By Veeno Dewan
Vegetarian, plant-based diets may be growing in popularity each year, but some still claim they are an expensive lifestyle to follow. Is this diet as expensive as some people say? And why is it often so hard to find compared to non-vegetarian products such as meat, poultry, and seafood?
For decades, a plant-based diet has been widely considered better for the environment and human health than a meat-based one. However, global adoption of these diets remains limited. The 2024 EAT GlobeScan Grains of Truth report, based on a representative sample of 30,216 people across 31 countries, reveals several obstacles to adopting a plant-based diet, including economic pressures, limited availability, concerns about taste, and regional differences in food culture and availability. The report also finds that as food prices rise, many consumers are returning to cheaper, familiar options—especially in North America and Europe, where concerns about the cost of plant-based foods are greatest (48% and 46%, respectively).
A similar pattern appeared in grocery data from more than 58,000 consumers in Canada. The results pointed in the same direction: price matters differently depending on the food category and the consumer. A recent nationally representative survey found that 77% of people feel grocery prices are too high. At the same time, many assume that eating plant-based would only make things worse—with 61% of respondents saying they believe a plant-based diet is inherently more expensive than one that includes meat and dairy. One of the most striking findings from the survey is that 70% of people say meat is the item they spend the most money on.
Why can a plant-based diet be expensive?
Processed items such as plant-based burgers, vegan cheeses, and dairy-free milks are niche specialty products. They are generally much more expensive than animal products because of the costs of product development and limited production scale. Additionally, to protect certain food-producing industries, traditional animal agriculture receives significant government subsidies, keeping meat and dairy prices artificially low compared to plant-based foods.
The hidden costs of convenience can sometimes make relying on pre-made vegan meals or out-of-season fresh produce hike up grocery bills. There are also supply chain and production costs that can make fresh produce expensive due to special transportation and refrigerated storage needs. (For example, many seasonal vegetables and fruit are imported to Canada from the United States and Mexico.) Also, some plant-based foods cannot be grown in Canada due to the climate and need to be imported.
Products designed to imitate meat (such as “Beyond Meat” plant-based burgers or sausages) require expensive research, testing, and specialty ingredients, often making them more expensive than animal meats.
Products like vegan nuggets, specialty yogurts, and meat alternatives serve a purpose, but some can be priced like premium items.
Organic plant-based produce is also more expensive and good for health, but dietitians point out that cheaper frozen, canned, and conventional fruits and vegetables still provide important nutrients and are often more affordable. Most vegetarians report that buying staples in bulk, shopping around, and careful meal preparation actually result in much cheaper grocery bills than meat eaters.
According to a 2024 study published in JAMA Network Open, people following a low-fat vegan diet cut grocery costs by 19% compared with a Standard American Diet and by 25% compared with a Mediterranean diet. Ultimately, scale also plays a part – processed foods containing meat are produced at a massive scale and at a much faster pace, cutting out the time needed for plant maturation. As a result, processed meat products, much of it considered unhealthy, are cheaper to produce and more accessible, according to data.
The Availability of Plant-Based Foods
The struggle to consistently find satisfying plant-based options stems from a few key factors: Menu Prioritization. In Western societies, meat-based fast food is engineered for convenience and is highly ubiquitous. According to industry analysts, many major food outlet chains still lack even a single true plant-based menu item. Meat is still considered a vital part of many people’s diets and is found everywhere in eating establishments. Vegetarian restaurants, unlike meat-based fast food, are rare and more difficult to find. Also, although many fast-food outlets and restaurants do offer vegetarian, plant-based food options, some strict vegetarians are wary of eating where meat products are also prepared.
If you are looking to easily locate plant-based options in your local area, you can use online tools to find highly rated vegan and vegetarian restaurants. Consumers can also use vegetarian food websites and other resources to find affordable, hidden vegan and plant-based food – especially at mainstream, nationwide fast-food chains.
Other good sources of easily accessible, less expensive vegetarian produce include: Strict Vegetarian-only food outlets, local Farmers’ Markets, Specialty Grocers, and Ethnic Grocers. One great seasonal alternative is All-you-can-pick farms, where you can pick your own vegetables for a fraction of standard grocery store prices.
In recent years, the availability of plant-based food options has changed significantly. Big-name retailers and grocery outlets now offer numerous vegan items, including more affordable, own-brand ranges. Despite this transformation, veganism’s history as a more niche diet has likely led to the continued belief that it will still cost a little extra to follow.
The JAMA Network Open survey also reveals that while health remains the top reason for eating less meat (41%), financial concerns (17%) now matter more to people than animal welfare (15%).
Ultimately, this report shows that many people would like to switch to plant-based diets, but factors such as price, habits, convenience, taste, and trust are holding them back. Despite these obstacles, a strong majority of consumers (69%) believe the world would be better with less meat. If governments, companies, advocates, and consumers work together to solve these problems, plant-based diets could help tackle climate change and food insecurity on a large scale.
Sources: Canadian vegansociety.com/aunalytics.org, Original Study By: EAT, & GlobeScan. (2025). JAMA Network Open report 2024, PCRM.org, vegandirectory.ca, vegansupply.ca, plant- based foods of Canada, government of Canada dietary guidelines.
