Protein head-to-heads · July 2026
Edamame vs Soybeans (dried, 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.
Soybeans (dried, raw) is 3.5x cheaper per gram of protein ($0.010/g vs $0.033/g), while Edamame is the leaner choice at 9.9 g protein per 100 kcal against 8.2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edamame | $0.033 | $1.00 | 250 g | 303 kcal | 9.9 g |
| Soybeans (dried, raw) | $0.010 | $0.29 | 82 g | 367 kcal | 8.2 g |
Full macros, per serving
| Food (per serving) | Price | kcal | Protein | Carbs | Fat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edamame (100 g) | $0.40 | 121 | 12 g | 9 g | 5 g |
| Soybeans (dried, raw) (100 g) | $0.35 | 447 | 36.5 g | 30.2 g | 19.9 g |
A week of protein from each
Hitting a common 100 g/day protein target from soybeans (dried, raw) alone costs $6.71 a week; from edamame alone, $23.33. That is a gap of $16.62 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
Soybeans (dried, raw) costs $0.010 per gram of protein against $0.033, so it saves $16.62 a week at a 100 g/day target. Edamame answers a different question: 9.9 g of protein per 100 kcal against 8.2 g, which is what matters once calories, not dollars, are the thing you run out of first.
Compare against other foods
- Edamame vs Oats (dry)Soybeans (dried, raw) vs Oats (dry)
- Edamame vs Peanut butterSoybeans (dried, raw) vs Peanut butter
- Edamame vs Lentils (cooked)Soybeans (dried, raw) vs Lentils (cooked)
- Edamame vs Tofu (firm)Soybeans (dried, raw) vs Tofu (firm)
- Edamame vs Black beans (cooked)Soybeans (dried, raw) vs Black beans (cooked)
- Edamame vs Whey protein (1 scoop)Soybeans (dried, raw) vs Whey protein (1 scoop)
- Edamame vs Greek yogurt (nonfat)Soybeans (dried, raw) vs Greek yogurt (nonfat)
- Edamame vs Eggs (~2 large)Soybeans (dried, raw) vs Eggs (~2 large)
- Edamame vs Chicken breast (raw)Soybeans (dried, raw) vs Chicken breast (raw)
- Edamame vs Canned tuna (in water)Soybeans (dried, raw) vs Canned tuna (in water)
Frequently asked
- Which is cheaper for protein, edamame or soybeans (dried, raw)?
- Soybeans (dried, raw), at $0.010 per gram of protein against $0.033 for edamame (July 2026 US grocery prices). A 30 g protein serving costs $0.29 vs $1.00.
- Which has more protein per calorie, edamame or soybeans (dried, raw)?
- Edamame, with 9.9 g protein per 100 kcal against 8.2 g for soybeans (dried, raw), 1.2x leaner. That matters when you are cutting and calories are the binding constraint.
- Which should I buy, edamame or soybeans (dried, raw)?
- Depends on your constraint. On a tight budget with room in your calories, soybeans (dried, raw) is cheaper per gram of protein. On a calorie-capped cut, edamame gives you 1.2x more protein per calorie and is usually worth its $0.033/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.