”Survey says” looks at various rankings and scorecards judging geographic locations while noting these grades are best seen as a mix of artistic interpretation and data.
Buzz: Like most slices of life, Californians will pay more than most Americans for their Thanksgiving feast.
Source: My trusty spreadsheet reviewed MoneyGeek’s analysis of Thanksgiving food costs for a six-person party – a 10-pound turkey and side dishes of mashed potatoes, stuffing, bread rolls, peas and corn, plus refreshments – in 106 major metropolitan areas, including six from California.
The average California tab for the Turkey Day meal is $138.95 – that’s $17.05 for the bird and $121.90 for the sides.
In the 100 other US meters tracked, the average feast costs $129.78 – 7% cheaper compared to California, with $14.67 spent on the turkey (14% lower) and $115.11 on sides (6% less).
Where’s Thanksgiving food cheapest in the Golden State, by this math?
San Diego: At $131.88, the meal is still the 41st costliest of the 106 meters tracked nationally. That includes $10.43 for turkey (No. 65) and $121.44 for side dishes (No. 19).
Bakersfield: $132.64 meal (38th priciest) with $17.22 turkey (No. 35), and $115.43 sides (No. 43).
Los Angeles-Orange County: $133.84 meal (33rd priciest) with $14.70 turkey (No. 41), and $119.14 sides (No. 25).
Sacramento: $139.18 meal (22nd priciest) with $22.61 turkey (No. 15), and $116.57 sides (No. 36).
San Jose: $142.80 meal (12th priciest) with $14.70 turkey (No. 41), and $128.10 sides (No. 7).
San Francisco: $153.33 meal (fifth-priciest) with $22.61 turkey (No. 15), and $130.73 sides (No. 2).
To add to California’s economic indigestion, holiday spreads are also more affordable for residents of California’s two economic rivals.
The average Florida Thanksgiving meal cost $128.76 in six meters – 7% cheaper than California, with a $10.36 turkey (39% lower) and $118.40 sides (3% less).
Texans in 12 meters will pay $128.26 for their feast (8% cheaper than the Golden State) from the $14.53 on turkey (15% lower) and $113.72 on sides (7% less).
Oh, a dash of holiday cheer: You could be eating in Honolulu, the priciest metro. Thanksgiving costs there run $160.73 – $18.52 for the turkey (No. 30 of the 106) plus $142.21 for sides (No. 1).
And the most affordable? Evansville, Illinois, with a $112.05 meal that’s $10.43 for turkey (No. 65) and $101.61 for sides (No. 106).
Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at jlansner@scng.com
