The best choice for budgeting errands I’ve made all year? Not Hosting Thanksgiving.

Especially now that I know how much Americans will spend during the holidays, I like to bring a bowl of Thanksgiving jungle juice punch and a slow cooker full of mashed potatoes, thank you very much.

But for those who live to host, hosting people for Thanksgiving is non-negotiable. So how much are shoppers expected to spend on all the essentials this year?

How much is Thanksgiving this year?

As you might expect, the range of expenses can vary depending on where you live in the US and where you get your calculations from. Take every piece of data with a grain of salt, especially if it seems unusually low. Unfortunately, much of this research leaves out important ingredients that can add up.

One study says that in the South and Midwest, where grocery prices tend to be more moderate, a Thanksgiving dinner will cost you between $112 and $116. The cheapest city was reportedly Evansville, Indiana, with an average cost of $112.

The most expensive cities? Here’s some fun trivia about Turkey Day: Honolulu, Hawaii and Yakima, Washington are the most expensive cities to host nationwide, with meals costing families an average of about $157. Honolulu topped the list with an average cost of $160.

If $157 sounds cheap to you, you’re not alone. Hosted Lending Tree projects will actually spend much more, averaging $431, which is almost 20% more than last year. In fact, 19% of hosts say inflation is reason enough not to host this year.

How do prices affect America’s Thanksgiving celebrations?

But there’s also good news: Researchers have found that rising prices don’t necessarily mean anyone’s parade. According to Butterball’s Togetherness Report, 52% of hosts refuse to make changes to their meal due to price increases, whether it’s leaving out turkey or favorite dishes.

Instead, the hosts plan to cut costs on non-food items, such as paper products and decorations. maybe some less-favorite sides (I’m looking at you, yams), and working around items that have increased in price, like stuffing, rolls, eggs, and pumpkin pie.

Compared to 2023, turkeys will actually be 11% cheaper this year during the week of Thanksgiving. Turkeys purchased the week before Thanksgiving are about 20% cheaper than in 2023.

Perhaps the most heartwarming statistic of all? Our Thanksgiving gatherings are becoming increasingly popular bigger. According to projections for 2024, tables will be set for at least nine guests on average. In my opinion, a larger table means more bang for your buck because you can easily and cheaply turn a Thanksgiving into a potluck, with each guest splitting the dishes and costs.

Whatever you do, don’t be a stingy guy. According to Lending Tree, hosts have said that guests who do not bring a dish would not be on the invitation list for next year’s gathering.

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