Chickens grow in weeks; cattle take years.
Whole chicken averages $2.04 per pound versus $6.75 for ground beef, so beef costs about 3.3× as much (May 2026).
How big the gap is
As of May 2026, a pound of fresh whole chicken averaged $2.04 while a pound of ground beef averaged $6.75 — beef costs about 3.3 times as much. Chicken is consistently the cheapest of the everyday animal proteins, and the gap with beef has been unusually wide while beef sits near record highs.
Why chicken stays cheaper
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 after drought-driven herd culls the U.S. cattle inventory is near multi-decade lows. Both animals eat largely corn and soybean meal, so feed sets a shared floor, but the slow, currently-tight cattle cycle is what keeps beef structurally dearer than chicken.
Real shelf prices
Both figures are BLS average retail prices, tracked monthly since January 1980 — actual dollar amounts shoppers paid, not forecasts. The boneless chicken-breast cut sells for more than whole birds, but still well under beef.
Frequently asked questions
How much does chicken cost per pound?
Fresh whole chicken averaged $2.04 per pound at the U.S. city average in May 2026, per BLS data — versus $6.75 for ground beef.
Why is chicken so much cheaper than beef?
Broiler chickens reach market weight in weeks, so supply responds fast and stays plentiful, while cattle take about two years and the U.S. herd is near multi-decade lows. As of May 2026 beef costs about 3.3× as much per pound.
Is chicken getting more expensive?
Whole chicken is −1.2% year over year and +0.5% month over month as of May 2026 — far steadier than beef.
Compare meat prices
See chicken, beef and every other staple with full price history.