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The average cost of a vegetarian thali stood at Rs 26.3 in April 2025, down 4% compared to the same period last year.
The cost of preparing home-cooked meals saw a notable decline in April 2025, driven primarily by a sharp drop in vegetable prices, according to the latest "Roti Rice Rate" report released by Crisil Intelligence. Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis became more affordable, offering some relief to household budgets amid persistent inflationary pressures in other sectors.
According to the report, the average cost of a vegetarian thali stood at Rs 26.3 in April 2025, down 4% compared to the same period last year. Similarly, the non-vegetarian thali cost Rs 53.9, also reflecting a 4% year-on-year reduction.
The price drop has been attributed mainly to a steep fall in the cost of key vegetables. Tomato prices plunged 34% year-on-year to Rs 21 per kg, down from Rs 32 per kg in April 2024. This decline is largely due to a high base effect resulting from last year's poor harvest. Potato prices also fell by 11% as the crop recovered from last year's blight infestation and unseasonal rains in West Bengal. Meanwhile, onion prices dropped by 6% on a high comparative base.
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However, the report also flagged some cost pressures that limited a further drop in thali prices. Vegetable oil prices surged by 19% year-on-year, driven by an increase in import duties. In addition, the price of an LPG cylinder rose by 6%, impacting cooking costs across households.
"Going forward, wheat and pulse prices are expected to moderate due to robust domestic output," said Pushan Sharma, Director of Research at Crisil Intelligence. He also forecast that edible oil prices could soften in the next two to three months, supported by improved global supply from major exporters like Argentina, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
For non-vegetarian thalis, the decline was also aided by a 4% fall in broiler chicken prices, which constitute around half the cost of the meal. This drop is being linked to oversupply and a dip in demand amid bird flu outbreaks reported in states like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka.
