The cost of a home-cooked vegetarian thali remained stable year-on-year in March, even as falling prices of key ingredients such as onions, potatoes and pulses provided relief, according to a latest report by Crisil Intelligence. Meanwhile, the cost of a non-vegetarian thali declined 1% during the same period.
Explaining the trend, Pushan Sharma, Director, Crisil Intelligence, said: “The average cost of preparing a thali at home is calculated based on input prices prevailing in north, south, east and west India. The monthly change reflects the impact on the common man’s expenditure. The data also reveals the ingredients (cereals, pulses, broilers, vegetables, spices, edible oil and cooking gas) driving the change in the cost of the thali.”
Despite a decline in several staple prices, the overall cost of a vegetarian thali remained unchanged as higher tomato, edible oil and fuel prices offset the benefits. Tomato prices surged 33% on-year to Rs 28 per kg in March 2026, driven by delayed transplantation in key producing states such as Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, which affected crop development and arrivals.
On the other hand, onion prices dropped 25% on-year due to excess supply from overlapping late kharif and rabi arrivals, coupled with weak exports, which led to distress sales. Potato prices also declined 13% on-year due to subdued demand from the HORECA (hotel, restaurant and catering) sector and stock liquidation.
Pulse prices fell 6% on-year, supported by higher opening stocks. Tur inventories are estimated to be 20% higher for the July-June marketing year, while Bengal gram stocks are about 10% higher, putting downward pressure on prices.
However, rising global uncertainties pushed up vegetable oil and fuel costs. Edible oil prices increased 6% on-year due to global supply disruptions, while liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder prices rose 14%, limiting any significant decline in overall thali costs.
The cost of a non-vegetarian thali declined mainly due to a 2% fall in broiler prices, which account for nearly half of the total cost. Lower prices of onions, potatoes and pulses also contributed, although higher tomato prices capped the decline.
On a month-on-month basis, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian thali costs declined by 3% and 2%, respectively, in March. This was largely driven by a fall in vegetable prices, with tomato and potato prices dropping 6% each and onion prices falling 14% due to higher arrivals and weak demand.
The report also noted that the decline in non-vegetarian thali cost was supported by lower broiler prices amid reduced demand during Navratri, when consumption of non-vegetarian food typically dips.