Protein head-to-heads · July 2026
Beef jerky vs Edamame: which protein is cheaper?
USDA macros joined to current US grocery prices, reduced to the two numbers that decide it: dollars per gram of protein, and protein per calorie.
Edamame is 5.0x cheaper per gram of protein ($0.033/g vs $0.166/g), while it also carries more protein per calorie (9.9 g vs 8.1 g per 100 kcal), so it wins on both axes.
| Food | $/g protein | 30 g protein costs | You need | kcal that come with it | Protein/100 kcal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beef jerky | $0.166 | $4.97 | 90 g | 371 kcal | 8.1 g |
| Edamame | $0.033 | $1.00 | 250 g | 303 kcal | 9.9 g |
Full macros, per serving
| Food (per serving) | Price | kcal | Protein | Carbs | Fat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beef jerky (100 g) | $5.50 | 411 | 33.2 g | 11 g | 25.6 g |
| Edamame (100 g) | $0.40 | 121 | 12 g | 9 g | 5 g |
A week of protein from each
Hitting a common 100 g/day protein target from edamame alone costs $23.33 a week; from beef jerky alone, $115.96. That is a gap of $92.63 every week for the same protein. In practice you mix sources: the planner computes the cheapest mix for your exact target and calorie cap, live from the same dataset.
This one is not a trade-off
Edamame is both the cheaper protein ($0.033/g against $0.166/g) and the leaner one (9.9 g protein per 100 kcal against 8.1 g). Most matchups force you to pick a side. This one does not, so beef jerky has to win on taste, prep time or what else it brings to the meal, because it is not winning on the numbers.
The gap here is 5.0x, which is unusual
Most matchups in this dataset land inside 2x. Beef jerky costing 5.0x what edamame does for the same gram of protein means you are buying something other than protein: processing, shelf stability, convenience or flavour. Worth paying for sometimes, but name it, because at a 100 g/day target that gap is $92.63 a week and $4816.79 a year.
One of these is a convenience purchase
Beef jerky ranks #25 of 25 on cost per gram of protein, near the bottom. It is not a bad food, it is an expensive way to buy protein: $4.97 per 30 g against $1.00 for edamame. If it is in your basket for the protein, swap it. If it is there because it travels well or you enjoy it, that is a different and perfectly good reason.
Compare against other foods
- Beef jerky vs Oats (dry)Edamame vs Oats (dry)
- Beef jerky vs Peanut butterEdamame vs Peanut butter
- Beef jerky vs Lentils (cooked)Edamame vs Lentils (cooked)
- Beef jerky vs Tofu (firm)Edamame vs Tofu (firm)
- Beef jerky vs Black beans (cooked)Edamame vs Black beans (cooked)
- Beef jerky vs Whey protein (1 scoop)Edamame vs Whey protein (1 scoop)
- Beef jerky vs Greek yogurt (nonfat)Edamame vs Greek yogurt (nonfat)
- Beef jerky vs Eggs (~2 large)Edamame vs Eggs (~2 large)
- Beef jerky vs Chicken breast (raw)Edamame vs Chicken breast (raw)
- Beef jerky vs Canned tuna (in water)Edamame vs Canned tuna (in water)
Frequently asked
- Which is cheaper for protein, beef jerky or edamame?
- Edamame, at $0.033 per gram of protein against $0.166 for beef jerky (July 2026 US grocery prices). A 30 g protein serving costs $1.00 vs $4.97.
- Which has more protein per calorie, beef jerky or edamame?
- Edamame, with 9.9 g protein per 100 kcal against 8.1 g for beef jerky, 1.2x leaner. That matters when you are cutting and calories are the binding constraint.
- Which should I buy, beef jerky or edamame?
- Edamame wins on both axes here: cheaper per gram of protein and more protein per calorie. Unless taste, prep or the rest of your macros say otherwise, it is the better default.
Prices are representative US grocery prices as of July 2026; your store will differ. Educational content, not medical or dietary advice. Dataset: free download, CC-BY.