Meat costs rose by 3.8%, but the absolute increase was high, with a kilo of fillet steak costing up to A$60 for a kilogram.
Australians spend around on meat and half that (7.4%) on dairy products.
About say grocery prices are a cause of financial stress, with half trying to reduce spending.
So how can you save money on meat and dairy products without skimping on nutrients?
Meat
is a good source of protein, iron, zinc and vitamin B12.
Recommendations are for a maximum of three serves of cooked lean red meat a week. This includes beef, lamb, veal, pork, or kangaroo, with a serve being 65g cooked, which equates to 90–100g raw. This means purchasing 270–300g per person per week.
Check prices online and weekly specials. Less expensive cuts include oyster blade, chuck or rump steak ($22–$25 per kilogram). They can be tougher, making them better for casseroles or slow cook recipes, like this .
One exception is mince because higher star, lower fat, more expensive products shrink less during cooking compared to regular mince, which shrinks by 25–30%.

Extend casserole and mince dishes by adding vegetarian protein sources, such as dried or canned beans and legumes.
A 400g can of red kidney beans costs about $1.50 and contains 240g of cooked beans, equivalent to 1.6 standard serves. Add a can of any type of legume (black, adzuki, cannelloni, butter, chickpeas, four-bean mix, brown lentils) or use dried versions that don’t need pre-soaking like dried red lentils at about $5 per kilogram.
This including protein, B vitamins, iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium and dietary fibre.
Dairy
Dairy products are important sources of protein, calcium, magnesium, zinc, potassium and vitamins A, B2 and B12. are for two to three serves a day for adults and four serves for women over 50. One serve is a cup of milk or 40g cheese.
Fresh milk costs between $1.50 and $3.00 per litre depending on type and brand, while UHT milk is cheaper, about $1.60 per litre. It’s even cheaper to buy powdered milk ($10 per kilogram pack, which makes ten litres), equating to $1 per litre.

Making yoghurt at home costs about $5–6 per kilogram using a powder mix and yoghurt maker ($25). Once set, divide into smaller tubs yourself. Use as a substitute for cream or sour cream.
Fresh yoghurt varies from $11–$18 per kilogram, with individual serves and flavoured varieties more expensive (but not always). Compare per kilogram or per 100g prices and check for specials.
Cheese prices vary a lot so compare prices per kilogram. As a guide, block cheese is cheaper than pre-sliced or grated cheese. Home brand products are cheaper than branded ones. Mature cheeses are more expensive and processed cheese least expensive. But, if you cut block cheese really thick you end up using more. Block cheese ranges from $15 to $30 a kilogram, while packets of pre-sliced cheese vary from $18 to over $30.
Pre-grated cheeses range from $14 to $30 per kilo, with most around $20, and processed cheese varies from $10 to $15. Extend grated cheese by mixing with grated carrot (about $2 a kilogram) and use as a topper for tacos, wraps, pasta and pizza. Use processed cheese slices for toasted sandwiches. Most recipes work adding less cheese than specified.
A high-calcium alternative to cheese in sandwiches is canned salmon, but at $15–$30 per kilogram ($6–$7 per 210g can) you add variety but may not save money.
3 tips to save on your food bills
1. Have a household food budget
Ensure everyone is on the same page about .
are spent on takeaway, eating out, coffee, alcohol, food-delivery services and extras, so have a budget for food items. This is where you can make big savings.
Your household might need an incentive to stick to the budget, like voting on which “discretionary” items food dollars get spent on.

2. Have a rough weekly meal plan
Use your meal plan to write a grocery list. Check in the pantry, fridge and freezer.
If you’re not sure where to start, look at ours at , or a .
3. Avoid food waste
Australians each year yet 70% is edible. Before heading to the shops, check your .
Turn into tomorrow’s lunch or dinner. When clearing the dinner table, pack leftovers straight into lunch containers so it’s grab and go in the morning (or freeze for days you’re too busy to cook).
Use our resources at for ideas on how to help your food dollars go further. If you need food help right now, the website can locate services in your area.
This article is republished from under a Creative Commons license. Read the .

Related articles

鈥楶erfect bodies and perfect lives鈥: how selfie-editing tools are distorting how young people see themselves
Like many of her peers, Abigail (21) takes a lot of selfies, tweaks them with purpose-made apps, and posts them on social media. But, she says, the selfie-editing apps do more than they were designed for.
Read more

Pathway to purpose
From limited beginnings to limitless dreams - equity in education is giving Arthur Demetriou the chance to change the face of medicine.
Read more

鈥淚 thought I was a bad mother鈥: How telehealth changed a young boy鈥檚 life and gave a family hope
“I thought I was a bad mother,” says Marlie Matthews, tearfully. “I tried everything, but Marcus was getting more and more behind. He wasn’t speaking much and when he did, I couldn’t understand him. It was very hard on all of us.”
Read more

Sick of eating the same things? 5 ways to boost your nutrition and keep meals interesting and healthy
Did you start 2025 with a promise to eat better but didn’t quite get there? Or maybe you want to branch out from making the same meal every week or the same lunch for work almost every day?
Read more

Going to the dentist is expensive. Here are 3 things you can do to protect your oral health 鈥 and 3 things to avoid
Around one in three Australians delayed their visit to a dentist in the last financial year – or didn’t go at all – due to cost.Given it doesn’t look like dental treatment is being added to Medicare any time soon, what can you do?
Read more

Air is an overlooked source of nutrients - evidence shows we can inhale some vitamins
You know that feeling you get when you take a breath of fresh air in nature? There may be more to it than a simple lack of pollution.
Read more