Protein head-to-heads · July 2026
Edamame vs Whey protein (1 scoop): 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.
Whey protein (1 scoop) is 1.1x cheaper per gram of protein ($0.031/g vs $0.033/g), while it also carries more protein per calorie (20.0 g vs 9.9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edamame | $0.033 | $1.00 | 250 g | 303 kcal | 9.9 g |
| Whey protein (1 scoop) | $0.031 | $0.94 | 38 g | 150 kcal | 20.0 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 |
| Whey protein (1 scoop) (30 g) | $0.75 | 120 | 24 g | 3 g | 1.5 g |
A week of protein from each
Hitting a common 100 g/day protein target from whey protein (1 scoop) alone costs $21.88 a week; from edamame alone, $23.33. That is a gap of $1.46 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
Whey protein (1 scoop) is both the cheaper protein ($0.031/g against $0.033/g) and the leaner one (20.0 g protein per 100 kcal against 9.9 g). Most matchups force you to pick a side. This one does not, so edamame has to win on taste, prep time or what else it brings to the meal, because it is not winning on the numbers.
Compare against other foods
- Edamame vs Oats (dry)Whey protein (1 scoop) vs Oats (dry)
- Edamame vs Peanut butterWhey protein (1 scoop) vs Peanut butter
- Edamame vs Lentils (cooked)Whey protein (1 scoop) vs Lentils (cooked)
- Edamame vs Tofu (firm)Whey protein (1 scoop) vs Tofu (firm)
- Edamame vs Black beans (cooked)Whey protein (1 scoop) vs Black beans (cooked)
- Edamame vs Greek yogurt (nonfat)Whey protein (1 scoop) vs Greek yogurt (nonfat)
- Edamame vs Eggs (~2 large)Whey protein (1 scoop) vs Eggs (~2 large)
- Edamame vs Chicken breast (raw)Whey protein (1 scoop) vs Chicken breast (raw)
- Edamame vs Canned tuna (in water)Whey protein (1 scoop) vs Canned tuna (in water)
Frequently asked
- Which is cheaper for protein, edamame or whey protein (1 scoop)?
- Whey protein (1 scoop), at $0.031 per gram of protein against $0.033 for edamame (July 2026 US grocery prices). A 30 g protein serving costs $0.94 vs $1.00.
- Which has more protein per calorie, edamame or whey protein (1 scoop)?
- Whey protein (1 scoop), with 20.0 g protein per 100 kcal against 9.9 g for edamame, 2.0x leaner. That matters when you are cutting and calories are the binding constraint.
- Which should I buy, edamame or whey protein (1 scoop)?
- Whey protein (1 scoop) 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.