The cost of a home-cooked non-vegetarian thali fell by one per cent year-on-year in March 2026, while the price of a vegetarian meal remained stable during the same period. This difference in pricing emerged as lower costs for staples such as onions, potatoes, and pulses effectively offset the rising expenses associated with tomatoes, vegetable oil, and fuel.

According to the latest Roti Rice Rate report from Crisil Intelligence, the average cost of preparing these meals was calculated based on input prices prevailing across North, South, East, and West India. The monthly indicator report reflected the impact of these price shifts on the common man's expenditure, identifying specific ingredients like cereals, broilers, and spices as the primary drivers of change.