By the KABO Nutrition Team · fact-checked against cited public-health sources — see our editorial & nutrition standards.

The cheapest protein per rupee in India is soya chunks, at roughly Rs 0.25 per gram of protein — about 16× cheaper than almonds and around 21× cheaper than a typical all-in-one shake per gram of protein. In the KABO Indian Protein Cost Index 2026, whole plant foods (soya chunks, dals, peanuts, sattu) dominate the cheap end at Rs 0.25–0.66 per gram, while powders and convenience foods cost more because you also pay for processing, protein isolation and added micronutrients.

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Methodology (so you can reproduce it)

This is a named, original dataset — the KABO Indian Protein Cost Index 2026. Every figure is derived with one transparent formula:

Cost per gram of protein (Rs) = Price per 100 g (Rs) ÷ Protein per 100 g (g)

• Protein values are standard reference figures from the Indian Food Composition Tables (IFCT 2017), ICMR–National Institute of Nutrition. Dals, pulses, soya chunks, besan and sattu are measured as the dry product (as purchased); paneer, tofu, milk, curd, eggs and chicken are measured as-sold/ready-to-eat.
• Prices are representative typical retail figures for July 2026, rounded, drawn from Indian marketplaces (BigBasket, Amazon.in, brand sites) and mandi/commodity rates. We convert each to price per 100 g for a like-for-like comparison. Prices vary by brand, city and offer — treat them as a fair midpoint, not a quote.
• Worked example: soya chunks = Rs 130/kg = Rs 13.00 per 100 g; IFCT protein = 52 g/100 g; so 13.00 ÷ 52 = Rs 0.25 per gram of protein.
• KABO example: Rs 2,499 per ~1.08 kg tub (20 × 54 g servings) = Rs 231 per 100 g; protein = 23.11 g per 54 g = 42.8 g/100 g; so 231 ÷ 42.8 = ~Rs 5.4 per gram of protein.

Because the method is a single division on public IFCT protein values and observable prices, anyone can recompute the whole table with today's prices in their own city.

The KABO Indian Protein Cost Index 2026 — full data table

Ranked cheapest to most expensive by cost per gram of protein. Protein g/100 g: IFCT 2017 (ICMR–NIN). Price/100 g: typical India retail, July 2026 (rounded).

What the data actually says

Whole plant foods win on cost, decisively. The eleven cheapest sources in the index are all plant staples — soya chunks, whole soybean, dals, peanuts, besan and sattu — every one under Rs 0.66 per gram of protein. Soya chunks at ~Rs 0.25/g are the single best protein-per-rupee buy in India, and dals sit comfortably below Rs 0.60/g. If your only goal is maximum protein for minimum money, these are the answer, and we say so plainly. See our roundup of the cheapest protein foods in India and the wider high-protein Indian foods guide.

Why "cheapest per gram" isn't the whole story

Protein density hides real cost. Milk and curd look cheap per 100 g, but because they're only ~3–3.5 g protein per 100 g, their cost per gram of protein jumps to ~Rs 1.9–2.3/g. Paneer, a beloved vegetarian protein, is ~Rs 2.2/g — nearly 9× the price of soya chunks. And convenience products (powders, shakes) always cost more per gram because you're paying for processing, isolation, shelf-stability and, in some cases, added micronutrients.

Where KABO honestly sits. In this index KABO is one of the most expensive options per gram of protein (~Rs 5.4/g) — more than dal, eggs, whey or plant-protein powder. We are not going to pretend otherwise: if cost-per-gram-of-protein is your only metric, a bag of soya chunks beats every shake on the market. KABO's real value is different. One 54 g serving delivers 23.11 g of complete plant protein plus 26 vitamins & minerals (incl. biotin 40 mcg / 100% RDA, B12, vitamin D, iron and zinc), 8 billion CFU probiotics, digestive enzymes and 60+ superfoods — dairy-free, lactose-free, FSSAI-licensed, with no artificial sweeteners, from Rs 2,499. Compared like-for-like, replacing a shake with soya chunks saves money on protein but gives you none of the micronutrients. Compare our best plant protein in India guide, or the all-in-one KABO shake itself.

How to cite this: KABO, The Indian Protein Cost Index 2026: Cheapest Protein Per Rupee, kabo.co.in, July 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest protein per rupee in India?
Soya chunks, at roughly Rs 0.25 per gram of protein (about 52 g protein per 100 g at ~Rs 130/kg). Whole soybean and dals like masoor and moong follow closely.

Is dal a cheap source of protein?
Yes. Most dals cost Rs 0.44–0.66 per gram of protein in the KABO Index — among the best value in the country — though they're incomplete proteins, so pair them with rice, curd or a complete source.

Is protein powder worth it if it costs more per gram?
Powders (Rs 2.9–3.1/g) cost more than dal, but deliver a lot of protein in a small, quick, digestible serving. They're a convenience buy, not a cost-saving one.

Is KABO the cheapest protein source?
No — and we don't claim to be. At ~Rs 5.4 per gram of protein, KABO is more expensive per gram than dal, eggs or whey. It's designed as all-in-one nutrition (protein + 26 vitamins & minerals + probiotics + 60+ superfoods), so you're paying for completeness and convenience, not the lowest protein price.

How do you calculate cost per gram of protein?
Divide the price per 100 g by the protein grams per 100 g. Example: paneer at Rs 40/100 g with 18.3 g protein = Rs 2.19 per gram of protein.

Data disclaimer: protein and nutrient values are standard public reference figures from IFCT 2017 / ICMR–NIN; prices are typical July 2026 India retail figures, rounded, and vary by brand, city and offer. This is an educational cost comparison, not nutritional or medical advice — verify current figures before relying on them.