Labor Day Barbecue Prices Are Sizzling in 2025: Here’s What You’ll Pay for Steak, Chicken, and Beer

Labor Day weekend is prime time for backyard barbecues, but you might feel the heat before the grill even fires up. Prices for cookout staples like steak, chicken, and soda have jumped since last summer — and in some cities, the increase is steep.

As of July, grocery prices are up 2.2 percent year-over-year, continuing a trend that began with pandemic-era supply chain disruptions. In the months to come, there may be more price shocks due to economic uncertainty related to tariffs. In a recent AP-NORC poll, over half of Americans cited grocery costs as a major source of stress.

Higher costs at your local grocery store make it harder to stay on budget — especially when you’re feeding a crowd. Rising prices can also push shoppers toward cheaper, ultra-processed foods instead of healthier, fresh foods.

We examined the price changes for nine popular barbecue staples to find the U.S. cities with the steepest cost increases. We also broke down individual items so you can spot easy ingredient swaps for more affordable alternatives.

• New York City (Queens), Spokane, and Atlanta had the most significant percentage increases in total average barbecue cost. Each of the three cities showed prices rising in at least five of the seven ingredient categories we analyzed.

• The total average cost of the nine ingredients we analyzed was the highest in Honolulu, San Francisco, and Seattle. Honolulu was the only city on our list that topped $70.

• Ground beef and cooking oil displayed some of the largest price increases from a year ago. In San Jose, California, for example, ground beef and oil each rose by more than 10 percent in a one-year period.

• Even in the cities where the total cost of a barbecue fell from a year ago, prices for steak, cooking oil, and lettuce still showed notable increases. Beef prices have risen to record highs in recent months as demand has far outpaced supply.

Ready to find out how prices have changed in your city? Our list is ranked based on nine key barbecue ingredients, and our methodology is explained in depth below.

1. New York (Queens), New York +5.31%

2. Spokane, Washington +4.39%

3. Atlanta, Georgia +4.29%

4. Albuquerque, New Mexico +4.16%

5. Seattle, Washington +3.94%

6. Boise, Idaho +3.75%

7. Bakersfield, California +3.55%

8. Denver, Colorado +3.46%

9. Baltimore, Maryland +3.45%

10. Portland, Oregon +3.28%

1. Morristown, New Jersey -3.35%

2. New York (Brooklyn), New York -2.68%

3. Douglasville, Georgia -2.45%

4. Plano, Texas -1.04%

5. Dayton, Ohio -0.98%

6. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma -0.93%

7. San Antonio, Texas -0.91%

8. Little Rock, Arkansas -0.89%

9. Fayetteville, Arkansas -0.64%

10. Tulsa, Oklahoma -0.51%

Are you wondering how grocery price increases are impacting specific food categories? We dove deeper into the data to help you make mindful choices based on your budget.

What Is the Price of Steak in 2025?

Cities Where Steak Is the Most Expensive

1. Oakland, California ($16.02 per pound)

2. San Francisco, California ($16.00)

3. Honolulu, Hawaii ($15.97)

Cities Where Steak Is the Least Expensive

1. San Marcos, Texas ($14.82)

2. Denton, Texas ($14.83)

3. Houston, Texas ($14.83)

What Is the Price of Chicken in 2025?

Cities Where Chicken Is the Most Expensive

1. Honolulu, Hawaii ($7.57 per pound)

2. Los Angeles, California ($6.65)

3. Baltimore, Maryland ($6.64)

Cities Where Chicken Is the Least Expensive

1. Dallas, Texas ($3.99)

2. San Antonio, Texas ($4.13)

3. Las Vegas, Nevada ($4.15)

What Is the Price of Beer in 2025?

Cities Where Beer Is the Most Expensive

1. Bergen, New Jersey ($12.40 for a six-pack)

2. Portland, Oregon ($12.26)

3. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ($12.19)

Cities Where Beer Is the Least Expensive

1. Jackson, Mississippi ($9.10)

2. Madison, Wisconsin ($9.12)

3. Reno, Nevada ($9.27)

Our analysis began with the quarterly Cost of Living Index from The Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). From this dataset, we pulled prices for nine barbecue staples: steak, ground beef, sausage, chicken, lettuce, cooking oil, potato chips, Coca-Cola, and beer.

For each city in C2ER’s data set, we recorded the population estimate from the most recent Census data, and then eliminated regions with a population of less than 500,000. That allowed us to streamline our list to larger and more identifiable cities.

We then compared the average price for each ingredient in the first quarter of 2025 to the first quarter of 2024, as well as the year-over-year change for the total price of the nine ingredients. Our primary ranking is based on the percent changes in total average price, though we also analyzed individual ingredients, as seen above.

Get the data here.

Inflation may be driving up food costs, but you can still eat well and stay active without overspending. Whether you’re planning a Labor Day cookout or just trying to keep your weekly grocery bill in check, these budget-friendly health tips will help you maintain healthy habits without breaking the bank.

1. Stay flexible with your grocery list. Prices for staples like protein and produce may fluctuate over time, so it’s important to get comfortable swapping chicken for steak or carrots for broccoli. As costs shift, you may also consider choosing cheaper proteins like beans or tinned fish, or tasting a new fruit or vegetable you haven’t tried before when it goes on sale. Research shows that eating a diversity of healthy foods can protect against cognitive decline and type 2 diabetes.

2. Get creative with at-home wellness. YouTube and free apps provide plenty of options for exercising or practicing mindfulness without breaking the bank. You might also consider walking outside in the summer months rather than paying for a gym or stretching in your living room. One study showed that just 15 to 20 minutes of vigorous exercise a week reduced mortality and disease incidence.

3. Choose water first. Staying hydrated has been proven to keep you focused, help with digestion, and reduce the effects of heart conditions like hypertension. Thankfully, water is the most efficient and affordable way of doing so. Sodas, juices, and alcohol can be pricey and, in some cases, make you more dehydrated. Carry a reusable water bottle to make sipping throughout the day easier and more sustainable.