These Are The Cheapest & Most Expensive States To Buy A Turkey, New Study Says

Danielle Harling
·2 min read

Turkeys are an absolute staple at Thanksgiving, but they're not cheap. If you're hoping for a more affordable option, you could try a meal deal from a store. Or, it turns out, you could maybe 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 that shows the cost of the bird in each state.

"To determine the average cost for a turkey in 2024, we collected prices from multiple 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 state
FinanceBuzz

Although prices differ quite a bit, families can expect to pay around $31.16 for a 15-pound turkey on average, according to the study.

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-breaking $52.85 for a 15-pounder. Alaska is standing strong at #2 with an average price of $44.85.

The third-most-expensive Thanksgiving turkey in the country is also not so shocking. That honor goes to California and its $39.85 turkey.

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

Lastly, 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 Least Expensive 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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