Thanksgiving Dinner For 10 In Illinois: Here’s The Cost

Let's get things started here with a little comparison that should make you feel a little bit better about the money you've spent or will be spending on this year's Thanksgiving Day dinner next Thursday.

Whatever you'll be spending on your Thanksgiving Day dinner more than likely pales in comparison to what, for a few years, was called the most expensive Thanksgiving Day dinner in the world--The Thanksgiving Day Feast at New York City's Old Homestead Steakhouse.

Back In 2018, The Old Homestead Steakhouse Offered Up A Thanksgiving Feast For $150,000, Then The Next Year It Was $181,000

It appears as if they took a break from those astronomically priced Thanksgiving feasts because of the pandemic, and the Old Homestead Steakhouse website this year doesn't say anything about dropping in for the most expensive Thanksgiving Day dinner on Earth this year.

So, what does one get when ponying up all that money for Thanksgiving dinner? According to CNBC.com, there was quite a lot:

• 2 twenty pound free-range turkeys at $5,800 ($145 per pound)
• The turkeys are covered in $2,000 worth of edible gold flakes, and seasoned with saffron among other things that cost $4,000
• Gravy that's been infused with a $3,650 bottle of Louis XIII cognac

The real money comes in with the part of the dinner that you don't eat. A $50,000 yacht trip for 2, an $8,000 bottle of champagne, a $20,000 Black Friday shopping spree, his and hers iPhones worth $2,750, and two tickets to the Super Bowl worth $30,000.

Let's Get Back Down To Earth With The Cost Of Thanksgiving Dinner For 10 People Here In Illinois

As you may have already learned, the national average cost for a turkey increased 21% to $28.96 over the past year, and most of the items that make up the side dishes for your holiday table also have gone up significantly in price.

The bottom line, according to TheCenterSquare.com, is:

Illinois shoppers taking part in the 37th annual American Farm Bureau Federation’s Thanksgiving cost survey reported a statewide average price of $65.53 for a classic Thanksgiving meal for 10, compared to $58.15 last year, a 12.7% increase. The average price in 2017 was $49.12.