Created on: February 16, 2026
Last edited on: February 16, 2026
Disclaimer: As described above on the FAQ page, a vegan way of life goes far beyond nutrition. However, since the financial question usually mainly relates to food, we will focus on that in this answer.
Many people ask themselves: Is vegan more expensive? The honest answer: A fully plant-based diet can be cheap or expensive. What matters is not the vegan label, but what you buy and how you shop.
In general, it depends heavily on what you compare it to. If someone previously bought a lot of cheap meat and sausage products, switching can initially seem more expensive - especially if you rely heavily on vegan substitute products. If you reduce these products and instead cook more with legumes, grains, vegetables, and tofu, you often end up with a cheaper grocery bill.
Realistic vegan food in everyday life
The basis of a vegan diet consists of ingredients that almost everyone buys anyway: fruit, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, mushrooms, and seeds are not luxury products. They are standard foods found in almost every household.
If you mainly eat these basic ingredients and add affordable vegan protein sources like tofu or soy chunks, a fully plant-based diet is often surprisingly inexpensive. If, on the other hand, you buy many convenience products such as certain vegan meat alternatives or vegan cheese, it can become significantly more expensive. This is comparable to a non-vegan diet: anyone who frequently buys steak, ready-made meals, or branded products also pays much more.
Regardless of the type of diet, it is not only about what you buy, but also where and how you shop. You will pay more at an organic supermarket than at a discount store. In addition, planning your meals in advance usually makes grocery shopping noticeably cheaper because you throw away less food and make fewer impulse purchases. It also reduces the likelihood that you will rely on expensive snacks or delivery services while you're out.
Vegan at discount supermarkets - completely normal today
In the past, vegan grocery shopping was often something for organic stores or specialty markets. That has changed massively. Discount supermarkets like Lidl, Aldi, Asda, or Walmart now have a surprisingly large vegan selection. Basic foods, as well as many substitute products, are absolutely competitive in price there. Discount supermarkets also regularly run vegan promotions and special offers, during which the range is often expanded even further.
How much does tofu cost? - a realistic everyday example
The misconception still persists that it is more expensive to replace animal products with vegan alternatives. A good counterexample is tofu, which can now be found in almost every supermarket and discount store. As a side note, tofu provides high-quality protein and contains all essential amino acids. A block of plain tofu weighing around 200 grams often costs between €1.50 and €2.50, depending on the brand and store. Depending on the dish, one block is enough for one to two meals. This makes this vegan protein source affordable for most people and - also in terms of nutrients - it can compete with meat in many cases.
Why many people still think vegan is automatically more expensive
This impression mainly arises because people immediately think of vegan burgers, vegan nuggets, and similar products. Such products are significantly more expensive than basic ingredients - but that is not a vegan issue, it is a normal consumer issue. Those who eat mostly fresh foods save money. Those who buy a lot of processed products pay more. As you have just learned, everyday vegan life can be made much cheaper than many people think.
Excursus: Why are vegan substitute products so expensive?
Vegan substitute products are partly more expensive because, compared to meat and dairy products, they are usually produced in smaller quantities, which means fewer economies of scale. Put simply: as demand increases, the price goes down. In addition, animal products benefit indirectly from subsidies in many countries (including the UK, the US, Canada, and India).
However, this is increasingly changing: in recent years, vegan alternatives have become much more mainstream, competition is growing, and more and more manufacturers are producing in larger quantities. As a result, prices are gradually decreasing, and vegan substitute products are increasingly becoming more attractive in terms of price as well.
Conclusion
It is not true that vegan is expensive - at least not automatically. As with any other diet, a plant-based one also depends on what you buy, where you shop, and how you shop. We can conclude: Vegan products are more available today than ever before. In addition to inexpensive basic ingredients, you can now find a wide range of products even at discount supermarkets. If you shop with a bit of planning and watch out for special offers, you can easily keep a vegan way of life within your normal budget ✅
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