Protein head-to-heads · July 2026
Ground beef 90/10 (raw) 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 1.8x cheaper per gram of protein ($0.031/g vs $0.055/g), while it also carries more protein per calorie (20.0 g vs 11.4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground beef 90/10 (raw) | $0.055 | $1.65 | 150 g | 264 kcal | 11.4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground beef 90/10 (raw) (100 g) | $1.10 | 176 | 20 g | 0 g | 10 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 ground beef 90/10 (raw) alone, $38.50. That is a gap of $16.63 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 $0.055/g) and the leaner one (20.0 g protein per 100 kcal against 11.4 g). Most matchups force you to pick a side. This one does not, so ground beef 90/10 (raw) 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
Ground beef 90/10 (raw) ranks #23 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: $1.65 per 30 g against $0.94 for whey protein (1 scoop). 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
- Ground beef 90/10 (raw) vs Oats (dry)Whey protein (1 scoop) vs Oats (dry)
- Ground beef 90/10 (raw) vs Peanut butterWhey protein (1 scoop) vs Peanut butter
- Ground beef 90/10 (raw) vs Lentils (cooked)Whey protein (1 scoop) vs Lentils (cooked)
- Ground beef 90/10 (raw) vs Tofu (firm)Whey protein (1 scoop) vs Tofu (firm)
- Ground beef 90/10 (raw) vs Black beans (cooked)Whey protein (1 scoop) vs Black beans (cooked)
- Ground beef 90/10 (raw) vs Greek yogurt (nonfat)Whey protein (1 scoop) vs Greek yogurt (nonfat)
- Ground beef 90/10 (raw) vs Eggs (~2 large)Whey protein (1 scoop) vs Eggs (~2 large)
- Ground beef 90/10 (raw) vs Chicken breast (raw)Whey protein (1 scoop) vs Chicken breast (raw)
- Ground beef 90/10 (raw) vs Canned tuna (in water)Whey protein (1 scoop) vs Canned tuna (in water)
Frequently asked
- Which is cheaper for protein, ground beef 90/10 (raw) or whey protein (1 scoop)?
- Whey protein (1 scoop), at $0.031 per gram of protein against $0.055 for ground beef 90/10 (raw) (July 2026 US grocery prices). A 30 g protein serving costs $0.94 vs $1.65.
- Which has more protein per calorie, ground beef 90/10 (raw) or whey protein (1 scoop)?
- Whey protein (1 scoop), with 20.0 g protein per 100 kcal against 11.4 g for ground beef 90/10 (raw), 1.8x leaner. That matters when you are cutting and calories are the binding constraint.
- Which should I buy, ground beef 90/10 (raw) 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.