The Carnivore Diet is Too Expensive (Or Is It?).

The Carnivore Diet is Too Expensive (Or Is It?).

The carnivore diet, often misconstrued as expensive, is quite affordable considering the long-term benefits. While high-quality meats may seem costly upfront, many people unknowingly spend far more on coffee runs, dining out, and processed foods. With careful planning and smart choices, the carnivore diet can be a cost-effective and valuable investment in your long-term health, providing reassurance about your financial investment.

Hidden Costs of Processed Foods and Eating Out

Let’s face it…we spend a lot of money on snacks, drinks, coffee, gum, lunches and dinners out. In comparison, putting that money toward nutrient-rich meats gives you more value for your health. Shifting your budget from empty calories to quality protein fuels your body better and, over time, can reduce doctor visits and healthcare costs.

Budget-Friendly Meat Choices for the Carnivore Diet

A common misconception is that the carnivore diet revolves around expensive cuts of meat like ribeye steaks. While those premium cuts can be part of your diet, they don’t need to be the staple. Affordable cuts such as ground beef, pork shoulder, brisket, and chuck roast are just as nutritious and can go a long way when prepared correctly.[1]

• Ground Beef: One of the most versatile and inexpensive options, ground beef can be found for as little as $4-6 per pound. It’s great for making burgers, meatballs, chili, or casseroles. Some people do prefer grass-fed and grass-finished beef, which can run closer to $8-$10/pound. However, this is a preference and unnecessary when following a carnivore diet. 
• Pork Shoulder: Often priced around $3 per pound, pork shoulder can be slow-cooked for tender, flavorful meals that provide several days’ worth of food.
• Chuck Roast: Priced similarly to ground beef, Chuck Roast is another excellent option for meal prep. It can be used in stews, shredded for tacos, or as a hearty roast.
• Bone-In Cuts: These cuts, like short ribs, chicken legs, or whole chicken, can stretch your budget further. Using bones for broth adds nutrients to your meals, making the most of your purchase.
• Organ meats like liver, heart, and kidneys can further reduce costs while boosting nutrient intake. Organ meats are rich in vitamins and minerals and much cheaper than muscle cuts. They also contain many essential nutrients, such as iron, B vitamins, and vitamin C.

Buying in Bulk

Buying meat in bulk is a great savings option as well. Stores like Costco and BJ’s offer larger quantities and bigger cuts of meat at lower prices. Local farms and CSAs often will sell in bulk as well. If you have the freezer space, consider purchasing a whole cow or splitting one with another family. This way, you get a variety of cuts—steaks, roasts, ground beef—at a fraction of the cost compared to buying them individually. Plus, it’s a great way to support local farmers while ensuring high-quality, grass-fed meat.

The Long-Term Health Savings of the Carnivore Diet

When you switch to the carnivore diet, you’re also saving grocery and healthcare costs! Eating only meat can help reduce chronic inflammation, improve digestion, and boost mental clarity, leading to fewer doctor visits and less reliance on medications. On carnivore, you have more health security AND feel better overall. 

Financial Burden of Medications and Doctor Visits: 

Common US illnesses, like heart disease, diabetes, and autoimmune conditions, often require multiple doctor visits, regular testing, and expensive prescriptions. Medication co-pays can range from $10 to $50 per prescription, and it’s common for one medication to lead to another. For example, a medication for high blood pressure might require additional drugs to counteract side effects like digestive upset or fatigue. This can lead to polypharmacy (being on multiple medications), leading to greater potential drug interactions.[2]

Before you know it, you’re managing the cost of the condition itself and the unintended consequences of treating it.

By reducing your reliance on medications, the carnivore diet can save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars each year. The cost of treating chronic illnesses adds up quickly—doctor visits, lab tests, prescriptions, and potential hospitalization can be financially draining. By improving overall health with a nutrient-dense diet, you may be able to minimize the need for costly medical interventions and enjoy a better quality of life with fewer out-of-pocket expenses.

Breaking Down Weekly Spending

Looking at average weekly expenses can help you understand the cost comparison better. Suppose you grab a latte five days a week ($25-30), have lunch out a couple of times ($30-45), and go out to dinner on the weekend ($50-$100 easily). That’s nearly $200 per week just for dining out and coffee. 

Now, let’s compare that to the carnivore diet. A pound of ground beef ($5-$8) provides several meals, and a pork shoulder ($12-15) can last multiple days when slow-cooked. Even more expensive cuts like ribeye steaks, which cost $10-15 per pound, can be enjoyed occasionally rather than daily. Keeping your weekly meat purchases around $75 or less is easy, making the carnivore diet comparable or cheaper than most people's lifestyles. 

We didn’t even mention all the other things people spend money on that may be harming their health, like chewing gum with artificial sweeteners and filler snacks because, let's face it…when you’re eating carbs, you're always hungry. None of that is needed for a carnivore. 

The True Value of the Carnivore Diet

The true value of the carnivore diet lies not just in its cost but in how it makes you feel. Eating nutrient-dense, whole foods supports long-term health in a way that processed foods never can. When you have more energy, improved mental clarity, and better physical well-being, you’re more productive, miss fewer workdays, and generally enjoy life more. This empowerment from making healthy dietary choices is a key value of the carnivore diet.

Feeling good can’t be quantified, but it certainly has financial benefits. Improved health means fewer sick days, fewer medications, and better productivity. The money saved on healthcare costs and the enhanced quality of life more than make up for the price of good food.

Final Thoughts: Carnivore Diet on a Budget

The misconception that the carnivore diet is too expensive stems from a lack of perspective. If you look at where you currently spend on things like coffee, takeout, and snacks, it’s clear that investing in high-quality, nutrient-dense meat is a financially smart decision. By choosing budget-friendly cuts like ground beef, pork shoulder, and organ meats and by factoring in long-term health savings, the carnivore diet can be affordable for most people.

Some people criticize the carnivore bar for being “too pricey.” However, this bar provides 400 calories of nutrient-dense, shelf-stable fuel. Made from grass-fed beef and high in fat, it mimics traditional pemmican, an ancient preservation method that’s labor-intensive and costly to produce. Its high-fat content delivers essential nutrients, while its shelf stability and portability make it a convenient, travel-friendly option for those who want to stay carnivore while on the go.[3] 

Rather than viewing carnivore as an expense, consider the carnivore diet an investment in your health. The benefits of sustained energy, mental clarity, and reduced healthcare costs far outweigh the price of good food. With a little planning and smart purchasing, the carnivore diet can be accessible and economical.

Citations:

1. ‘Beef Price per Pound: A Genuine Guide’. Genuine Food Company, 29 May 2024, https://genuinefoodmd.com/beef-price-per-pound/.
2. Salwe, Kartik Janardan, et al. ‘A Study on Polypharmacy and Potential Drug-Drug Interactions among Elderly Patients Admitted in Department of Medicine of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Puducherry’. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research: JCDR, vol. 10, no. 2, JCDR Research and Publications, Feb. 2016, pp. FC06-10, https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2016/16284.7273.
3. Ngapo, Tania M., et al. ‘Pemmican, an Endurance Food: Past and Present’. Meat Science, vol. 178, no. 108526, Elsevier BV, Aug. 2021, p. 108526, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2021.108526.