How Much Will the Christmas Table Cost in 2025: Detailed Cost Calculation of Dishes
Researchers from the Institute of Agrarian Economics conducted an analysis to determine the cost of a Christmas table for the average Ukrainian family in 2025. According to their calculations, preparing 12 traditional dishes will cost approximately 1374 UAH, which is almost the same as last year’s amount of 1365 UAH. The estimate is based on average supermarket prices at the beginning of December 2025.
This is reported by AgroReview
Cost of Main Dishes on the Christmas Table
The most important dishes on Christmas Eve remain kutya and uzvar. According to experts, preparing wheat kutya (950 g following the traditional recipe) will cost 213.37 UAH, making it the second most expensive dish on the festive table. The most expensive ingredients for kutya this year are poppy seeds (72.50 UAH for 200 g), walnuts (68.80 UAH for 100 g), raisins (24.99 UAH for 100 g), and wheat groats (26.90 UAH for 400 g). Honey (18.70 UAH for 100 g) and sugar (1.48 UAH for 50 g) will also be needed for preparation.
Uzvar, traditionally made from dried fruits (apples, pears, and prunes), will cost 118 UAH for 600 g of the mixture for 2 liters of water, making it the third most expensive dish on the Christmas table.
This year’s most expensive dish is fried fish, costing 346.02 UAH. The main portion of the cost comes from 2 kg of live carp (339 UAH) and 200 g of flour (7.02 UAH).
Price Distribution for Other Traditional Dishes
Lean borscht with beans (2.535 kg of ingredients for 2 liters of water) will cost 107.79 UAH, with the most expensive component being white dry beans (51.50 UAH for 300 g). The vegetables included in the borscht will cost: potatoes (5.39 UAH for 362 g), cabbage (3.08 UAH for 300 g), onions (0.74 UAH for 100 g), carrots (4.36 UAH for 400 g), beets (7.78 UAH for 800 g), tomatoes (8.67 UAH for 70-75 g), tomato paste (11.82 UAH), sugar (1.48 UAH for 50 g), oil (7.86 UAH for 80 g), and spices (5.11 UAH).
Vinaigrette (1.73 kg of ingredients) will cost 49.77 UAH. The most expensive ingredient is barrel-pickled cucumbers (26.80 UAH for 200 g). The vegetables cost: potatoes (8.94 UAH for 600 g), beets (3.89 UAH for 400 g), carrots (4.12 UAH for 378 g), onions (0.74 UAH for 100 g), while the dressing with vegetable oil and salt costs 4.91 UAH and 0.37 UAH respectively.
Varenyky remain a mandatory dish on the festive table. Potato varenyky (1.51 kg) will cost 32.83 UAH, cabbage varenyky (1.481 kg) will cost 32.03 UAH, and cherry varenyky (810 g) will cost 87.83 UAH. The cost of the main components is: potatoes — 14.90 UAH for 1 kg, flour — 17.54 UAH for 500 g, salt — 0.39 UAH for 10 g. For cabbage varenyky, additional ingredients will be needed: cabbage (6.16 UAH for 600 g), carrots (2.06 UAH for 189 g), onions (0.97 UAH for 132 g), and oil (4.91 UAH for 50 g). The price of cherry varenyky has increased due to the cost of frozen cherries — 69.90 UAH for 300 g.
Stewed cabbage (2.239 kg) will cost 70.78 UAH, with the largest portion of the cost being mushrooms (45.35 UAH for 300 g). Among the vegetables: cabbage (10.27 UAH for 1 kg), carrots (2.06 UAH for 189 g), onions (4.86 UAH for 660 g), spices, and oil — 8.25 UAH.
Fried potatoes (1 kg of potatoes, 132 g of onions, 100 g of oil, spices) will cost 26.08 UAH. Separately, pickles are served: sauerkraut (96.75 UAH for 500 g), barrel-pickled cucumbers (53.70 UAH for 400 g), as well as fresh vegetables — cucumbers (66.72 UAH for 500 g) and tomatoes (71.90 UAH for 500 g).
“The cost of the Christmas table in 2025 will be 1374 UAH. This figure remains virtually at the level of last year’s figure of 1365 UAH. This pricing situation is explained by the fact that the prices for the borscht vegetable set — potatoes, carrots, cabbage, beets, and onions — have decreased by more than half over the past year due to their record harvest in 2025. The most significant price increases compared to the previous year in the Christmas menu were observed for the following products: oil (+26.7%), frozen cherries (+25.7%), barrel-pickled cucumbers (+25.2%), white dry beans (+18.3%), flour (+17.5%), live carp (+12.6%), and fresh tomatoes (+12.5%)”, summarized Yuriy Luplenko.