Home-cooked vegetarian meals become costlier as onion, rice, LPG prices surge

The cost of preparing a home-cooked vegetarian thali has risen sharply to ₹30.8 in September 2026, compared to ₹28.1 a year earlier, according to a Crisil analysis. Non-vegetarian thalis have similarly seen price increases, with costs climbing to ₹59.5 from ₹56 year-on-year.

The price hikes are being driven by elevated costs of essential ingredients and cooking fuels, particularly onion, rice, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). These commodity price surges have directly impacted household food expenses across income levels.

Vegetarian meal costs are rising at a notably faster pace relative to the baseline, making protein-rich plant-based options increasingly expensive for budget-conscious households. The combined effect of commodity inflation has squeezed kitchen finances for families relying on home-cooked meals as their primary food source.