Cheapest protein per gram: the products we’ve priced
Cost per 10 g of protein for every product with a confirmed price, cheapest first.
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Protein per calorie is how The Hoard Board ranks everything. But if money is your tighter budget, the question is different: how much does 10 g of protein cost? We've confirmed prices for 39 of our 143 products (31 from brand websites and 8 from Amazon listings, at specific pack sizes). Here they are, sorted from cheapest to most expensive per 10 g of protein.
This is a snapshot of the products we've priced, not a ranking of the whole market: no grocery-store or restaurant prices yet, and prices change constantly.
Every priced product, cheapest protein first
| # | Item | Protein | Calories | Protein / 100 cal | Price / serving | $ / 10 g protein | Price source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | StarKist Light Tuna in Water (2.6 oz pouch) 1 pouch (74 g) | 17 g | 70 | 24.3 | $0.90 | $0.53 | $21.55 for 24-pouch pack on Amazon (sold by Amazon.com), one-time price seen 2026-10-30 |
| 2 | Premier Protein Protein Shake (2 flavors) Chocolate, Vanilla · 1 shake (11.5 fl oz) | 30 g | 160 | 18.8 | $1.67 | $0.56 | $19.99 for 12-pack on Amazon (sold by Amazon.com), one-time price seen 2026-10-30 |
| 3 | Premier Protein Protein Shake – Strawberries & Cream 1 shake (11.5 fl oz) | 30 g | 160 | 18.8 | $2.67 | $0.89 | $31.98 for 12-pack on Amazon (sold by Amazon.com), one-time price seen 2026-10-30 |
| 4 | fairlife Core Power – Chocolate 42g 1 bottle (14 fl oz) | 42 g | 230 | 18.3 | $4.00 | $0.95 | $47.98 for 12-pack on Amazon (sold by Amazon.com), one-time price seen 2026-10-30 |
| 5 | Quest 45g Protein Milkshake (3 flavors) Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry · 1 bottle (14 fl oz) | 45 g | 230 | 19.6 | $4.75 | $1.06 | $56.99 for 12-pack on brand site, seen 2026-10-30 |
| 6 | fairlife Core Power (2 flavors) Vanilla 42g, Strawberry 42g · 1 bottle (14 fl oz) | 42 g | 230 | 18.3 | $4.75 | $1.13 | $57.04 for 12-pack on Amazon (sold by Amazon.com), one-time price seen 2026-10-30 |
| 7 | David Gold Protein Bar (8 flavors) Red Velvet, Cinnamon Roll, Cake Batter, Salted Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk, Pumpkin Spice, Fudge Brownie, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough · 1 bar (62 g) | 28 g | 150 | 18.7 | $3.25 | $1.16 | $39.00 for 12-bar carton on brand site, seen 2026-10-30 |
| 8 | StarKist Albacore White Tuna in Water (2.6 oz pouch) 1 pouch (74 g) | 17 g | 80 | 21.3 | $2.06 | $1.21 | $2.06 for a single pouch on Amazon, seen 2026-10-30 (listing showed limited stock/shipping) |
| 9 | David Protein Milkshake – Chocolate 1 bottle (355 mL) | 30 g | 150 | 20.0 | $4.08 | $1.36 | $49.00 for case of 12 bottles on brand site, seen 2026-10-30 |
| 10 | David Protein Milkshake – Vanilla 1 bottle (355 mL) | 30 g | 140 | 21.4 | $4.08 | $1.36 | $49.00 for case of 12 bottles on brand site (in stock), seen 2026-10-30 |
| 11 | Quest Protein Bar – Pumpkin Pie (seasonal) 1 bar (60 g) | 20 g | 180 | 11.1 | $2.96 | $1.48 | $35.49 for 12-ct carton on brand site |
| 12 | David Bronze Protein Bar (4 flavors) Peanut Butter Chocolate, S'mores Chocolate, Double Chocolate, Cookie Dough Caramel Chocolate · 1 bar (58 g) | 20 g | 150 | 13.3 | $3.25 | $1.63 | $39.00 for 12-bar carton on brand site |
| 13 | Legendary Foods Protein Pastry – Chocolate Caramel 1 pastry | 21 g | 180 | 11.7 | $3.45 | $1.64 | $34.49 for 10-pack on brand site |
| 14 | Legendary Foods Protein Pastry (3 flavors) Strawberry, Brown Sugar Cinnamon, S'mores · 1 pastry | 20 g | 180 | 11.1 | $3.45 | $1.73 | $34.49 for 10-pack on brand site |
| 15 | Legendary Foods Protein Sweet Roll (2 flavors) Cinnamon, Caramel Sticky Bun · 1 roll | 20 g | 200 | 10.0 | $3.45 | $1.73 | $27.59 for 8-pack on brand site |
| 16 | Legendary Foods Protein Sweet Roll – Milk Chocolate 1 roll | 20 g | 210 | 9.5 | $3.45 | $1.73 | $27.59 for 8-pack on brand site |
| 17 | Legendary Foods Popped Protein Chips (5 flavors) Ranch, Nacho Cheese, Barbecue, Jalapeño Cheddar, Pizza · 1 bag | 20 g | 160 | 12.5 | $3.57 | $1.78 | $24.99 for 7-pack on brand site |
| 18 | Chomps Turkey Sticks – Original / Pepperoni 1 stick | 12 g | 80 | 15.0 | $2.56 | $2.13 | $25.60 for 10-pack on brand site |
Price per serving = pack price ÷ servings in the pack, from the source and date in each price note. Cost per 10 g = price per serving ÷ grams of protein × 10. Flavors with the same numbers and the same price are grouped.
What stands out
The cheapest protein is also the most efficient. StarKist Light Tuna in Water (2.6 oz pouch) costs $0.53 per 10 g at the Amazon 24-pack price, and it's #1 on our leaderboard for protein per calorie too (24.3).
Premier Protein is the cheapest shake we've priced, at $0.56–$0.89 per 10 g depending on flavor. Core Power 42g ($0.95–$1.13), Quest 45g ($1.06) and David ($1.36) all cost more per gram.
Small servings cost more per gram. Chomps Turkey Sticks – Original / Pepperoni are last at $2.13 per 10 g: an 80-calorie stick with 12 g of protein for $2.56.
Bars: David Gold ($1.16) is the cheapest bar per gram we've priced, ahead of Quest's seasonal Pumpkin Pie ($1.48) and David Bronze ($1.63).
For when to use price vs calories, read protein per calorie vs protein per dollar.
Caveats
Prices were recorded once, from the store and pack size in each note; your store, a sale or a subscription will change them. We show a price only when we could confirm it on a public page. Numbers come from each brand's or restaurant's published nutrition info, linked in the table, and can change. Flavors with identical label numbers are grouped into one row. We track 143 products, not every product on the market, so a missing product isn't a verdict on it. We rank by protein per calorie only and don't track sugar, fat, sodium or ingredients. General information, not dietary advice.
See all 143 products on The Hoard Board, our full leaderboard, or read how we rank.
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Disclaimer: All numbers come from manufacturer labels, brand websites and restaurant nutrition pages on the dates shown on the leaderboard. They can change without notice, vary by location, flavor or customization, or differ from the product in your hand. Always check the current label. This article is general information only and is not medical, dietary or health advice.