The cost of supplements has gone up over the years, as is the case with almost everything in life as time goes on. Anyone who has purchased products for over a decade will be aware of this, although some categories have gone up more than others, especially essential, daily-use items. We’re focusing on protein powder for this occasion, as this is a type of supplement that has gone up more than most, and we thought we’d wind back the clock to give you an idea.
We came up with two brands and products that have continued to be available for the last decade and more, and compared their direct price from ten years ago to today. First, we’ve got the sports nutrition legend Optimum Nutrition and its blend-style Gold Standard Whey Protein, which is currently $42.99 for 2lbs and $84.99 for 5lbs. In 2015, that same supplement was 30% cheaper at $29.99 for the 2lber, and for the much larger 5lb jug, the cost was similarly lower at $58.99.
Our other example is Myprotein and its flagship protein powder, Impact Whey Protein. The UK brand currently has 1kg at £25.99, but go back ten years and the Unflavored option of the product in its 1kg pouch was practically half price at £12.69. There are a lot of factors that go into the fluctuation and rise of the cost of protein powder, including manufacturing efficiency, ingredient sourcing, and general economy, although the end price is what matters to consumers.
While you can still find pre-workouts in the 20 and $30 range, like more than ten years ago, that’s not the case for protein powder. You simply won’t get 2lbs, 5lbs, or any size of the same supplement for the price you did back in the likes of 2015. There are some cost-effective options out there; however, in our examples, Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard Whey is just over 40% more expensive, while that 1kg pouch of Myprotein’s Impact Whey Protein is 105% more.
