Bacalao to Increase by 27%
Preparing traditional dishes for Christmas or New Year’s, such as adobada pork leg or bacalao, will cost Mexicans up to 27% more in 2025 due to rising prices over the past year.
On Tuesday, Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) announced that annual consumer inflation in the first half of December 2025 was 3.72%, which is below November’s level of 3.80%. However, this still translates to higher costs for various ingredients.
According to a report by Grupo Consultor de Mercados Agrícolas (GCMA), using data from Inegi and the Federal Prosecutor for Consumer Affairs (Profeco), the cost of preparing bacalao will increase by 27% from 835.5 pesos in 2024 to 1,061.5 pesos in 2025.
This increase is attributed to the rise in prices of products used for its preparation, including tomatoes (52% increase), olives (33%), jalapeño peppers (28.6%), olive oil (27%), and codfish (25%).
Smoked Turkey to Cost 17.5% More
Meanwhile, preparing smoked turkey will be 17.5% more expensive than last year, rising from 784.5 pesos in December 2024 to 922 pesos in 2025, according to GCMA’s calculation.
The price hike is explained by the increase in items such as butter (28%), white wine (22%), smoked turkey per kilo (17%), and ground beef and pork, which saw price increases of 16% and 15%, respectively.
Adobada Pork Leg to Cost 15% More
In contrast, preparing adobada or mechada pork leg will be 15% more expensive than the previous year, with its preparation cost rising from 603.2 pesos in 2024 to 691.80 pesos in 2025.
The most significant price increase among the ingredients for this dish was dried plums (22%), followed by orange juice or vinegar (20%), pork leg with bone (16%), almonds (14%), smoked bacon (11%), and ancho chilies (9%).
Romeritos to Cost 12% Less
On the other hand, preparing traditional romeritos this Christmas will be 12% cheaper than last year, as the dish dropped from 717.2 pesos to 631.2 pesos.
This is due to the decrease in prices of some of its ingredients, such as white potatoes (42%) and prickly pear (12%). However, there have been price increases for certain romeritos ingredients, including red mole paste (39%), a kilo of romeritos (31%), and ancho chilies (9%).
Key Questions and Answers
- What traditional dishes will be more expensive this Christmas? Bacalao, smoked turkey, and adobada pork leg will all see price increases.
- By how much will these dishes increase in cost? Bacalao will be 27% more expensive, smoked turkey 17.5%, and adobada pork leg 15%.
- Which dish will be cheaper this Christmas? Romeritos will cost 12% less than the previous year.
- What factors contribute to these price changes? The rising costs of various ingredients, such as vegetables, meats, and condiments, are the primary drivers of these changes.
