One of the biggest hesitations about the carnivore diet? The cost.
I hear it all the time—people asking if eating mostly meat is expensive.
Well, let’s be real: for us, the meat comes off our farm. I don’t technically have to buy the meat since we own the cows, but there’s still a cost involved in raising the cow, butchering, packaging, etc. So lets not get too technical, but to give you an idea, I thought I’d break down what 2 people eat in a day:
Paleo patties (x2): $3.99
Eggs (x4): $2.50
Chicken thighs (500g): $13.99
Sirloin steak: $24.50
Total: ~$45.99/day
Of course, you could get really detailed and add the cost of cheese, butter, salt, etc., but this is just a rough estimate.
Now, compare that to going out for dinner at a pub or restaurant, where just one meal will easily cost $30–50 per person!
The cost per day doesn't seem too bad..
You can make the carnivore diet as expensive or budget-friendly as you need.
We eat a lot of steak, bacon, and paleo patties because we’re short on time and I like meals that are ready in 10 minutes. But if you’re looking to save money, you could slow-cook cuts like chuck steak, brisket, or lamb roasts and stretch them across multiple meals.
On weekends, I like to put a roast in the oven. Not only is it delicious, but we usually get leftovers for the next day too!
One of the biggest things I’ve noticed? My other grocery costs have completely dropped off.
I’m not spending nearly as much on fruit, veg, salads, sauces, condiments, pasta, rice, snacks, or juice. So, while I may be spending more on meat, I’m not buying all that other stuff anymore.
And honestly, my favorite part about eating this way is how much easier cleanup is!
Dinner cleanup is usually one fry pan (or none if I’m cooking on the BBQ), plates, cutlery, and cups. That’s it. There’s nothing worse than having to use every bowl you own to make a salad, then spend half the night cleaning up, especially when the kids don't eat half of it anyway! 🫠 (we'll talk more about kids later!)
At the end of the day, I can’t really put a price on my health. What I’ve realized is that if you don’t have your health, you don’t have anything!
So that’s roughly what it costs us to eat this way. Of course, everyone will be different, but it’s all about finding what works for you and your budget!
Bianca x.
