These are the cheapest and most expensive states to buy a turkey, says new study

On By Littum

Turkeys are an absolute staple at Thanksgiving, but they don’t come cheap. If you’re hoping for a more affordable option, try a meal from a store. Or, it turns out you might be able to travel to another state because some states have it wayyy worse than others when it comes to turkey prices.

To better illustrate this range in turkey prices, FinanceBuzz released a study showing the cost of the bird in each state.

“To determine the average price of a turkey in 2024, we collected prices from several U.S. grocery stores across the country and determined how much shoppers in each state can expect to pay for a Thanksgiving turkey this year,” the study reads.

Thanksgiving turkey costs by statepinterest

FinanceBuzz

Although prices vary quite a bit, families can expect to pay about $31.16 for a 15-pound turkey on average, according to the survey.

And as you can probably imagine, turkeys are the most expensive in the states where imported goods cost an arm and a leg, like Hawaii and Alaska. The cost of a turkey in Hawaii is a budget-busting $52.85 for a 15-pounder. Alaska stands strong at #2 with an average price of $44.85.

The third-most expensive Thanksgiving turkey in the country isn’t that shocking, either. That honor goes to California and its $39.85 turkey.

Now that we’ve scared your wallet, let’s move on to the more affordable turkeys. The cheapest turkeys can be found in Oklahoma at an average price of $19.75. And Louisiana is just a nickel behind at $19.80.

Finally, the states closest to the $31.65 average for a 15-pound turkey include New Mexico ($31.35), Delaware ($31.35), Maryland ($31.35), Wisconsin ($31.30) and Washington ($30.85).

Here are the two top 10 lists:

10 most expensive Turkey states

  1. Hawaii ($52.92)
  2. Alaska ($44.85)
  3. California ($39.85)
  4. Connecticut ($36.85)
  5. Montana ($36.85)
  6. New Jersey ($36.85)
  7. Nebraska ($36.35)
  8. New York ($35.85)
  9. Minnesota ($35.30)
  10. Georgia ($34.85)

10 cheapest Turkey states

1. Oklahoma ($19.75)
2. Louisiana ($19.80)
3. Mississippi ($22.30)
4. Texas ($22.60)
5. Illinois ($22.85)
6. Ohio ($22.85)
7. Kentucky ($24.85)
8. Tennessee ($24.85)
9. Michigan ($25.35)
10. Indiana ($25.85)

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Danielle Harling is an Atlanta-based freelance writer with a love for colorfully designed spaces, craft cocktails, and online window shopping (usually for budget-sniffing designer heels). Her previous work has appeared on Fodor’s, Forbes, MyDomaine, Architectural Digest and more.