How Much Does it Cost to Juice?
I bought a juicer a couple of years ago and while I don’t juice every day, I try to pull it out regularly. I’m not going to debate whether or not juicing is the right thing for you (you can read all about that in this post) because I just want to focus on how much it costs to juice. Juicing is trendy but love it or hate it, let’s see what it does to your bank account.
How much do pre-made juices cost?
Store bought juice can run you upwards of $9 a bottle, depending on the brand.
I’ve tried Daily Greens, Suja, Lumi, and a couple of local brands from here in Richmond. Here’s a quick run down of prices for 16oz of a “green” juice based on what I’ve seen here in Richmond. Typically these are the most expensive because they have the most costly ingredients in them. You can get cheaper juices if you’re just getting orange juice, apple juice, or a smaller bottle.
- Lumi– 7.99
- Suja– 7.99
- Daily Greens– 7.99
- Whole Foods Juice Bar– $7.00
- Blueprint– $7.99
They’re all great for convenience but it’s hard for me to justify spending more on a bottle of juice than I do on a whole meal. So for me, I usually juice at home. I bought the Hamilton Beach Big Mouth Juicer (<–affiliate link) from Amazon a few months ago so I’ve been testing it out. I really like it because it wasn’t super expensive and it works well for me. You can get it for around $50. So the juicer itself is an initial investment but what about the ingredients?
How much does it take to make juice at home?
Here’s an example juice recipe with the average prices:
- 1 cucumber- $1.00
- 1/2 bunch of kale- $1.00
- 1 lemon $0.50
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger $0.25
- 3 whole carrots $0.50
Total for a 16oz glass of juice: $3.25.
Here’s another combo that I make regularly:
- 1 cucumber- $1.00
- 5 stalks celery $1.25
- 1 small apple $0.50
- 1/2 bunch of kale – $1.00
- 1 lime- $.50
Total for a 16oz glass of juice: $4.25
The trick is to combine ingredients that will give you lots of health benefits and still fill up your glass. For example, Kale is great for you, but it’ll take an entire bunch of kale to get a couple ounces of juice whereas a cucumber might be a little less “potent” but will give you about 1/2 cup of juice. I try to combine juicy ingredients with less juicy ingredients in order to fill my glass without breaking the bank. Fruits and veggies that will give you lots of juice are things like cucumbers, celery, apples, lemons, and oranges. Things like kale, spinach, or broccoli won’t give you as much, so it’s best to combine those with juicier ingredients. For me, I know the combinations of fruits and vegetables that I like will cost around $3-$4 in order to make a large glass. That might still sound like a lot but I typically use produce that I know I won’t necessarily be able to use before it goes bad. I love having kale in the fridge to make salads but sometimes I can’t use up a whole bunch in time. For me, juicing has become pretty cost effective because I rarely load up on produce for the sake of juicing. That said, on busy days, if I’m craving a little juice, I’ll usually just grab one on the go! Lately, my life has been a little bit busier and juicing at home definitely takes a lot more time.
If you’re still on the fence about juicing check out this post: Should you Juice?:
I really appreciate this breakdown. I’ve gotten hooked on a bottled green juice from the grocery store. It’s often BOGO free and full price is only $3.99, so I think I’ll stick with buying it made for me, for now!
This is so interesting, I’ll have to do a breakdown at UK prices now, I’m intrigued to see how it compares – also interesting how it works seasonally I would think. Lots to think about, thank you!
I’ve got a juicer but always forget to use it. I make a batch every now and again though!
I love juicing and this is a really good break down! Thank you for sharing.
I love your breakdown! I’ve always told myself it is easier and cheaper to buy it because I’d totally pick the most expensive item…
Super interesting post! Here in Canada produce is more than what you pay (plus our dollar is worth less) so it is likely a little more to juice here. I would give my right arm to find a $1 cucumber!!
What a great post! Bottled juices can certainly get expensive, definitely worth the investment of a juicer if you drink them frequently.
I go through spurts juicing using my juicer or my Vitamix but usually only a week and my problem is keeping all the produce on hand. I do both buy it and make it, it’s whatever fits into the day or life at the time. If they are on sale I will stock up. Traveling I always find juice shops like Pressed and pick up a few (they only last 3 days as they are fresh) and keep them in the hotel fridge.