MealPantry data project · Current catalogue week · 2 Sept 2026 – 8 Sept 2026
Australian Dinner Cost Index
What does it cost to cook common family dinners in Australia using a dated verified grocery basket?
Quick answer
MealPantry’s Australian Dinner Cost Index estimates that the average dinner in its fixed family recipe set costs $12.50 for four people for 2 Sept 2026 – 8 Sept 2026.
Fixed recipe set · family of 4
Dinner costs this week
1. Lentil tomato pasta
Lentils, pasta, tomato and herbs
$9.23
$2.31 / serve
2. Egg and vegetable frittata
Eggs, vegetables and potatoes
$9.70
$2.43 / serve
3. Vegetarian curry
Chickpeas, vegetables and rice
$10.27
$2.57 / serve
4. Tuna pasta bake
Tuna, pasta, tomato and cheese
$11.03
$2.76 / serve
5. Chicken pasta
Chicken, pasta, tomato and cheese
$11.79
$2.95 / serve
6. Sausage and mash
Sausages, potatoes and seasonal vegetables
$12.46
$3.11 / serve
7. Chicken stir-fry
Chicken, vegetables and noodles
$13.51
$3.38 / serve
8. Homemade burgers
Beef patties, rolls, salad and potatoes
$15.03
$3.76 / serve
9. Roast chicken dinner
Roast chicken, potatoes and vegetables
$15.41
$3.85 / serve
10. Beef tacos
Beef mince, tortillas, salad and cheese
$16.55
$4.14 / serve
How the estimate works. Figures use the current catalogue week (2 Sept 2026 – 8 Sept 2026) and scale fixed recipe baselines against its complete Weekly Grocery Index basket. It is a planning estimate, not a guaranteed checkout total. A new week is published only after all four stores have comparable evidence.
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