If you’re wondering how much live Dungeness crab costs, the answer can vary quite a bit. The price depends on where the crab was caught, the time of year, how much crab is available and whether you’re buying it live, cooked or cleaned. If you live near where Dungeness crab is caught, buying fresh local crab directly from fishermen can be one of the better ways to get a good price. During the local season, prices can sometimes be around $10 to $15 per pound for live Dungeness crab, although prices can go higher depending on supply and demand.
What Does Local Dungeness Crab Cost?
When the catch is good and there is plenty of crab available, you may find live Dungeness crab toward the lower end of the price range, around $10 to $12 per pound. When supply is tighter or demand is higher, prices can move closer to $15 per pound or more. Prices can change quickly during the season, so don’t be surprised if the price is different from one week to the next.
How Much Does Imported Dungeness Crab Cost?
When local Dungeness crab isn’t available, seafood markets often bring crab in from other areas. Dungeness crab is commonly sourced from places such as California, Oregon, and Washington.
Imported crab isn’t necessarily more expensive, but transportation and limited supply can push the price higher. You may see live Dungeness crab from another state selling for $12 to $18 per pound or more, depending on the market.
How to Get the Best Price on Dungeness Crab
If you’re trying to save money, shop around and compare prices from seafood markets, fish markets and local fishermen. Buying live Dungeness crab during the peak of the local season is often your best bet for finding a lower price. Prices can also drop when there is a strong catch and plenty of crab available. Don’t forget to compare the price per pound. A lower sticker price doesn’t always mean you’re getting the better deal if one option is cooked and cleaned while another is live.
The price of fresh Dungeness crab can range from around $10 per pound on the lower end to $15 or more for live crab, while cooked and cleaned crab can reach $20 to $30 per pound or more. If you can buy fresh crab close to where it is caught, you’re more likely to find better prices and fresher crab. If local crab isn’t available, imported Dungeness crab can still be a great option. Prices change throughout the year, so it’s always worth checking a few local seafood markets before buying.
The picture in the article is from a long time ago. These prices do not exist anymore.