April 2026 Curry Price: 364 Yen per Serving; Rises for First Time in 3 Months Due to High Vegetable Costs; Benefits of Cheaper Rice Diminished by High Meat and Vegetable Prices; Potential for Continued Rise Towards Summer
Key facts
- April 2026 Curry Price: 364 Yen per Serving; Rises for First Time in 3 Months Due to High Vegetable Costs; Benefits of Cheaper Rice Diminished by High Meat and Vegetable Prices; Potential for Continued Rise Towards Summer
- The average cost of a curry rice meal in April 2026 was 364 yen, a 6.1% increase year-on-year. While the price hike was the smallest in the past year, it rose by 2 yen from the previous month (March 2026), marking the first increase in three months. Prices are expected to remain high in May, influenced by rising vegetable and meat costs, with potential for further increases towards the summer.
- Source: PR Times
- Date: June 10, 2026
Direct answer
The average cost of a curry rice meal in April 2026 was 364 yen, a 6.1% increase year-on-year. While the price hike was the smallest in the past year, it rose by 2 yen from the previous month (March 2026), marking the first increase in three months. Prices are expected to remain high in May, influenced by rising vegetable and meat costs, with potential for further increases towards the summer.
- Citation
- April 2026 Curry Price: 364 Yen per Serving; Rises for First Time in 3 Months Due to High Vegetable Costs; Benefits of Cheaper Rice Diminished by High Meat and Vegetable Prices; Potential for Continued Rise Towards Summer (June 10, 2026), PR Times
- Source
- PR Times
- Date
- June 10, 2026
The average cost of a curry rice meal in April 2026 was 364 yen, a 6.1% increase year-on-year. While the price hike was the smallest in the past year, it rose by 2 yen from the previous month (March 2026), marking the first increase in three months. Prices are expected to remain high in May, influenced by rising vegetable and meat costs, with potential for further increases towards the summer.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: June 10, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: June 10, 2026 at 10:21
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 12, 2026 at 16:52 (54h 30m after Collected)
Teikoku Databank, Ltd. has independently calculated the "Curry Rice Price Index" to indicate its impact on household dining tables.
SUMMARY
The average cost of curry rice in April 2026 was 364 yen per serving (compared to 343 yen in the previous year).
The year-on-year price increase was the smallest over the past year. However, it rose by 2 yen from the previous month (March 2026: 362 yen), exceeding the previous month's price for the first time in three months.
The average cost of curry rice is projected to be around 366 yen per serving in May 2026. Prices are expected to remain high due to rising vegetable and meat prices.
Teikoku Databank, Ltd. has independently calculated the "Curry Rice Price Index" to indicate its impact on household dining tables.
[Note 1] Curry Rice Price: An index independently calculated based on the cost of raw materials used in curry rice and utility costs for cooking.
Average of 5 menus: Beef Curry, Pork Curry, Chicken Curry, Seafood Curry, Vegetable Curry.
Price data refers to the national average of average prices for each city from the "Retail Price Survey (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications)". The cooking scenario assumed "cooking 6 servings at once (using half a pack of commercially available curry roux)".
Curry Rice Price Index: Based on the curry rice price for each month, showing price trends with the 2020 average as the base (100).
[Note 2] The Curry Rice Price was revised retroactively to January 2015, with partial changes to the survey対象 and capacity in January 2026.
Curry Rice Price in April 2026: 364 yen per serving; Rising vegetable and meat prices offset the effect of cheaper rice.
The "Curry Rice Price (average, revised based on 2026)", calculated based on the national average prices of raw materials and utility costs for home cooking of curry rice to visualize the impact of price hikes on dining tables, averaged 364 yen per serving in April 2026. This represents an increase of +21 yen or 6.1% compared to the previous year (April 2025: 343 yen). The year-on-year price increase was the smallest over the past year.
However, it rose by 2 yen from the previous month (March 2026: 362 yen), exceeding the previous month's price for the first time in three months. This figure was 3 yen higher than the forecast value (361 yen) at the time of the previous month's survey, based on price trends in Tokyo's wards, which serve as a leading indicator for national prices.
Compared to the same month last year, all menus saw an increase. However, the extent of the price hike varied by menu. The "Pork Curry" (291 yen) had the highest rate of increase, up +22 yen or 8.2% from the previous year. Prices per serving have been in the 290 yen range for five consecutive months since December 2025. "Chicken Curry" (224 yen) rose +14 yen or 6.7% from the previous year. This single-digit percentage increase is the first in one year and seven months, since September 2024. Compared to December 2025, when prices exceeded 20%, and June-July 2025, when rapid price increases of over 30% occurred, the trend of sharp price hikes is gradually calming down. Among all menus, "Vegetable Curry" saw the smallest year-on-year change, with an increase of +12 yen or 4.7%.
"Rice", which had been a strong driver of curry rice prices, saw its upward pressure significantly suppressed due to the government's release of "strategic rice reserves" and the gradual stabilization of supply and demand with the distribution of the 2025 fiscal year rice crop. On the other hand, for major vegetables such as potatoes and onions, although the rapid price increases have calmed down due to gradually increasing arrivals, prices remained high. Meat prices continued to rise. Pork prices were affected by a decrease in imports from overseas, while chicken prices were impacted by rising production costs due to the weak yen and soaring import prices. Additionally, increased consumption due to chicken being relatively cheaper than beef and pork contributed to persistently high prices. Overall, the higher cost of ingredients offset the price reduction effect from cheaper rice, and curry rice prices have turned upwards again.
The "Curry Rice Price Index", independently calculated with the 2020 average as the base (100) based on the average prices of each menu, stood at 140.5 in April 2026.
Future Outlook: May 2026 Forecast at 366 Yen; Impact of "Reiwa Rice Crisis" Diminishing, but Potential for Further Rise After Summer
The projected average cost of curry rice for May 2026 is around 366 yen per serving, based on price trends in Tokyo's wards, which serve as a leading indicator for national prices. This is a 2 yen increase from April, marking the second consecutive month of increase. The year-on-year price increase is 17 yen (from 349 yen to 366 yen), falling into the 10 yen range for the first time in one year and eleven months, since June 2024, before the "Reiwa Rice Crisis" fully took hold. While the rate of increase has significantly slowed compared to the "curry shock" period after 2025, when substantial price hikes exceeding 20 yen occurred, prices have begun to rebound from their March low.
The stabilization of the sharp price surge in rice that occurred in 2025, with prices remaining significantly below the previous year's levels, is a major factor in reducing costs for dining tables, including curry rice. However, for key curry ingredients like onions, the impact of record-high temperatures and drought last year, leading to smaller-sized produce ("stunted growth"), persists, keeping prices higher than average. Furthermore, in terms of meat prices, in addition to the surge in pork prices, demand for chicken has increased as a cheaper alternative amidst rising overall prices. According to Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries data, the retail price of chicken thighs reached a record high in May. Looking ahead, price increases for pork and other meats are expected due to delayed growth caused by heat, and both meat and vegetables may face significant price hikes towards the summer. Consequently, prices are expected to remain on an upward trend for the time being.
SUMMARY
The average cost of curry rice in April 2026 was 364 yen per serving (compared to 343 yen in the previous year).
The year-on-year price increase was the smallest over the past year. However, it rose by 2 yen from the previous month (March 2026: 362 yen), exceeding the previous month's price for the first time in three months.
The average cost of curry rice is projected to be around 366 yen per serving in May 2026. Prices are expected to remain high due to rising vegetable and meat prices.
Teikoku Databank, Ltd. has independently calculated the "Curry Rice Price Index" to indicate its impact on household dining tables.
[Note 1] Curry Rice Price: An index independently calculated based on the cost of raw materials used in curry rice and utility costs for cooking.
Average of 5 menus: Beef Curry, Pork Curry, Chicken Curry, Seafood Curry, Vegetable Curry.
Price data refers to the national average of average prices for each city from the "Retail Price Survey (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications)". The cooking scenario assumed "cooking 6 servings at once (using half a pack of commercially available curry roux)".
Curry Rice Price Index: Based on the curry rice price for each month, showing price trends with the 2020 average as the base (100).
[Note 2] The Curry Rice Price was revised retroactively to January 2015, with partial changes to the survey対象 and capacity in January 2026.
Curry Rice Price in April 2026: 364 yen per serving; Rising vegetable and meat prices offset the effect of cheaper rice.
The "Curry Rice Price (average, revised based on 2026)", calculated based on the national average prices of raw materials and utility costs for home cooking of curry rice to visualize the impact of price hikes on dining tables, averaged 364 yen per serving in April 2026. This represents an increase of +21 yen or 6.1% compared to the previous year (April 2025: 343 yen). The year-on-year price increase was the smallest over the past year.
However, it rose by 2 yen from the previous month (March 2026: 362 yen), exceeding the previous month's price for the first time in three months. This figure was 3 yen higher than the forecast value (361 yen) at the time of the previous month's survey, based on price trends in Tokyo's wards, which serve as a leading indicator for national prices.
Compared to the same month last year, all menus saw an increase. However, the extent of the price hike varied by menu. The "Pork Curry" (291 yen) had the highest rate of increase, up +22 yen or 8.2% from the previous year. Prices per serving have been in the 290 yen range for five consecutive months since December 2025. "Chicken Curry" (224 yen) rose +14 yen or 6.7% from the previous year. This single-digit percentage increase is the first in one year and seven months, since September 2024. Compared to December 2025, when prices exceeded 20%, and June-July 2025, when rapid price increases of over 30% occurred, the trend of sharp price hikes is gradually calming down. Among all menus, "Vegetable Curry" saw the smallest year-on-year change, with an increase of +12 yen or 4.7%.
"Rice", which had been a strong driver of curry rice prices, saw its upward pressure significantly suppressed due to the government's release of "strategic rice reserves" and the gradual stabilization of supply and demand with the distribution of the 2025 fiscal year rice crop. On the other hand, for major vegetables such as potatoes and onions, although the rapid price increases have calmed down due to gradually increasing arrivals, prices remained high. Meat prices continued to rise. Pork prices were affected by a decrease in imports from overseas, while chicken prices were impacted by rising production costs due to the weak yen and soaring import prices. Additionally, increased consumption due to chicken being relatively cheaper than beef and pork contributed to persistently high prices. Overall, the higher cost of ingredients offset the price reduction effect from cheaper rice, and curry rice prices have turned upwards again.
The "Curry Rice Price Index", independently calculated with the 2020 average as the base (100) based on the average prices of each menu, stood at 140.5 in April 2026.
Future Outlook: May 2026 Forecast at 366 Yen; Impact of "Reiwa Rice Crisis" Diminishing, but Potential for Further Rise After Summer
The projected average cost of curry rice for May 2026 is around 366 yen per serving, based on price trends in Tokyo's wards, which serve as a leading indicator for national prices. This is a 2 yen increase from April, marking the second consecutive month of increase. The year-on-year price increase is 17 yen (from 349 yen to 366 yen), falling into the 10 yen range for the first time in one year and eleven months, since June 2024, before the "Reiwa Rice Crisis" fully took hold. While the rate of increase has significantly slowed compared to the "curry shock" period after 2025, when substantial price hikes exceeding 20 yen occurred, prices have begun to rebound from their March low.
The stabilization of the sharp price surge in rice that occurred in 2025, with prices remaining significantly below the previous year's levels, is a major factor in reducing costs for dining tables, including curry rice. However, for key curry ingredients like onions, the impact of record-high temperatures and drought last year, leading to smaller-sized produce ("stunted growth"), persists, keeping prices higher than average. Furthermore, in terms of meat prices, in addition to the surge in pork prices, demand for chicken has increased as a cheaper alternative amidst rising overall prices. According to Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries data, the retail price of chicken thighs reached a record high in May. Looking ahead, price increases for pork and other meats are expected due to delayed growth caused by heat, and both meat and vegetables may face significant price hikes towards the summer. Consequently, prices are expected to remain on an upward trend for the time being.
FAQ
Will the price of curry rice continue to rise?
Yes, as the high prices of vegetables and meat are expected to continue, prices may rise further towards summer.
How does the rice price affect the cost of curry rice?
The decrease in rice prices is a factor suppressing the rise in curry rice prices, but the high cost of vegetables and meat is offsetting that effect.
Why are vegetable and meat prices increasing?
Vegetables are affected by poor growth due to record high temperatures and drought last year, while meat prices are influenced by the weak yen, reduced import volumes, and increased demand.
What kind of company is Teikoku Databank?
It is a company that collects and analyzes corporate information nationwide in Japan, providing credit research and market research.
How will these survey results affect household budgets?
Food expenses, especially for everyday meals like curry rice, will become more expensive, potentially increasing the burden on household budgets.