Consumers have a bone to pick with the beef industry.
High beef prices are the new normal in the US, thanks to a diminishing in size of cattle herds, ongoing drought and a robust demand — and it’s not expected to change any time soon.
According to the Consumer Price Index, the average price of ground beef is about $6.74, and the average price of all uncooked ground beef is $6.90.
That’s a significant 19.8% increase and a 15.7% increase, respectively, over the course of 12 months.
But even with rising costs, demand is still high at grocery stores.
In general, ground beef, chuck roast, chuck steak, brisket and round cut are the cheapest everyday options, consistently some of the lowest-cost options available. However, they see lower demand due to the tougher muscle and the time it takes to cook them.
The more expensive cuts — such as ribeye, New York strip, Wagyu and filet mignon — are often more tender and in higher demand. In the middle are options like skirt steak, flank steak, flat iron and tri-tip, which tend to be of a higher quality while at a slightly lower cost.
A good rule of thumb is to opt for tougher cuts and to shop at stores known for bulk buying for the cheapest options; any leftovers can be frozen and cooked later.
To figure out where consumers can get the best bang for their buck and not miss out on a meat indulgence, The Post looked at the cheapest beef options at six popular stores: Walmart, Aldi, Sam’s Club, Costco, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods.
Prices were noted at the time of reporting and may additionally vary by region.
Walmart
Walmart is known for its low prices and a wide range of options. With 13 different ground-beef choices online at Walmart.com, it’s easy to find a cut at a low price.
At first glance, their cheapest option appears to be their 1-pound tray of ground beef chuck, which costs $7.23. However, their 4½-pound tray of all-natural ground beef is actually the best deal. At a total of $24.84, it comes out to $5.52 per pound.
Even cheaper is Walmart’s boneless whole beef brisket, which costs $4.96 per pound. The brisket is usually between 12.3 and 22 pounds, and the final cost depends on the weight, averaging $69.44.
If you’re looking for a higher-end beef, Walmart still has a good price range. You can snag a ribeye steak for $14.87 per pound, averaging a total of $16.36. Filet mignon will cost you $26.82 per pound, with an average price of $16.09.
The store’s Marketside brand New York strip lands at $11.94
Wagyu, considered to be one of the most expensive beef options, is actually relatively cheap at Walmart — coming out to $7.36 per pound.
Comparison pricing (per pound)
- Ground beef: $5.52
- Ribeye: $14.87
- New York strip: $11.94
Aldi
Along with Walmart, Aldi seems to be one of the more affordable stores, although there are fewer meat options. Their more common ones are cheaper than Walmart’s, though there are fewer cuts available and some of the more specific ones are pricier. For example, the brisket at Aldi comes out to $6.99.
The cheapest available is their fresh 73% lean, 27% fat ground beef, which comes in at $4.39 per pound. The supermarket chain also has a 1-pound, pre-packaged, specially selected Wagyu ground beef for $4.99.
The more premium meats are also less expensive at Aldi than at Walmart. Their thin-sliced boneless ribeye steak will cost you $10.99 per pound, while their New York strip steaks weigh in at $13.99 per pound.
Comparison pricing:
- Ground beef: $4.39
- Ribeye: $10.99
- New York strip: $13.99
Sam’s Club
As a wholesale, membership-based grocer, you have to pay to shop at Sam’s Club, but it’s still a great option to find beef products at an affordable price. Though you’ll be charged more for upscale meats, you’re still getting a great deal on the tougher cuts. The options at Sam’s Club are also cheaper when buying in bulk.
At $4.98 per pound, their cheapest option is brisket, though the average total price is $76.39, meaning you’ll be buying about 15 pounds to potentially freeze and enjoy later. The ground beef at Sam’s Club is slightly more expensive per pound at $5.52, though if you’re looking to take home less meat in the moment, the average price for a pack is $17.66.
The New York strip is also a great deal at Sam’s Club, coming out just slightly lower than Aldi and Walmart at $13.48 per pound, and the ribeye is a pretty good deal, too, at $15.97 per pound. Of their filet mignon options, the best option is $22.97 per pound.
But if you’re trying to save money, don’t bother with Wagyu — it’s a lofty $100 per steak.
Comparison pricing:
- Ground beef: $5.52
- Ribeye: $15.97
- New York strip: $13.48
Costco
Costco has been criticized by fans for rising prices, and though beef prices have soared everywhere, it can be frustrating when you pay a membership fee for a store in hopes of getting better prices. And while there aren’t a wide variety of options, it’s a good choice for those who need — or want — to buy their meat in bulk.
Costco’s Kirkland Signature ground beef costs $6.80 per pound. While the weight will vary by package, of course, Costco estimates an average of 5.65 pounds per package, coming to $38.42. Their round roast is another reasonable choice at $7.93, and with an average of 5.2 pounds per package, that comes to a total of $41.24.
On the pricier end is their premium steaks, with a New York strip costing $17.01 per pound and an average total of $68.04 per package. Those who wish to eat a ribeye for dinner will pay an average of $77.39 per package — or $20.42 per pound.
Comparison pricing:
- Ground beef: $6.80
- Ribeye: $20.42
- New York strip: $17.01
Trader Joe’s
Many think of Trader Joe’s as a discount store, so it may come as a surprise that it ended up being one of the pricier stores to get your beef. There aren’t a lot of options at Trader Joe’s, either. It appeared there were three varieties of ground beef, but with any other cuts, there was only one option.
Their 1-pound package of Trader Joe’s 80% lean, 20% fat ground beef will cost you $6.49. Trader Joe’s recently added a boneless chuck roast to shelves after the company labeled it “the No. 1 requested item on our customers’ fresh meat wish list.” The popular cut is $8.99 a pound, a budget-friendly option for large groups.
Trader Joe’s skirt steak and New York strip are both the same price at $15.99 per pound, staking claim as middle-tier meats at the popular grocery store. The ribeye logs in a bit higher at $17.99 a pound. But if you’re splurging at Trader Joe’s, the filet mignon is going to drain your wallet of $24.99.
Comparison pricing:
- Ground beef: $6.49
- Ribeye: $17.99
- New York strip: $15.99
Whole Foods
On the other end, Whole Foods is widely considered more expensive than other grocery stores, so it’s no surprise that it was the most expensive option for beef.
Their ground beef sourced from meat suppliers weight in at $8.99 per pound, though they do have a pre-packaged option from in-house brand 365, which costs $7.99 for one pound. Whichever you choose, they’re both more expensive than the other stores.
Other options under $20 include their chuck roast, brisket and skirt steak, at $12.99, $15.99 and $19.99 per pound, respectively. From there, the prices just keep going up. Those who want a ribeye or New York strip will be dishing out nearly $30 per pound on their steaks.
However, it’s hard to compare Whole Foods’ meats to those of other stores, considering they’re regarded for their extremely high sourcing standards, so some shoppers might consider it worth the splurge.
Amazon Prime members also get varied discounts on some items, and the chain will also occasionally drop deals on selected premium cuts.
Key comparisons
- Ground beef: $7.99
- Ribeye: $30
- New York strip: $30
