Protein head-to-heads · July 2026
Chicken breast (raw) vs Greek yogurt (nonfat): 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.
Greek yogurt (nonfat) is 1.1x cheaper per gram of protein ($0.035/g vs $0.040/g), while Chicken breast (raw) is the leaner choice at 18.8 g protein per 100 kcal against 16.9 g. Budget favours one, a calorie cap favours the other.
| Food | $/g protein | 30 g protein costs | You need | kcal that come with it | Protein/100 kcal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken breast (raw) | $0.040 | $1.20 | 133 g | 160 kcal | 18.8 g |
| Greek yogurt (nonfat) | $0.035 | $1.05 | 300 g | 177 kcal | 16.9 g |
Full macros, per serving
| Food (per serving) | Price | kcal | Protein | Carbs | Fat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken breast (raw) (100 g) | $0.90 | 120 | 22.5 g | 0 g | 2.6 g |
| Greek yogurt (nonfat) (100 g) | $0.35 | 59 | 10 g | 3.6 g | 0.4 g |
A week of protein from each
Hitting a common 100 g/day protein target from greek yogurt (nonfat) alone costs $24.50 a week; from chicken breast (raw) alone, $28.00. That is a gap of $3.50 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.
Budget says one, calories say the other
Greek yogurt (nonfat) costs $0.035 per gram of protein against $0.040, so it saves $3.50 a week at a 100 g/day target. Chicken breast (raw) answers a different question: 18.8 g of protein per 100 kcal against 16.9 g, which is what matters once calories, not dollars, are the thing you run out of first.
Compare against other foods
- Chicken breast (raw) vs Oats (dry)Greek yogurt (nonfat) vs Oats (dry)
- Chicken breast (raw) vs Peanut butterGreek yogurt (nonfat) vs Peanut butter
- Chicken breast (raw) vs Lentils (cooked)Greek yogurt (nonfat) vs Lentils (cooked)
- Chicken breast (raw) vs Tofu (firm)Greek yogurt (nonfat) vs Tofu (firm)
- Chicken breast (raw) vs Black beans (cooked)Greek yogurt (nonfat) vs Black beans (cooked)
- Chicken breast (raw) vs Whey protein (1 scoop)Greek yogurt (nonfat) vs Whey protein (1 scoop)
- Chicken breast (raw) vs Eggs (~2 large)Greek yogurt (nonfat) vs Eggs (~2 large)
- Chicken breast (raw) vs Canned tuna (in water)Greek yogurt (nonfat) vs Canned tuna (in water)
Frequently asked
- Which is cheaper for protein, chicken breast (raw) or greek yogurt (nonfat)?
- Greek yogurt (nonfat), at $0.035 per gram of protein against $0.040 for chicken breast (raw) (July 2026 US grocery prices). A 30 g protein serving costs $1.05 vs $1.20.
- Which has more protein per calorie, chicken breast (raw) or greek yogurt (nonfat)?
- Chicken breast (raw), with 18.8 g protein per 100 kcal against 16.9 g for greek yogurt (nonfat), 1.1x leaner. That matters when you are cutting and calories are the binding constraint.
- Which should I buy, chicken breast (raw) or greek yogurt (nonfat)?
- Depends on your constraint. On a tight budget with room in your calories, greek yogurt (nonfat) is cheaper per gram of protein. On a calorie-capped cut, chicken breast (raw) gives you 1.1x more protein per calorie and is usually worth its $0.040/g price.
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.