In September 2026, the cost of preparing a vegetarian thali in India increased by 10% compared with the same month last year, while a non-vegetarian thali became 6% more expensive, according to Crisil Intelligence’s monthly Roti Rice Rate indicator. The average cost of a home-cooked vegetarian thali rose to ₹30.8 in September from ₹28.1 a year earlier. Meanwhile, the cost of a non-vegetarian thali increased to ₹59.5 from ₹56 during the same period.
Cooking a meal at home is often considered a more affordable option than eating out, but rising prices of everyday ingredients are putting additional pressure on household budgets.
The cost of a vegetarian thali rose 4% in September compared with August, while the non-vegetarian version became 3% more expensive. Onion prices also rose 34% in September compared with August as existing stocks tightened ahead of fresh kharif arrivals.
“The cost of home-cooked vegetarian (veg) and non-vegetarian (non-veg) thalis rose 10% and 6% on-year, respectively, in September, with food costs remaining elevated amid tightening supplies of key staples and higher input costs,” Crisil Intelligence director Pushan Sharma said, as quoted by Hindustan Times. Onion prices could remain elevated in the first half of October owing to delayed kharif arrivals, before easing gradually towards the end of October as fresh kharif arrivals improve market availability,” Sharma said. The increase was also visible month-on-month. Higher onion, rice, edible oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices contributed to the rise, leaving households with higher food preparation costs as the festive season approached. The pressure could continue in the first half of October, with festive-season demand adding to the strain on supplies. “The near-term outlook remains firm, as seasonal supply constraints are likely to keep food costs under pressure.
Their price rose 89% year-on-year to ₹53 per kg in September from ₹28 a year earlier. Crisil attributed the increase to tight supplies of stored rabi onions and an estimated 5% to 6% decline in production. Rainfall in June was around 40% below the long-period average, delaying kharif transplantation and the arrival of fresh supplies in the market.
Among the ingredients pushing up the cost of a vegetarian meal, onions recorded one of the sharpest increases.
Will home-cooked meals become cheaper in October?
Because of lower acreage and weaker yields, rice prices rose 8% year-on-year in September, with Crisil expecting paddy production to decline by 5% to 6%.
“Overall, while fresh crop arrivals should provide some relief later in the season, tight inventories, weather-related risks and firm global commodity prices are likely to keep thali costs elevated in the near term,” Sharma said. The pressure on food budgets extends beyond vegetables. Domestic consumption and export demand are also expected to support prices. Fresh crop arrivals could offer some relief later in the season, particularly if onion supplies improve towards the end of October. However, the outlook remains uncertain, with seasonal demand, tight inventories and weather-related risks likely to keep several food prices elevated in the near term. For households, the figures underline how changes in the prices of everyday staples can add up. Even when families continue cooking at home, higher costs for vegetables, rice, cooking oil and gas can make regular meals more expensive. Whether prices ease in the coming weeks will depend largely on how quickly fresh supplies reach markets and how demand develops during the festive season.