Protein head-to-heads · July 2026
Beef jerky vs Ground beef 90/10 (raw): 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.
Ground beef 90/10 (raw) is 3.0x cheaper per gram of protein ($0.055/g vs $0.166/g), while it also carries more protein per calorie (11.4 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 |
| Ground beef 90/10 (raw) | $0.055 | $1.65 | 150 g | 264 kcal | 11.4 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 |
| Ground beef 90/10 (raw) (100 g) | $1.10 | 176 | 20 g | 0 g | 10 g |
A week of protein from each
Hitting a common 100 g/day protein target from ground beef 90/10 (raw) alone costs $38.50 a week; from beef jerky alone, $115.96. That is a gap of $77.46 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
Ground beef 90/10 (raw) is both the cheaper protein ($0.055/g against $0.166/g) and the leaner one (11.4 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.
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 $1.65 for ground beef 90/10 (raw). 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)Ground beef 90/10 (raw) vs Oats (dry)
- Beef jerky vs Peanut butterGround beef 90/10 (raw) vs Peanut butter
- Beef jerky vs Lentils (cooked)Ground beef 90/10 (raw) vs Lentils (cooked)
- Beef jerky vs Tofu (firm)Ground beef 90/10 (raw) vs Tofu (firm)
- Beef jerky vs Black beans (cooked)Ground beef 90/10 (raw) vs Black beans (cooked)
- Beef jerky vs Whey protein (1 scoop)Ground beef 90/10 (raw) vs Whey protein (1 scoop)
- Beef jerky vs Greek yogurt (nonfat)Ground beef 90/10 (raw) vs Greek yogurt (nonfat)
- Beef jerky vs Eggs (~2 large)Ground beef 90/10 (raw) vs Eggs (~2 large)
- Beef jerky vs Chicken breast (raw)Ground beef 90/10 (raw) vs Chicken breast (raw)
- Beef jerky vs Canned tuna (in water)Ground beef 90/10 (raw) vs Canned tuna (in water)
Frequently asked
- Which is cheaper for protein, beef jerky or ground beef 90/10 (raw)?
- Ground beef 90/10 (raw), at $0.055 per gram of protein against $0.166 for beef jerky (July 2026 US grocery prices). A 30 g protein serving costs $1.65 vs $4.97.
- Which has more protein per calorie, beef jerky or ground beef 90/10 (raw)?
- Ground beef 90/10 (raw), with 11.4 g protein per 100 kcal against 8.1 g for beef jerky, 1.4x leaner. That matters when you are cutting and calories are the binding constraint.
- Which should I buy, beef jerky or ground beef 90/10 (raw)?
- Ground beef 90/10 (raw) 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.