Is North Dakota One Of The Most Expensive States To Buy A Turkey?

Thanksgiving is getting closer and closer, so I'm sure you're group-chatting with family members, planning what dishes each person should bring. Of course, you can't forget the main dish, turkey.

I've talked to several North Dakotans today, asking what they put on their Thanksgiving dinner tables, and some of the answers were surprising. You would expect things like green bean casserole, stuffing, cranberry sauce (barf), etc., but what really surprised me was how many people said they skipped the turkey.

Instead of turkey, many of us are grilling up steaks, hams, and even getting buckets of fried chicken.

Why are so many North Dakotans opting out of the turkey tradition? Personally, I've never, literally never, thought, "Man, I could really go for some turkey." Of all the meats and foods on this planet, it's never one I've craved.

Other than that, could it be that turkeys are getting to be too expensive? Well, let's dig into this and find out. Mental Floss and Finance Buzz did a study for 2025, looking at how much a 15-pound turkeys cost in each state, and North Dakota is on the spendier side.

States Where It Is MOST Expensive

According to the source, Hawaii ($55.70), Alaska ($42.35), Iowa ($41.35), Montana (40.85), and Massachusetts ($39.85) have the most expensive turkeys in the country.

I understand why turkeys might be more expensive in Hawaii and Alaska, but Iowa?? Strange.

Sates With The Cheapest Birds

Oklahoma ($24.85), Texas ($25.85), Louisiana ($27.35), Tennessee ($27.35), and Illinois ($28.40) have the cheapest 15-pound turkeys.

North Dakota Turkeys

So, how much does the average turkey cost in North Dakota? Well, they don't appear to be cheap when compared to other states. The source says a turkey in North Dakota costs about $35.85. Ouch.

Hopefully everyone in your family can pitch on this Thanksgiving, so you can get all the fixings.