Home › Regional prices
Beef prices by region
BLS census-region retail averages, July 2026
- Ground beef was cheapest in the South ($6.449/lb) and most expensive in the West ($7.356/lb) in , per BLS census-region average prices.
- That is a spread of $0.91 per pound between regions; the U.S. average was $6.885/lb.
Northeast
$6.896
ground beef /lb · +13.8% YoY
Midwest
$6.766
ground beef /lb · +6.8% YoY
South
$6.449
ground beef /lb · +9.8% YoY
West
$7.356
ground beef /lb · +5.9% YoY
Ground beef and steak prices by region
| Region | Ground beef $/lb | YoY | Steaks $/lb | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast | $6.896 | +13.8% | $12.021 | +4.9% |
| Midwest | $6.766 | +6.8% | $13.467 | +5.6% |
| South | $6.449 | +9.8% | $12.867 | +12.1% |
| West | $7.356 | +5.9% | $13.927 | +13.1% |
| U.S. average | $6.885 | +10.1% | $13.064 | +10.0% |
Click a column header to sort.
Does BLS publish beef prices by state?
No — the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes average retail prices for the four census regions (Northeast, Midwest, South, West) and selected metro areas, not for individual states. The regional averages on this page are the most granular official retail beef prices available.
Why the gap? Regional prices reflect distribution costs, retail competition and demand mix — the South sits closest to major cattle-feeding and packing regions, while West Coast retail costs run structurally higher across grocery categories.
Source: BLS Average Price program, census-region series (e.g. APU0100703112 for Northeast ground beef). Download CSV.