Is being vegan actually more expensive? My monthly grocery breakdown

I see this question ALL the time so I tracked every grocery purchase for 3 months. Family of 2 adults in a mid-cost US city. **Before going vegan (average month):** $680 **After going vegan (average month):** $620 That's right - we actually spend LESS. **Where we save:** - No more expensive cheese ($8-15/lb for good stuff) - No more meat ($6-20/lb) - Beans, lentils, and rice are incredibly cheap - Seasonal produce is budget-friendly **Where we spend more:** - Plant milks ($4-6 vs $3-4 for dairy) - Specialty items like nutritional yeast, tempeh - Occasional meat alternatives (Beyond, Impossible) **Key insight:** If you eat a whole-food plant-based diet most of the time and save the specialty products for treats, veganism is genuinely cheaper than a standard American diet. The people saying it's expensive are probably buying every new product at Whole Foods. Shop at Aldi, Trader Joe's, or even Walmart - they all have great vegan options now.