Chickens grow in weeks; cattle take years.
Whole chicken averages $2.06 per pound (September 2026); ground beef averages $6.79 per pound (September 2026). Ground beef costs 3.3 times as much per pound as whole chicken.
How big the gap is
Whole chicken averages $2.06 per pound (September 2026); ground beef averages $6.79 per pound (September 2026). Ground beef costs 3.3 times as much per pound as whole chicken. Cooking yield and the cut purchased affect the cost of a serving. When the observation dates differ, each price retains its own source month and no same-month ratio is published.
How production cycles affect prices
The core reason is biology and the production cycle. Broiler chickens reach market weight in a matter of weeks, so when prices rise producers can add supply quickly; cattle take roughly two years to reach slaughter weight, so beef supply cannot respond fast — and USDA describes how drought and breeding decisions can prolong a cattle-supply adjustment. Cattle start on pasture and may later enter feedlots, while broiler production uses a different feeding system. Growth cycles, feed, processing and demand all help explain the retail gap.
Real shelf prices
Both figures are BLS average retail prices, tracked monthly since January 1980 — actual dollar amounts shoppers paid, not forecasts. The separate boneless chicken-breast series measures a different cut; a whole-bird price should not be treated as the cost of a pound of boneless chicken.
Frequently asked questions
How much does chicken cost per pound?
Whole chicken averages $2.06 per pound (September 2026); ground beef averages $6.79 per pound (September 2026). Ground beef costs 3.3 times as much per pound as whole chicken.
Why is chicken so much cheaper than beef?
Broiler chickens reach market weight in weeks, so supply can respond more quickly, while cattle take much longer and herd expansion requires breeding decisions years ahead of sale. Ground beef costs 3.3 times as much per pound as whole chicken.
Is chicken getting more expensive?
Whole chicken is +0.1% year over year and +2.6% month over month as of September 2026.
Sources and methodology
- BLS average retail food and energy prices
- USDA ERS poultry production
- USDA ERS cattle production cycle
- Basket Report methodology
- Basket Report data downloads
Data through September 2026 · Editorial prose reviewed for September 2026 · Source data is independently analyzed by Basket Report and does not imply BLS endorsement.
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