New York July 4th Cookout Costs 20% Less Than U.S. Average

By Blake Jackson

Families celebrating the Fourth of July continue to face high grocery prices, according to the 2025 American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) annual survey.

This year, the average cost for a traditional Independence Day cookout for 10 guests is $70.92, a slight decrease of just 30 cents from last year’s record high. At $7.09 per person, 2025 marks the second-highest cost since the survey began in 2013.

New York’s average cost is notably lower, at $58.91 total or $5.89 per person, which is more than 20% below the national average.

Typical cookout items include cheeseburgers, chicken breasts, pork chops, homemade potato salad, strawberries, and ice cream. While the survey doesn’t cover every Fourth of July food option, it provides a snapshot of what families are paying this summer.

“Inflation and lower availability of some food items continue to keep prices stubbornly high for America’s families,” said AFBF Associate Economist Samantha Ayoub. “High prices don’t mean more money for farmers, however. Farmers are price takers, not price makers. Their share of the food retail dollar is just 15%. The cost of running their farm is up, from labor and transportation to taxes.”

The survey shows that prices for beef, potato salad, and canned pork and beans have risen, while pork chops, chips, and hamburger buns have become less expensive.

For example, the national average price for two pounds of ground beef increased by 4.4% to $13.33, while pork chops dropped 8.8% to $14.13 for three pounds.

Chicken breasts average $7.79 for two pounds. Homemade potato salad rose 6.6% to $3.54, but potato chips decreased 2.1% to $4.80.

Several factors impact these changes, such as fewer cattle available for processing and higher tariffs on steel and aluminum raising canned goods prices. Meanwhile, increased pork supplies and lower potato demand have helped reduce prices on some items.

“We can celebrate America’s independence every year in part because of the hard work of the farmers and ranchers who contribute to the nation’s food independence," AFBF President Zippy Duvall said. "Farmers are dedicated to doing the right thing, and their commitment to sustainable and innovative farming practices ensures a safe and abundant food supply for every family in America."

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