Thanksgiving Will Cost $5.81 Per Person This Year in Texas

Thanksgiving is just a couple of days away, and if you’re hosting this year, I’ve got some good news that might make you breathe a little easier. The American Farm Bureau says the cost of your Thanksgiving dinner is down this year! That’s right—feeding your family and friends will cost a little less in 2024 than it did last year.

The Farm Bureau crunches the numbers every year, tracking the prices of Thanksgiving staples like turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. According to their report, the average dinner for 10 people will cost $58.08, or just $5.81 per person. That’s about 5% cheaper than last year. Which is a pretty big drop!

Of course, it’s still not as cheap as it used to be. Thanksgiving meals are 19% more expensive than they were pre-pandemic, thanks to inflation and other rising costs. But adjusted for inflation, this year’s meal is the second-cheapest it’s been since the Farm Bureau started tracking prices nearly 40 years ago. For comparison, back in the mid-1980s, the same meal cost $2.87 per person—but hey, minimum wage was, like, $3.50 back then!

As usual, the turkey is the most expensive item on the menu. A 16-pound bird will cost you an average of $25.67 this year. But prices are down from last year’s record highs, so that’s a small win for your wallet. Although, I bought a few to toss on my smoker at United in Lubbock and a 10LB bird was basically $10. So, it really matters on the deals you find and your location.

So, Lubbock, how are you feeling about this year’s costs? Are you keeping it simple with just the basics, or are you throwing in extras like tamales, pecan pie, or maybe even some mac and cheese?