What Are the Most Expensive Steak Cuts?

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The most expensive steak in the world is A5 Japanese Kobe beef. Expect to pay $400 a pound and up, and the price changes with the restaurant and the city.

Below, we rank the 10 most expensive steak cuts by price per pound, from Japanese Kobe and Wagyu down to the ribeye and T-bone. For each one, you get the typical price and the reason it costs what it does. Still choosing a cut? Start with our guide to the best steak cuts.

Most Expensive Steak Cuts at a Glance

Prices vary by location, store and restaurant.

The 10 Most Expensive Steak Cuts, Ranked

1. A5 Japanese Kobe Beef

Japanese Kobe steak is usually considered the most expensive steak in the world, although prices vary by location and restaurant. It is also often hailed as having the best marbling of any steak your money can buy.

Japanese Kobe beef goes through a strict grading process, and only 3,000 cattle make the cut each year to be called authentic Kobe beef. So if you see this cut in a restaurant, you can bet you will pay a lot for a single serving.

Not all Kobe beef is equal. Japanese butchers use a grading system, similar to the USDA's beef grading system, to mark the highest-quality Kobe steaks. The A5 grade is the top of the scale.

Each cut of Kobe beef gets graded on its marbling, color, fat color, and texture. With a grade of A5, you are getting the very best Kobe beef Japan has to offer. That is why you can expect to pay almost double for an A5 Kobe steak than you would for Kobe beef with a lower grade.

A5 Japanese Kobe Beef Price Per Pound: $400 and up

2. Japanese Kobe Beef

Kobe beef below the A5 grade is not cheap either. It is the second most expensive steak on our list because you should still expect to pay a lot of money for it.

C1 is the lowest grade Kobe beef can have. Even with that grade, you are looking at a $250 per pound price tag. That is because, no matter the grade, Kobe beef is considered the best your money can buy. Expect to pay more as the grade goes up, with most A-grade Kobe beef costing $300 or more per pound.

Japanese Kobe Beef Price Per Pound: $250 and up

3. Japanese Wagyu Beef

Japanese Wagyu is known for its marbling. It comes from cattle that are bred and raised in Japan to produce prize-winning beef. Our Japanese Wagyu beef guide covers it in detail.

Wagyu cattle raised in Japan have special diets of grass, straw, and other natural grains. Japanese cattle farmers also make sure their cattle have the right amount of fat and muscle to build marbling and flavor. Wagyu even has its own grading system, with A5 being the best grade.

As a side note, Costco offered a discount to its members a few years ago, marking down an A5 Japanese Wagyu Ribeye from $1499 to $1199 for 11 pounds of the steak.

Japanese Wagyu Price Per Pound: $150 to $200

4. American Wagyu Beef

American Wagyu beef is much like the Japanese version, only it comes from American cattle raised with Japanese cattle-raising and feeding practices. The steaks share much of the same character and flavor, but American Wagyu undergoes the USDA Prime grading system, rather than the Japanese grading system.

On average, you will not pay much less for an American Wagyu steak than you would for a Japanese one, but you could save a little money. To learn more, read our guide to American Wagyu beef. Planning to cook one? See how to cook Wagyu and Kobe beef at home.

American Wagyu Beef Price Per Pound: $100 to $150

5. Filet Mignon

Filet mignon comes from the tenderloin, which is arguably the most tender cut you can find. Filet mignon can cost even more per pound than the tenderloin because the average animal only holds about 500 grams, or just over a pound, of the filet portion.

Filet mignon may be expensive beef, but steak lovers can't get enough of its tender texture. It also takes well to a sauce or seasoning. Check out Steak University's filet mignon articles and recipes for some flavor ideas.

Filet Mignon Price Per Pound: $30 to $100

6. Beef Tenderloin

Beef tenderloin is where you will find filet mignon. Because filet mignon is just one part of the full tenderloin, it costs more per pound than the beef tenderloin itself. That does not make beef tenderloin a cheap piece of meat. Expect to pay about $30 per pound for this cut, which fans often say is well worth the price because of its robust flavor and very tender texture.

If you want a more affordable beef tenderloin, ask the butcher for an untrimmed one. You will need to trim off the fat and slice it yourself, but you could save about $5 per pound by doing some of the work.

Beef Tenderloin Price Per Pound: $20-$30

7. Porterhouse

Porterhouse steak is usually a bit costlier than a New York strip and is a staple of some of the best steakhouses across the country. This steak is up there in price because it is two steaks in one. You will find a New York strip on one side of the bone and a tenderloin filet on the other. So, it makes sense that you'll pay a little more for this cut than you would a New York strip, simply because you're getting a strip steak with your porterhouse order. Torn between two big steaks? See porterhouse vs ribeye.

Porterhouse Price Per Pound: $20 to $25

8. New York Strip

New York strip steak is one of the most expensive steaks that you can typically find in most steakhouses, butcher shops, and grocery stores. It is easier to find than some others, but it can still be pricey, especially next to lower-end cuts.

This cut is not as tender as the filet or even the ribeye. The strength of the New York strip is its flavor. When you think of a beefy steak, you probably imagine what this cut tastes like. It is full of beefy flavor and cooks well in a pan or on the grill.

New York Strip Price Per Pound: $15 to $20

9. Ribeye

Ribeye is one of the best-loved steaks at any steakhouse. People love ribeye for its bold flavor and marbling. It is also versatile and goes well with your favorite steak side dishes. Its popularity probably has a lot to do with its high price tag, but it also has qualities that other steaks can't match.

If you choose a bone-in ribeye, expect to pay more than you would for a boneless one. That is partly because you also pay for the weight of the bone and not just the meat. But with ribeye, the rib bone is part of the draw. Cooking ribeye with the bone can lead to even more flavor and tenderness, so it is common to see bone-in ribeyes priced $2-$5 more per pound than boneless.

Ribeye Price Per Pound: $15 to $20

10. T-Bone

A T-bone steak is basically the same thing as a porterhouse steak, only smaller. While porterhouse steaks must include a filet that's at least 1 ¼ inches thick, a T-bone's filet only needs to be ¼ of an inch thick. That is the main reason you will pay as much as $15 less per pound for a T-bone steak than a porterhouse. Still, priced as much as $20 per pound, T-bones are far from cheap. For more, see how to cook porterhouse steak and porterhouses vs. T-bones.

T-Bone Price Per Pound: $10 to $20

Is the Most Expensive Steak Worth the Price?

If you don't want to splurge on 100 dollar steaks, that's understandable. Plenty of more affordable cuts still give you excellent texture and flavor. But if you want the highest grades of steak in the world, be ready to spend some money. When you buy from Chicago Steak Company, you'll know you're getting the best steaks your money can buy. Check out our selection of Wagyu steaks, aged and vacuum-sealed to keep them fresh while they ship. Or try one of our gourmet steak assortment boxes to sample a variety of premium cuts of beef delivered to your door.