Taco trucks are fast and simple. Until you price them.
Your margin lives in protein yield, tortilla count, and salsa portions. If your crew free-pours salsa or overbuilds tacos, your best sellers become your worst margins.
This guide is a U.S.-focused taco truck cost calculator. It uses U.S. price benchmarks, portion math, and real menu examples. Use it to price tacos, burritos, and bowls with confidence.
Quick Summary
- Cost tacos by protein ounces + tortilla count, not by item name
- Track cooked yield (raw-to-cooked shrink) for beef and chicken
- Build a separate line for salsa, crema, and guac
- Reprice quarterly when protein costs move
Why Taco Truck Costing Is Tricky
- Protein shrink is bigger than you think.
- Carne asada and chicken lose weight on the grill.
- Tortillas add up fast.
- A 2-tortilla taco costs double the base.
- Salsa is real money.
- Heavy-handed portions can add $0.20-$0.40 per order.
- Combo items hide margin leaks.
- Burritos and bowls bundle high-cost add-ons.
- Rush-hour speed causes portion creep.
- The busier it gets, the less precise portions become.
If you do not cost by portion, you are guessing.
The Core Taco Cost Formulas
Cooked protein cost = (Raw protein price / Cooked yield %) x Cooked portion
Taco cost = Tortillas + Protein + Salsa + Toppings + Packaging
Burrito cost = Large tortilla + Protein + Rice + Beans + Toppings + Packaging
Food cost % = Item cost / Menu priceCooked yield is the silent killer. Track it once per week and update your recipes.
U.S. Price Benchmarks (Retail, City Average)
These are BLS average retail prices via FRED. They are retail, not wholesale. Use them as a sanity check when suppliers change fast.
| Item | Latest U.S. city average | Unit cost | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground beef, 100% | $6.687/lb (Dec 2025) | $0.42/oz | Beef tacos + burritos |
| Chicken breast, boneless | $4.153/lb (Dec 2025) | $0.26/oz | Chicken tacos |
| Tomatoes, field grown | $1.840/lb (Dec 2025) | $0.12/oz | Pico + salsa |
| Romaine lettuce | $3.399/lb (Nov 2025) | $0.21/oz | Topping cost |
Price conversion formulas:
Price per oz = Price per lb / 16Price Outlook (Why Repricing Matters)
USDA ERS forecasts food-away-from-home prices +4.6% in 2026. If you sell high-volume tacos, small cost moves matter. Reprice every quarter or lock portions tightly.
Portion Standards to Lock In
Write these down and enforce them every shift.
- Protein portion (oz cooked)
- Tortilla count (1 vs 2)
- Salsa portion (oz)
- Guac portion (oz)
- Cheese portion (oz)
Portion drift is the #1 taco truck profit leak.
Example 1: Two Carne Asada Street Tacos
Assumptions (example):
- Raw beef price: $5.90/lb
- Cooked yield: 78%
- Cooked portion: 4 oz
- Tortillas: 2 at $0.10 each
- Salsa + onion + cilantro: $0.22
- Lime + seasoning: $0.05
- Packaging: $0.18
Cost Breakdown
| Item | Portion | Unit Cost | Line Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooked beef | 4 oz | $5.90/lb ÷ 0.78 | $1.90 |
| Tortillas | 2 each | $0.10 | $0.20 |
| Salsa + toppings | 1 portion | $0.22 | $0.22 |
| Lime/seasoning | 1 portion | $0.05 | $0.05 |
| Packaging | 1 set | $0.18 | $0.18 |
| Total item cost | $2.55 |
Target price for 30% food cost:
$2.55 / 0.30 = $8.50Menu price range: $7.99-$8.99
Example 2: Two Chicken Tacos
Assumptions (example):
- Raw chicken price: $3.80/lb
- Cooked yield: 85%
- Cooked portion: 4 oz
- Tortillas: 2 at $0.10 each
- Salsa + cabbage slaw: $0.24
- Sauce: $0.10
- Packaging: $0.18
Cost Breakdown
| Item | Portion | Unit Cost | Line Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooked chicken | 4 oz | $3.80/lb ÷ 0.85 | $1.12 |
| Tortillas | 2 each | $0.10 | $0.20 |
| Salsa + slaw | 1 portion | $0.24 | $0.24 |
| Sauce | 1 portion | $0.10 | $0.10 |
| Packaging | 1 set | $0.18 | $0.18 |
| Total item cost | $1.84 |
Target price for 28% food cost:
$1.84 / 0.28 = $6.57Menu price range: $6.49-$6.99
Example 3: Burrito (Beef + Beans + Rice)
Burritos hide extra costs: larger tortilla, rice, beans, and more salsa.
Assumptions (example):
- Cooked beef: 4 oz ($1.90)
- Large tortilla: $0.32
- Rice + beans: $0.28
- Salsa + cheese: $0.25
- Packaging: $0.22
Total cost: $2.97
Target price for 30% food cost:
$2.97 / 0.30 = $9.90Menu price range: $9.49-$10.49
The Salsa Rule (Small Costs, Big Drift)
Salsa is cheap per ounce and expensive per year. If you do not portion it, you will over-serve by habit.
- Pre-portion salsa for peak hours
- Use 2-oz ladles
- Price guac separately
Weekly Costing Checklist (10 Minutes)
- Update beef and chicken prices
- Cook and weigh yield on one protein batch
- Recalculate top 5 sellers
- Check salsa and guac usage vs. sales
- Adjust prices or portions before weekend rush
How KitchenCost Helps Taco Trucks
KitchenCost lets you build taco recipes by protein, tortillas, and toppings. Track yield, portion size, and price changes in one place.
- Store cooked yield by protein
- Lock tortilla counts
- Separate salsa, crema, and guac costs
- Recalculate menu prices in seconds
Want to stop guessing? Try KitchenCost - free to start.
Related guides:
- US Food Cost Calculator
- US Menu Pricing Calculator
- US Restaurant Portion Control Guide
- US Delivery App Pricing Guide
- Food Cost Ratio Guide
- Prime Cost Guide
- Menu Engineering Guide