The estimated cost included with recipes on Holy Cow Vegan is provided as a helpful guide so you have an idea, going in, how much a recipe might cost to make. The cost to you could be lower or higher depending on where you live, which store you shop at, the brands you buy, and whether the ingredients used are in season.
How recipe costs are calculated
I live in suburban Washington, D.C. and the estimated costs of my recipes are based on prices I pay here for my groceries.
The total estimated cost is the total price I pay for all ingredients used in a recipe. The cost per serving is calculated by dividing the total ingredient cost by the number of servings.
To keep these estimated costs as uniform as possible for readers who live around the United States, I calculate them based on prices at widely accessible supermarket chains I shop at, including Safeway, Aldi, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and Walmart.
Prices for Indian ingredients are based on those at my local Indian grocery stores, including India Bazaar and Patel Brothers. If you shop online for Indian ingredients your costs could potentially be higher.
I calculate only what the recipe uses
Estimated recipe cost is based on the portion of an ingredient actually used rather than the cost of purchasing the entire package. For instance, if a bottle of oil costs $8 and I use a tablespoon of it in a recipe, only the estimated cost of that tablespoon is included in the recipe cost. The same method is used for other ingredients, including spices, flour, legumes, grains and other pantry ingredients.
For fresh produce, I use weight or size of the vegetables or fruits used to calculate the cost.
When optional ingredients are listed in a recipe, I include the costs of those optional ingredients, unless otherwise noted, so the total estimated cost reflects all ingredients listed in the recipe card.
What isn't included
The estimate does not include the cost of water or cooking gas or electricity used to make the recipe. It also doesn't include sales tax, delivery charges, membership fees and cost of traveling to a grocery store.
Why your cost may be different
Grocery costs can vary considerably depending on where you live and shop. All my recipes are priced in U.S. dollars so readers outside the United States should treat the estimated cost as a general point of reference.
A note about accuracy
All recipe costs are estimates, not exact prices. I calculate them based on the price of ingredients when I made or updated the recipe but grocery prices can change at any time. My goal isn't to give you an exact amount you'll spend at the checkout. It's to help you understand the approximate cost of making a recipe that you find here on Holy Cow Vegan.