research says

Comparing the costs of different diets across 150 countries showed that plant-based diets “were generally the most affordable,” reducing food costs by up to one third (22-34% reductions, depending on diet composition).

Springmann et al. (2021)

Analyzing data from a randomized crossover trial revealed that “total food costs decreased on the vegan diet by 19%” and that “food costs were 25% lower on a vegan diet compared with a Mediterranean diet.”

Kahleova et al. (2024)

“It was possible to conclude that plant-based consumers, particularly vegan, are associated with lower food expenditures compared to omnivorous consumers. In fact, plant-based consumers are shown to spend less than all other consumers assessed.”

Pais et al. (2022)

Research findings “show that, on average, plant-based meals eaten at home cost 40% less than meat/fish-based meals and take one-third less time to prepare.”

Kantar (2025)

This research found that adopting a low-fat plant-based diet led to a 16% reduction in food costs compared to a standard American diet, amounting to savings of over $500 annually.

Kahleova et al. (2023)

Bottom line

Imagine receiving a 10% discount at the supermarket checkout. In these economically challenging times, most people would greatly appreciate it. The study findings above suggest that adopting a plant-based lifestyle can save you even more. According to these findings, depending on meal composition and the frequency of home cooking, switching to a plant-based diet can reduce food costs by 16% (~$500) to 40% (~$1,250) annually.

Alternative products like meat substitutes or vegan ice cream can (as yet) be a bit more pricey, but they are not essentials and make up only a tiny fraction of what plant-based households spend on food and drink. Vegan cuisine offers endless delicious recipes that don’t require any substitutes at all. By buying staples like vegetables, fruits, pasta, rice, potatoes, bread, lentils, beans, nuts, and seeds, you can save a lot of money.

Why is plant-based cheaper?

Plant-based diets require fewer resources such as water, energy, and land. They need less refrigeration and no animal breeding, feeding, or slaughtering. Additionally, plant-based foods typically require shorter transport distances, and less marketing expenditure compared to animal-based products. All of these factors contribute to lower costs, without even accounting for the hidden expenses of animal agriculture.

More to come!

In upcoming articles, I will explain:

• Why the real savings from a plant-based diet are even greater than presented in this article when factoring in broader societal costs, such as environmental and climate damage, healthcare expenses, and taxpayer-funded subsidies.

• Why the price gap will continue to widen, with animal products becoming more expensive and plant-based products becoming cheaper.

• How you can use simple tips and tools to further maximize your savings on a plant-based diet.

Stay tuned.

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