Protein head-to-heads · July 2026
Egg whites (liquid) 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 1.3x cheaper per gram of protein ($0.035/g vs $0.046/g), while Egg whites (liquid) is the leaner choice at 21.0 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egg whites (liquid) | $0.046 | $1.38 | 275 g | 143 kcal | 21.0 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egg whites (liquid) (100 g) | $0.50 | 52 | 10.9 g | 0.7 g | 0.2 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 egg whites (liquid) alone, $32.11. That is a gap of $7.61 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 $0.046, so it saves $7.61 a week at a 100 g/day target. Egg whites (liquid) answers a different question: 21.0 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.
One of these is a convenience purchase
Egg whites (liquid) ranks #20 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: $1.38 per 30 g against $1.05 for greek yogurt (nonfat). 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
- Egg whites (liquid) vs Oats (dry)Greek yogurt (nonfat) vs Oats (dry)
- Egg whites (liquid) vs Peanut butterGreek yogurt (nonfat) vs Peanut butter
- Egg whites (liquid) vs Lentils (cooked)Greek yogurt (nonfat) vs Lentils (cooked)
- Egg whites (liquid) vs Tofu (firm)Greek yogurt (nonfat) vs Tofu (firm)
- Egg whites (liquid) vs Black beans (cooked)Greek yogurt (nonfat) vs Black beans (cooked)
- Egg whites (liquid) vs Whey protein (1 scoop)Greek yogurt (nonfat) vs Whey protein (1 scoop)
- Egg whites (liquid) vs Eggs (~2 large)Greek yogurt (nonfat) vs Eggs (~2 large)
- Egg whites (liquid) vs Chicken breast (raw)Greek yogurt (nonfat) vs Chicken breast (raw)
- Egg whites (liquid) vs Canned tuna (in water)Greek yogurt (nonfat) vs Canned tuna (in water)
Frequently asked
- Which is cheaper for protein, egg whites (liquid) or greek yogurt (nonfat)?
- Greek yogurt (nonfat), at $0.035 per gram of protein against $0.046 for egg whites (liquid) (July 2026 US grocery prices). A 30 g protein serving costs $1.05 vs $1.38.
- Which has more protein per calorie, egg whites (liquid) or greek yogurt (nonfat)?
- Egg whites (liquid), with 21.0 g protein per 100 kcal against 16.9 g for greek yogurt (nonfat), 1.2x leaner. That matters when you are cutting and calories are the binding constraint.
- Which should I buy, egg whites (liquid) 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, egg whites (liquid) gives you 1.2x more protein per calorie and is usually worth its $0.046/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.