Best Ingredients by Category: Average Wholesale Prices in the US (2026 Update)
June 23, 2026·8 min read·by Recipe Cost Calculator Team
Every time a new supplier quote lands in your inbox and the numbers look... off... it's hard to tell if you're getting ripped off or you're just bad at negotiation. This reference chart fixes that problem.
Below are 2026 average wholesale prices for the most commonly purchased ingredients across 10 categories. These are what you'd pay at a restaurant distributor like Sysco, US Foods, or a regional co-op — not what you'd pay at Whole Foods (which is typically 2-3× higher).
Farm-fresh produce at wholesale prices can significantly lower your food costs.
🥩 Meats & Poultry ($/kg)
Item
Wholesale Price
Change from 2024
Chicken Breast
$7.50
-5%
Ground Beef (80/20)
$9.50
+12%
Pork Loin
$8.00
+8%
Beef Chuck Roast
$14.00
+15%
Bacon (Thick Cut)
$11.00
+18%
Meat and poultry represent the largest chunk of most restaurant food costs.
Dairy and eggs are staples with relatively stable pricing.
🥬 Produce ($/kg)
Item
Price
Seasonal Note
Tomatoes (Roma)
$2.50
Summer: $1.80 | Winter: $4.00
Potatoes (Russet)
$1.20
Stable year-round
Onions (Yellow)
$1.00
Stable year-round
Garlic
$8.00
Import-dependent; volatile
Fresh Basil
$15.00
Summer: $8.00 | Winter: $20+
🌾 Pantry Staples ($/kg or equivalent)
Item
Wholesale Price
All-Purpose Flour
$1.50/kg
Granulated Sugar
$2.00/kg
Olive Oil (Extra Virgin)
$8.00/L
Soy Sauce
$6.00/L
White Rice (long grain)
$2.00/kg
Pasta (dry)
$2.50/kg
How to Use This Chart
When your distributor sends a quote that looks unusually high for an item, cross-reference it here. A 10% difference is normal (different brands, different pack sizes, different freight terms). A 50%+ difference means you should either negotiate or shop around.
And if you want to calculate how these ingredient prices impact your recipes, the Recipe Cost Calculator on this site has all these prices built in — just select your ingredient and it auto-fills with current averages.
Spices and herbs may seem small in quantity, but they significantly impact final cost and flavor.
Use These Prices to Calculate Your Recipes
All ingredient prices pre-loaded. Instant cost calculations for any recipe.
