Indian Food Prices Drop: 13% Reduction in Home-Cooked Thali Costs Reported in November

Lower prices of vegetables and pulses contributed significantly to the reduction in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian thali costs across India.

New Delhi:

According to Crisil's monthly food plate cost indicator, the expense of preparing home-cooked vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis decreased by 13 percent year-on-year in November. This reduction was primarily driven by falling prices of essential ingredients.

The vegetarian thali cost declined substantially due to significant drops in vegetable and pulse prices. Similarly, the non-vegetarian thali became more affordable because of a 12 percent year-on-year reduction in broiler prices, which constitute approximately 50 percent of its total cost.

The decreased prices of vegetables and pulses also played a crucial role in bringing down the overall cost of non-vegetarian meals.

Notably, tomato prices fell by 17 percent year-on-year due to increased supplies. Potato prices decreased even more dramatically at 29 percent year-on-year, attributed to a high base effect.

Onion prices experienced the most substantial decline, dropping 53 percent year-on-year, resulting from higher available stock from the previous rabi season combined with reduced export activity.

Pulse prices decreased by 17 percent owing to increased inventories in the current fiscal year. This was led by significantly higher imports of various pulses: Bengal gram imports rose nine-fold year-on-year in fiscal 2025, yellow pea imports increased by 85 percent, and black gram imports grew by 31 percent. These imports, permitted until March 2026, have exerted downward pressure on prices, according to Crisil's report.

On a month-to-month comparison, however, the vegetarian thali cost increased by 2 percent, while the non-vegetarian thali cost decreased by 1 percent in November.

The monthly rise in vegetarian thali costs was attributed to increases in potato and tomato prices, which grew by 5 percent and 14 percent respectively. Prices of other major food commodities remained relatively stable.

The non-vegetarian thali's cost reduction was due to an estimated 5 percent month-on-month decrease in broiler prices, resulting from market oversupply.