Protein Per Dollar Calculator
Compare two foods on protein per dollar and cost per 100 g of protein to find the cheaper source.
How it works
Protein per $ = protein per unit ÷ price per unit · Cost per 100 g protein = price ÷ protein × 100
To rank protein sources by value, divide the grams of protein in a package by its price — the higher the grams per dollar, the cheaper the protein. The inverse, cost per 100 g of protein, is the number to compare against a target like "under $6 per 100 g". Whole foods such as eggs, milk, canned tuna and dried legumes usually beat bars and powders on this metric even though the marketing implies otherwise.
Worked example
Food A has 24 g protein for $1.50, giving 24 ÷ 1.50 = 16 g per dollar. Food B has 12 g for $0.80, giving 15 g per dollar. Food A is the cheaper protein source, at $6.25 per 100 g versus Food B’s $6.67.
Frequently asked questions
What unit should I use for each food?
Use whatever a single purchase is — a can, a carton, a pound. Just keep protein and price for the same unit. The ratio is dimensionless, so the comparison still holds across different pack sizes.
Is protein per dollar the whole story?
No. Protein quality (leucine content, digestibility) and the rest of the macros matter too. But for filling a protein target on a budget, cost per gram is the single most useful number.
Why do whole foods usually win?
Processing, packaging and branding add cost that protein powders and bars pass on. Eggs, milk, tinned fish, chicken thighs and dried lentils tend to deliver the most protein per dollar.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.