”Survey says” looks at various rankings and scorecards judging geographic locations while noting these grades are best seen as a mix of artistic interpretation and data.
Buzz: Like most slices of life, Californians will pay more than most Americans for their Thanksgiving feast.
Source: My trusty spreadsheet reviewed MoneyGeek’s analysis of Thanksgiving food costs for a six-person party – a 10-pound turkey and side dishes of mashed potatoes, stuffing, bread rolls, peas and corn, plus refreshments – in 106 major metropolitan areas, including six from California.
Topline
The average California tab for the Turkey Day meal is $138.95 – that’s $17.05 for the bird and $121.90 for the sides.
In the 100 other US meters tracked, the average feast costs $129.78 – 7% cheaper compared to California, with $14.67 spent on the turkey (14% lower) and $115.11 on sides (6% less).
Details
Where’s Thanksgiving food cheapest in the Golden State, by this math?
San Diego: At $131.88, the meal is still the 41st costliest of the 106 meters tracked nationally. That includes $10.43 for turkey (No. 65) and $121.44 for side dishes (No. 19).
Bakersfield: $132.64 meal (38th priciest) with $17.22 turkey (No. 35), and $115.43 sides (No. 43).
Los Angeles-Orange County: $133.84 meal (33rd priciest) with $14.70 turkey (No. 41), and $119.14 sides (No. 25).
Sacramento: $139.18 meal (22nd priciest) with $22.61 turkey (No. 15), and $116.57 sides (No. 36).
San Jose: $142.80 meal (12th priciest) with $14.70 turkey (No. 41), and $128.10 sides (No. 7).
San Francisco: $153.33 meal (fifth-priciest) with $22.61 turkey (No. 15), and $130.73 sides (No. 2).
Bottom line
Related Articles
Will California food prices, up 27%, ruin the holiday spirit?
‘Difference is Trump’: American homebuyers brace for rate pain
Want to comment on plans to raise Bay Area bridge tolls? A chance is Wednesday morning
Higher monthly payments loom for many student loan borrowers
Future of Medicare drug price negotiations murky under Donald Trump
To add to California’s economic indigestion, holiday spreads are also more affordable for residents of California’s two economic rivals.
The average Florida Thanksgiving meal cost $128.76 in six meters – 7% cheaper than California, with a $10.36 turkey (39% lower) and $118.40 sides (3% less).
Texans in 12 meters will pay $128.26 for their feast (8% cheaper than the Golden State) from the $14.53 on turkey (15% lower) and $113.72 on sides (7% less).
Oh, a dash of holiday cheer: You could be eating in Honolulu, the priciest metro. Thanksgiving costs there run $160.73 – $18.52 for the turkey (No. 30 of the 106) plus $142.21 for sides (No. 1).
And the most affordable? Evansville, Illinois, with a $112.05 meal that’s $10.43 for turkey (No. 65) and $101.61 for sides (No. 106).
Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at jlansner@scng.com
