When it comes to wholesome dining, thali makes for a perfect deal. It is a satisfying experience that satiates all five tastes: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and spicy. But, have you ever thought about how much a thali (vegetarian and non-vegetarian) costs in India? As per the latest report by CRISIL (Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited), vegetarian thalis are costlier than non-vegetarian thali.Scroll down to read why.
What does the CRISIL report say?
As per the latest report by CRISIL for the month of July, the cost of a vegetarian thali rose 11% and that of a non-vegetarian thali 6%, compared with the previous month.

What is there in a thali?
According to the Roti Rice Rate (RRR) report, a vegetarian thali comprises roti, onion, tomato, potato, rice, dal, curd, and salad. On the other hand, a non-veg thali has the same dishes as the veg thali, except for dal, which is replaced by chicken or any other meat.
What is the reason behind the rise?
The report says that the surge in the cost of a vegetarian meal is due to rising vegetable prices, particularly of tomatoes, according to the Roti Rice Rate for July, an estimate of the cost of home-cooked meals by Crisil Market Intelligence and Analysis.

As per the report, price of tomatoes rose in July after scanty rainfall. “7% out of the 11% rise in the cost of the veg thali can be attributed to only tomato prices, which have zoomed 55% on-month from (approximately) ₹42 per kg in June to (approximately) ₹66 per kg in July,” states CRISIL report.
If we go by the data, the cost of preparing a vegetarian thali in July rose to ₹32.60 from ₹29.60 in June, and that of a non-vegetarian thali to ₹61.40 from ₹58.
And as we analyse the costs, both costs for July 2024 were lower than those for July 2023, where a vegetarian thali cost ₹34.10 and a non-vegetarian thali ₹67.80.
It is also said in the report that prices of onions and potatoes also rose 20% and 16% respectively in July compared with the previous month.
On the contrary, the cost of a non-vegetarian thali rose at a slower rate than that of a vegetarian thali, because of the stable price of broiler chickens, which constitutes more than half the cost of a non-vegetarian thali.
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