Is Oat Milk Cheaper Than Almond Milk? A 2025 Price & Value Guide

January 2, 2026 •

4 min read

According to a 2025 analysis, the average retail price of store-bought almond milk was found to be lower than oat milk, making it the more affordable option on the shelf. However, the cost of raw materials and the potential to make milk at home create a far more nuanced answer to the question, 'is oat milk cheaper than almond milk?'

Quick Summary

A comparison of oat milk and almond milk breaks down pricing dynamics, considering retail costs, homemade preparation expenses, and market factors. It also explores the trade-offs between cost, nutritional value, and environmental impact.

Key Points

Retail Price: Store-bought almond milk is typically cheaper than store-bought oat milk due to higher production scale and market maturity.
Homemade Savings: Making your own oat milk at home is significantly more cost-effective than buying it, and generally cheaper than making homemade almond milk.
Market Factors: Despite cheaper raw oats, retail oat milk can be more expensive due to higher production and marketing costs in a newer, trendier market.
Environmental Cost: Oat milk has a much lower environmental footprint, primarily due to its significantly lower water usage compared to almond milk.
Nutritional Differences: Oat milk offers more fiber and protein, while almond milk is lower in calories and carbs, making the 'better' choice depend on dietary goals.
The Cheapest Option: For the lowest price per serving, the clear winner is homemade oat milk.

Comparing Retail Prices in 2025

When walking down the supermarket aisle in 2025, a consumer is likely to find that almond milk is generally the more budget-friendly option when compared to its oat-based counterpart. This retail pricing dynamic might seem counterintuitive, given that raw oats are a significantly cheaper crop to produce than almonds. A 2023 analysis found almond milk averaging around 4 cents per ounce, while oat milk hovered around 6 cents per ounce. While prices have shifted since then due to inflation and market changes, the general trend of almond milk being cheaper on store shelves has largely persisted.

Several factors contribute to this marketplace phenomenon. For one, almond milk is a more established product with a larger market share and a more mature production infrastructure, which allows companies to leverage economies of scale and offer lower prices. In contrast, the oat milk market is still relatively newer and growing at a fast pace, with brands investing heavily in production, marketing, and diversification of products, all of which contribute to a higher retail price.

Why Raw Material Cost Doesn't Dictate Retail Price

The price of the final product is a complex formula that involves more than just the cost of the raw ingredient. While almonds are more expensive to farm than oats, there are other considerations. The manufacturing process for plant-based milks involves specialized equipment, energy, and labor for steps like grinding, soaking, blending, and filtering. Experts also point to the fact that many store-bought almond milks are made with a relatively small percentage of almonds, blended with water and other additives, which keeps the base cost low. The oat milk production process involves more complex enzymatic treatments to achieve a creamy texture, which can increase production expenses. Additionally, market forces such as branding, competitive landscape, and overall demand play a huge role in the final shelf price. For instance, the high demand for trendy barista-style oat milk may allow companies to maintain higher price points.

Homemade Production: The Ultimate Cost-Saver

For the truly budget-conscious, the real cost advantage emerges when you consider making your own plant-based milk at home. This is where oat milk dramatically undercuts almond milk. A bag of oats is far cheaper than the equivalent weight of almonds. A small portion of oats can be used to make a substantial amount of oat milk, leading to a much lower cost per serving compared to purchasing either variety from the store. Homemade oat milk can cost as little as 30p (or around 37 cents USD) per liter, a fraction of the store-bought price. While making your own almond milk is also cheaper than buying it, the ingredient cost of the almonds themselves keeps it from being as economical as homemade oat milk.

Beyond the Dollar: Environmental and Nutritional Trade-offs

For many consumers, the decision isn't purely about price. The environmental and nutritional aspects are also important considerations.

From an environmental standpoint, oat milk is a more eco-friendly option. Its production requires significantly less water than almond milk. Almonds, primarily grown in drought-prone California, have a large water footprint that raises significant sustainability concerns. While oat milk production has a slightly larger land footprint than almond milk, its drastically lower water usage often tips the scales in its favor for environmentally conscious buyers.

Nutritionally, each milk offers distinct benefits. Almond milk is a popular choice for those watching their calorie or carbohydrate intake, as it's naturally lower in both. However, it is also lower in fiber and protein. Oat milk, conversely, is higher in calories and carbs but offers a good source of fiber, particularly beta-glucans, which are known to support heart health. Most commercial plant milks are fortified with vitamins and minerals like calcium and vitamin D, but the natural nutrient profiles differ. Oat milk is naturally richer in B vitamins, while almond milk is a natural source of Vitamin E.

Oat Milk vs. Almond Milk: A Comparative Table


Factor	Oat Milk	Almond Milk
Retail Price (2025)	Generally higher	Generally lower
Homemade Cost	Very low (cheaper than homemade almond)	Low (but more expensive than homemade oat)
Production Costs	Relatively high due to scale and processing	Lower due to established industry and economies of scale
Water Footprint	Significantly lower	High (water-intensive crop)
Carbon Footprint	Slightly higher than almond milk	Slightly lower than oat milk
Calories (unsweetened)	Higher	Lower
Carbohydrates	Higher	Lower
Fiber	Higher (contains beta-glucans)	Lower
Protein	Higher	Lower
Consistency	Creamier	Thinner, more watery

Final Verdict: Which Milk is Right for Your Budget?

So, is oat milk cheaper than almond milk? The answer depends entirely on how you approach the purchase. If your priority is the absolute lowest price on the grocery store shelf, store-bought almond milk is the likely winner in 2025. Its more mature market and production efficiencies give it a retail cost advantage. However, if your goal is long-term cost savings and you're willing to invest a little time, making your own oat milk at home is by far the most economical option.

Beyond cost, your decision should also weigh the other important factors. Environmentally, oat milk is the more sustainable choice due to its lower water footprint, which is a major concern for almond farming. Nutritionally, oat milk provides more fiber and protein, while almond milk offers fewer calories and carbs. Ultimately, the best choice is a balance of your budget, taste preferences, and personal values regarding nutrition and sustainability.

For more detailed nutritional information on these plant-based options, consult reliable sources like Health.com on oat milk vs. almond milk.

Sources

Is Oat Milk Better for You Than Almond Milk? The Answer Might ... from Yahoo News
Why Oat Milk Lattes Are Still So Expensive | Bon Appétit from Bon Appétit
Oat milk is everywhere. Why is it still so expensive? from The Guardian
Oat Milk vs. Almond Milk: Which Is Better? - Healthline from Healthline
Oat Milk vs. Almond Milk: Taste, Calories & Nutrition | HelloFresh from HelloFresh

Frequently Asked Questions

Oat milk is a newer market entrant and lacks the same economies of scale as the more established almond milk industry. Higher initial production, processing complexity, and marketing costs contribute to the higher retail price, even though oats are cheaper than almonds.

It is significantly cheaper to make your own oat milk at home than almond milk. The raw material cost of oats is much lower than almonds, and a smaller amount of oats is required per batch.

The 'healthier' option depends on your dietary needs. Oat milk is higher in calories, carbs, fiber, and protein. Almond milk is lower in calories and carbs but also contains less protein and fiber. Many brands of both are fortified with additional vitamins.

Oat milk is generally considered more environmentally friendly than almond milk, primarily because it requires significantly less water to produce. Almond farming is very water-intensive, which is a major concern.

Many people prefer oat milk for its creamy texture and taste, which is often likened to traditional dairy milk and froths well for coffee drinks. It is also a popular choice for those with tree nut allergies.

Unsweetened oat milk typically contains more natural carbohydrates and sugars than unsweetened almond milk. However, flavored varieties of either can have added sugars, so it is important to check the nutritional label.

Yes, unsweetened almond milk is significantly lower in carbohydrates compared to oat milk, making it a better option for those following low-carb or ketogenic diets.