Mixed

Healthier nutrient-based diet patterns do not cost significantly more per day than less healthy options, but cost more per 2000 kcal.

If you are trying to eat healthier, expect to pay more per calorie. This meta-analysis confirms that healthier nutrient-based diets cost about $1.56 more per 2000 kcal than less healthy options. However, the cost per day is not significantly different. This suggests that healthy foods are often more nutrient-dense but also more calorie-dense in terms of cost. To mitigate this, focus on affordable healthy staples like grains and dairy, which showed smaller or no price differences, and consider policy-level changes or subsidies to make healthy food more accessible.