Protein Per Dollar Calculator
Example: Food item price: 3 $ · Total protein in the item: 78 g
| Protein per dollar | 26 |
| Cost per 100g protein | $4 |
| Cost per 50g serving | $2 |
Worked example
A dozen eggs at about $3 holds roughly 78 grams of protein, giving 26 grams of protein per dollar. That works out to about $3.85 per 100 grams of protein and $1.92 for a 50-gram serving. Compare that to a $3 protein bar with 20 grams: only about 6.7 grams per dollar and $15 per 100 grams — more than three times the cost of eggs for the same protein.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find the total protein in an item?
Read the nutrition label: multiply the protein per serving by the number of servings in the package. For fresh meat, use a reliable nutrition database — a common figure is roughly 20 to 26 grams of protein per cooked 100 grams of lean meat. Enter the total for the whole item you priced.
Which foods usually win on protein per dollar?
Eggs, dried beans and lentils, canned tuna, whole chicken, milk, tofu, and cottage cheese tend to top the list. Protein bars, jerky, premium steaks, and most ready-to-drink shakes are usually the most expensive per gram, even though they are marketed as protein foods.
Does protein quality factor in?
This tool measures cost per gram, not amino-acid quality. Animal proteins and soy are complete, while most single plant proteins are not, though combining them across a day solves that. For pure budgeting, protein per dollar is the right lens; for nutrition, also consider quality and the rest of the food's profile.
How much protein do I actually need?
General guidance is around 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight for adults, with active people and those building muscle often aiming higher. Federal dietary guidelines give the baseline; once you know your target, this calculator shows the cheapest way to hit it.