The key facts
- The mixed diet was estimated at 1,700–2,200 rubles per week for one adult
- A simple plant-based diet — 1,100–1,400 rubles, with ready-made vegan alternatives — 2,200–2,900 rubles
- The premium for ready-made substitutes is linked to additional processing and additives
Three baskets instead of one
Ahead of World Vegan Day, celebrated on November 1, Candidate of Economic Sciences and Associate Professor at the Department of Strategic and Innovative Development of the Financial University Mikhail Khachaturyan specifically for Life.ru compared the cost of three versions of a weekly diet for one adult. In his words, switching to veganism by itself does not automatically make eating more expensive or cheaper — the result depends on how the diet is structured.
What the calculations showed
A mixed diet — meat, fish, dairy products, eggs, vegetables, grains, bread and fruit — was estimated at roughly 1,700–2,200 rubles per week. A plant-based diet made of basic products (grains, pasta, legumes, vegetables, fruit, vegetable oils) came out noticeably cheaper: 1,100–1,400 rubles. The expensive items — meat, dairy and eggs — were replaced by cheap basic ingredients, and buying on sale and in large packages makes it possible to lower the average cost a little further.
What buyers of ready-made substitutes pay for
The third option is a plant-based diet with ready-made alternatives: soy meat, chickpea cutlets, plant-based drinks, vegan cheeses and tofu. The basic part of the basket stayed roughly at the same level (1,200–1,500 rubles), but specialty products added another 1,000–1,400 rubles, and the total rose to 2,200–2,900 rubles per week — more expensive than even the mixed diet. The expert explains this by the nature of ready-made alternatives: they undergo additional processing and contain spices, flavorings and stabilizers, for whose 'readiness' and technological sophistication the consumer pays a premium. All figures in the calculation are approximate — they depend on specific stores, the season, sales and portion weights.
Context of other Life.ru 'indexes'
The vegan basket calculation continues the publication's series of similar tallies. Earlier, Life.ru calculated the Olivier index — 2026: a salad for a group of about four people (about 800 g) will cost 730–750 rubles versus roughly 620 rubles at the end of 2025, meaning the dish has risen in price by about 18% over the year. The publication also calculated the pre-New Year manicure index, comparing prices for services in Moscow and the regions.
