Cost of Christmas

How much is hosting Christmas costing Brits in 2024?

Christmas is just around the corner and as a time for friends and families to get together, people will be starting to plan the main event: the Christmas dinner.

Turkey, spuds and mince pies all go into creating this iconic meal, but as the cost of living continues to affect households, many are keeping a close eye on how prices compare to last year to ensure their festive feast doesn’t break the bank.

To find out how much more we’re spending on Christmas dinner in 2024, the data experts at NetVoucherCodes have analysed the cost of popular foods in some of the UK’s biggest retailers. Below you’ll find out just how much more you’re paying, and where prices are increasing.

The Cost of Christmas Dinner

To find out the cost of Christmas dinner, the team at NetVoucherCodes analysed twelve Christmas Day food staples including a turkey crown, brussel sprouts, carrots, mince pies and more in nine major UK supermarkets.

The Cost of Christmas Dinner in 2024

The data found that the average cost of a Christmas dinner is now £49.33, with the amount of food likely to feed 6-8 people. Costs range from £34.44 to £81.25 depending on where consumers choose to shop.

Ranking	Supermarket	Cost of Christmas Dinner
1	Aldi	£32.04
2	Lidl	£34.90
3	ASDA	£37.25
4	Morrisons	£41.07
5	Iceland	£41.20
6	Tesco	£47.67
7	Sainsbury’s	£63.03
8	Waitrose	£65.54
9	M&S	£81.25
	Average:	£49.33

The cheapest supermarket for Christmas dinner essentials is ALDI with a very reasonable cost of £34.44. The budget store has some of the cheapest options of all other supermarkets with a 2.5kg turkey crown costing just £17.79 and the cheapest mulled wine at £2.39. Many supermarkets have also tried to price match, making Aldi the reason you’ll find cranberry sauce so cheap this year.

Close behind is Lidl with an average Christmas dinner costing £34.90 with cheap staples such as 6 mince pies at just £1.25 and 49p cranberry sauce, even cheaper than Aldi’s.

ASDA came in third with a typical Christmas dinner priced at £37.25 with some of the cheapest carrots on offer at 65p per kg and £1.25 mince pies.

Historic Christmas Dinner Prices

As we look ahead to the festive season, one thing is clear—the price of hosting a traditional Christmas dinner is on the rise. By comparing data from Christmas food staples from 2023 to 2024 from popular supermarkets, we were able to find out the increase in costs for consumers.

Cost of Christmas Dinner in 2023	Cost of Christmas Dinner in 2024	Cost Difference 2023 vs 2024
£123.02	£127.26	3.44%

When comparing 2023 to 2024, the cost of a traditional Christmas dinner has risen by 3.44%. While this might appear to be a moderate increase, it’s significant when placed in context – it surpasses the predicted 2.5% inflation rate for 2024. This means that the festive feast is becoming more expensive at a pace faster than the general cost of living.

For households already navigating tighter budgets, this rise could represent a growing challenge. A Christmas dinner for a family of 6 with all the trimmings may have cost £132.02 in 2023, now costs £127.26 in 2024, an increase of £4.23. Though small in absolute terms, these increments can add up, especially when combined with the season’s other financial pressures like gifts, decorations, and travel.

The Price of Popular Products

However, some products have increased in price much more than others, while some have decreased significantly, which means by shopping strategically, you could help up saving money.

Food	Average Cost in 2023	Average Cost in 2024	Cost Difference 2023 vs 2024
Carrots (1kg)	£0.54	£0.69	26.77%
Parsnips (500g)	£0.64	£0.75	16.93%
Maris Piper Potatoes (2.5kg)	£1.68	£1.89	12.38%
Strawberry Trifle (600g)	£2.82	£3.08	9.47%
Beef Roasting Joint (1kg)	£13.11	£14.01	6.90%
Turkey (4.75kg)	£30.13	£32.21	6.88%
Irish Cream Liquer (70cl)	£12.33	£13.00	5.41%
Champagne (75cl)	£18.00	£18.91	5.09%
Christmas Pudding (400g)	£3.25	£3.37	3.85%
Red Cabbage (whole)	£0.76	£0.79	3.28%
Yorkshire Pudding (4 pack)	£2.16	£2.21	2.47%
Port (75cl)	£8.64	£8.84	2.32%
Mince Pies (6 pack)	£1.45	£1.48	1.72%
Pigs in Blankets (12 pack)	£3.03	£3.00	-1.10%
Green Beans (200g)	£1.04	£1.02	-1.77%
Cauliflower Cheese (750g)	£2.48	£2.41	-2.69%
Mulled Wine (75cl)	£4.08	£3.96	-2.86%
Vegetarian Option (Nut Roast or Equivalent)	£3.81	£3.66	-3.90%
Prosecco (75cl)	£6.25	£5.90	-5.50%
Gravy Granules (300g)	£1.10	£1.04	-5.91%
Brussels Sprouts (500g)	£1.07	£0.99	-7.20%
Bucks Fizz (75cl)	£2.86	£2.61	-8.70%
Stuffing Mix (170g)	£0.87	£0.76	-12.67%
Cranberry Sauce (200g)	£0.96	£0.70	-27.00%
Total:	£123.02	£127.26	3.44%

The main event and often the most expensive item on everyone’s lists, turkey has increased yet again in price from 2023 to 2024 by 6.88%, completely outstripping the rate of inflation. This means a 4.75kg turkey has gone from an average cost of £30.13 to £32.21.

Across the board, British-grown vegetables have increased significantly. Carrots have seen the largest increase of 26.77% going from an average cost of 54p to 69p for 1kg of produce. Parsnips follow suit with a 16.93% increase over the past year from 64p for 500g to 75p and potatoes have also felt the pinch with an increase of 12.38%. These increases may be linked to several factors, including adverse weather conditions affecting crop yields, rising input costs like fertilisers and energy, and ongoing supply chain pressures.

However, there is some good news. Cranberry sauce has dropped significantly by 27% from prices in 2023. This reduction could be attributed to a variety of factors, including competition among retailers. In particular, many higher-priced stores have adjusted their prices to match the value offerings of budget retailers like Aldi who have their sauce prices at a very reasonable 55p for a 200ml jar.

Everyone’s favourite Christmas side, stuffing has decreased in price by 12.67% from 2023 to 2024. The average cost for a 170g pack of stuffing has fallen from 87p to just 76p, providing a much-needed price break for seasonal shoppers.

Finally, party people rejoice as bucks fizz has decreased in price over the last year by 8.7% taking the average cost for a bottle from £2.86 to £2.61. The cheapest bottle can be found at Aldi for £2.15.

The Cost of Hosting Christmas

Although hosting Christmas is an incredibly rewarding experience, one which sees you create the perfect atmosphere for your loved ones, the costs associated with the big day can be great.

To better understand the financial impact, we’ve analyzed data from recent surveys, retail statistics, and household spending reports to provide a detailed look at the true cost of hosting Christmas in the UK.

From decking the halls to dishing up the festive feast, here’s a breakdown of common expenses to anticipate and tips for keeping costs under control.

What Does It Cost to Deck the Halls?

One of the things that make hosting Christmas so difficult is making sure that the home is kitted out and ready to make everyone feel festive. This can be from wreaths hanging on the door to the Christmas tree covered in baubles. However, these festive flourishes come with their own price tag, and for many, the costs can quickly add up.

Product	Average Cost (£)
Artificial Christmas tree (6 ft)	£21.30
Baubles (20 pack)	£5.38
Garland	£14.50
Indoor lights (50 LED)	£5.20
Stocking	£5.92
Wreath	£14.25
Wrapping Paper 4m	£3.94
Christmas Card (20 pc)	£4.17
Crackers (8 pc)	£5.00
Total:	£79.64

Our data reveals that dressing a house ready for festive company can cost a home £79.64 with the largest associated costs going towards an artificial tree with a 6ft-er averaging at £21.30 and garlands averaging at £14.50.

However, if someone has hosted Christmas before and has already made many of these purchases that they just need to dust off from their attic, these costs will be significantly lower.

Turning Up the Heat on Utilities

One of the hidden costs associated with hosting Christmas is the cost of utilities. When under a roof, there’s costs that you wouldn’t expect such as electricity, gas, broadband and water.

Some of these utilities will increase with the number of people that are in the home and how long they’re staying for, such as increased water usage for washing machines, dish washers and showers, as well as additional heating and cooking. However, some are fixed costs that won’t fluctuate with more people, such as broadband.

Cost of Utilities in 2023	Cost of Utilities in 2024

Product	Cost	Per day	Cost	Per day	% Difference
Water	£575.00	£1.58	£634.00	£1.74	10.26%
Electricity	£738.45	£2.02	£661.50	£1.81	-10.42%
Gas	£792.35	£2.17	£717.60	£1.97	-9.43%
Broadband	£37.60	£1.24	£49.50	£1.63	31.65%
Total:		£7.00		£7.14	1.96%

The study reveals that the cost of utilities have fluctuated greatly over the past year. In 2024, a household can expect to pay £7.14 a day on these necessities. This is up 1.96% from 2023 when the average cost was £7. Electricity and gas have decreased significantly over the past year by about 10% each, while water has increased by 10.26% and broadband has risen sharply by 31.65%.

But there’s some things that will cost the home more than others. According to the National Grid, to cook a turkey to perfection, “it takes roughly three hours and costs the average home £2.”

The Final Tally

Based on these figures, the cost of hosting Christmas for a modest family-sized gathering (6–8 people) with just the Christmas dinner essentials is roughly £136.06, but this can be much higher depending on how festive you want to be.

Category	Average Cost (£)
Christmas Dinner	£49.28
Decorations	£79.64
Utilities	£7.14
Total	£136.06

Chipping in For Christmas

With many people either visiting friends and family for Christmas or hosting themselves, the cost of putting on a Christmas spread has sparked some lively debates on social media. The big question now is: is it acceptable to ask guests to chip in?

To find out, we surveyed 690 Brits on whether they contribute when visiting others for Christmas and whether they ask guests to pitch in when hosting.

Do you chip in for Christmas when invited to someone’s home?

Response	% of Respondents
I’m a Guest – I always chip in	86.66%
I’m a Guest – I don’t chip in	13.33%

An overwhelming 86.66% of guests always chip in when invited to someone’s home for Christmas. There was a noticeable trend of people mentioning that while they might not always chip in cold hard cash, they’ll offer other forms of help such as bringing food or washing up. 

The survey found that only 13.33% of people don’t chip in or offer non-monetary contributions. Others expressed that although they don’t chip in, they “wouldn’t be at all offended” if they were asked, especially “in this financial climate”.

Do you ask for guests to chip in when hosting Christmas?

Response	% of Respondents
I’m a Host – I don’t ask guests to chip in.	90.43%
I’m a Host – I ask guests to chip in.	9.56%

When it comes to hosting, 90.43% of respondents say they don’t ask guests to contribute. Many hosts believe if you’ve invited someone to Christmas, they shouldn’t be expected to pay, though guests are welcome to bring items if they wish. 

Only 9.56% of hosts ask guests to chip in, whether it’s with money, food, or chores. With purse strings tightened more than ever and the cost of Christmas staples increasing, this request seems more and more reasonable.

The Cost of Eating Out For Christmas

While many families choose to cook dinner themselves at home or visit family members, a large portion of the UK choose to have Christmas dinner at a restaurant. In fact, a survey from PPL PRS revealed that 16% of UK households plan on having Christmas dinner in a restaurant or pub on the big day.

We found that the average cost of a meal out, when choosing budget-friendly restaurant options is £65.37, comparing nine popular chain restaurants. This means it’s always cheaper to cook at home, even when hosting for a number of guests, rather than eating out. However, some still choose to do so.

Explore the cost of Christmas dinner at nine popular restaurant chains below:

Ranking	Restaurant	Cost of Christmas Dinner
=1	Brewers Fayre	£54.99
=1	Sizzling Pubs	£54.99
3	Whitbread Inns	£57.99
=4	Beefeater	£59.95
=4	Joseph Holt	£59.95
6	Farmhouse Inns	£62.99
=7	Toby Carvery	£67.99
=7	Harvester	£67.99
9	Vintage Inns	£73.95
10	Miller & Carter	£92.95
	Average	£65.37

Our data reveals that Brewers Fayre and Sizzling Pubs establishments offer the cheapest Christmas dinners at just £54.99. This includes a 3-course meal.

Miller & Carter is one of the most expensive Christmas menus on our list priced at an eye-watering £92.95, but for good reason. The menu boasts 3 courses and an aperitif, with a special steak experience complete with your choice of sauce, wedge dressing and side.

Eating out has other benefits

Even though it may cost more to eat out at Christmas, we have decided to go to a restaurant for our Christmas dinner this year rather than cooking at home. My main reason is to be able to spend more time with the kids, rather than spending time preparing and cooking the food and then all the clearing up afterwards.

“We have a young family, so Christmas morning will be busy unboxing toys and having fun with the kids. It also saves time prior to the big day not having to go to the supermarket. I prefer to shop online for the majority of my Christmas gifts, so avoiding the supermarket just before Christmas is another bonus.

Joanne Jones from Thornton-Cleveleys explaining why she has had Christmas dinner away in restaurants for the past two years.

How to Save Money When Hosting Christmas

While hosting Christmas can be expensive, there’s plenty you can do to ease the burden of creating the perfect atmosphere for your family and friends.

Rebecca Bebbington, consumer champion at NetVoucherCodes has put together a list of her favourite tips to save money when hosting Christmas, from sharing costs to cutting back on unnecessary items.

Read below to find out more:-

1. Plan your menu in advance

   Planning your menu ahead of time helps avoid unnecessary last-minute shopping trips and impulse buys. It also allows you to assess what ingredients you already have in your kitchen, minimising waste and reducing the amount you need to purchase. By sticking to a well-thought-out menu, you can also choose recipes that are more affordable, rather than splurging on expensive ingredients for elaborate dishes.

2. Make use of what you already have

   Did you know gravy granules can last for two years and still taste great? Before buying anything new, check your pantry, fridge, and freezer for items you already own. You might find ingredients that can be used in your Christmas meal, such as spices, condiments, or even leftover frozen vegetables.

3. Buy in bulk

   Buying ingredients in bulk, especially for common Christmas items like potatoes, carrots, or flour, can save you a lot of money. Bulk purchases are often cheaper per unit, and you can store unused items for future use. Look for sales or warehouse stores where bulk items are discounted, and plan your menu around these cost-effective ingredients to make the most out of your purchase.

4. Limit alcohol purchases

   Alcohol can be one of the biggest expenses when hosting Christmas, so consider limiting your purchases. You don’t need a wide variety of drinks—choose a couple of cheap crowd-pleasers such as your family’s favourite beer or make your own bucks fizz. You can also make a festive punch or cocktail that uses fewer ingredients but still feels special. If you have guests bringing drinks, ask them to contribute.

5. Use reusable decorations

   Reusable decorations are not only eco-friendly but also a great way to save money year after year. Instead of buying new items every season, invest in quality decorations that can last multiple holidays. You can also get creative by crafting your own ornaments or repurposing old decorations, which gives a personal touch to your home without the added expense.

6. Ask guests to chip in

   If you’re hosting Christmas, it’s entirely fair to ask those attending to pay their fair share for the Christmas dinner and drinks. While this might not cover things that you buy yourself and get to keep such as decorations, it’ll lift the burden of having to pay for 8+ people. Create a budget beforehand of how much you expect to spend, and let everyone know how much they owe in advance.

7. Host a potluck-style meal

   Hosting a potluck-style Christmas dinner can help significantly reduce the cost of catering for a large group. This way, your guests bring dishes, sharing the responsibility of the meal. You can assign different categories (like appetisers, sides, or desserts) to ensure a balanced spread. Not only does this ease the financial burden, but it also creates a sense of community, as everyone contributes to the celebration.

8. Stick to a budget

   One of the most effective ways to save money when hosting Christmas is to set a clear budget and stick to it. Outline how much you want to spend on food, drinks, gifts, and decorations, and track your expenses as you go. This will help you avoid overspending and ensure that you don’t get carried away with impulse purchases. By staying within your budget, you can enjoy the holiday season without financial stress.

Methodology

To find the supermarkets with the cheapest Christmas dinners, we analysed nine of the most popular supermarkets in the UK (Aldi, Lidl, Asda, Waitrose, M&S, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Morrisons and Iceland) and found the cost for 12 Christmas dinner essential items online. We used the cheapest priced product from every store and didn’t take into account any multi-buy offers. Marks and Spencer didn’t have prices online, so we used prices from Ocado. Using this data, we then calculated the average cost of a Christmas dinner, overall and by supermarket.

We then analysed the historic prices of 24 Christmas items in six UK supermarkets from 2023 to 2024. Using this data, we were able to compare the cost of the average Christmas dinner, supermarkets, and specific items from the past year to today.

To calculate the cost of hosting Christmas, we compared the prices of nine typical Christmas decorations at Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Dunelm, Matalan and Argos, calculating the averages. We also looked at 2023 and 2024 costs for four utilities: electricity, gas, water and broadband. Adding these prices together with the average cost of Christmas dinner, we calculated the cost to host Christmas.

To find the average cost of eating out for Christmas, we analysed the cost of Christmas dinner from ten restaurants across the country, and calculated the average cost.

The data was collected in November 2024. The full list of prices and product links can be viewed on request.