Best Cheap Food in OSRS for Budget Adventurers

Best Cheap Food in OSRS for Budget Adventurers

In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), food is your lifeline, whether you’re battling monsters, training skills, or exploring Gielinor. But for many players, especially free-to-play (F2P) adventurers or those on a tight budget, finding affordable yet effective food is key. This guide dives into the best cheap food options in OSRS, balancing cost, healing power, and accessibility. From fish you can catch yourself to market steals, we’ve got you covered with practical tips to keep your hitpoints up without draining your coin pouch.

Food in OSRS restores hitpoints (HP), letting you survive tough fights or recover during grind-heavy skilling sessions. Expensive foods like sharks or anglerfish heal more but can burn through your gold fast, especially for low- to mid-level players or F2P accounts. Cheap food offers a cost-effective way to stay alive, leaving you with gold for gear, skills, or quests. Plus, many budget foods are easy to obtain through fishing, cooking, or trading, making them perfect for self-sufficient players.

Balancing Cost and Healing

The trick is finding food that heals enough for your needs without breaking the bank. For example, tuna heals 10 HP but costs around 100 coins, while monkfish heal 16 HP for about 400 coins. Depending on your combat level and the enemies you face, cheaper options might be just as effective.

F2P vs. P2P Considerations

F2P players have fewer food options, with swordfish topping out at 14 HP per bite. Members (P2P) can access higher-healing foods like monkfish or tuna potatoes, but many budget-friendly choices are available to both. This guide covers options for all players, with tips on maximizing value.

Top Cheap Food for F2P Players

Free-to-play players need reliable food that’s easy to get and doesn’t cost a fortune. Here are the best F2P options, perfect for training at Hill Giants, tackling quests, or surviving PvP in the Wilderness.

Lobster

Lobsters are a go-to for F2P players, healing 12 HP per bite and costing around 150 coins each at the Grand Exchange. They’re ideal for mid-level combat training against foes with max hits below 12.

  • How to get: Fish at Musa Point (Karamja) with a lobster pot (level 40 Fishing) or buy from the Grand Exchange.
  • Pros: Decent healing, widely available, affordable.
  • Cons: Slower to fish than lower-level fish, single-bite food.

Swordfish

Swordfish are the best F2P food, healing 14 HP per bite. They cost around 300 coins, making them pricier than lobsters but worth it for tougher fights like the Giant Mole or Wilderness bosses.

  • How to get: Harpoon at Musa Point or Corsair Cove (level 50 Fishing) or purchase at the Grand Exchange.
  • Pros: Highest F2P healing, effective against stronger enemies.
  • Cons: Expensive for F2P budgets, requires higher Fishing level.

Anchovy Pizza

Anchovy pizza heals 18 HP total (9 HP per bite, two bites), making it the highest-healing F2P food overall. At around 500 coins, it’s a bit costly but great for combo-eating in PKing or boss fights.

  • How to get: Cook at level 55 Cooking (needs anchovies and plain pizza) or buy from the Grand Exchange.
  • Pros: High total healing, combo-eating potential.
  • Cons: Two bites mean slower consumption, pricey for mass use.

Best Budget Food for P2P Players

Members have access to a wider range of foods, many of which offer great healing for less gold. These options are perfect for slayer tasks, dungeon crawling, or bossing on a budget.

Monkfish

Monkfish heal 16 HP and cost about 400 coins each. They’re a staple for mid- to high-level P2P players due to their balance of healing and affordability.

  • How to get: Fish at Piscatoris Fishing Colony after Swan Song (level 62 Fishing) or buy from the Grand Exchange.
  • Pros: High healing, cheaper than sharks, stops burning at level 90 Cooking with gauntlets.
  • Cons: Requires quest completion, moderate cost.

Tuna Potato

Tuna potatoes heal 22 HP, tying with top-tier foods like dark crabs, but cost only around 800 coins. They’re incredibly cost-efficient for high-healing needs.

  • How to get: Cook at level 68 Cooking (needs tuna, corn, and potato with butter) or buy from the Grand Exchange.
  • Pros: Massive healing, cheaper than other 22 HP foods.
  • Cons: Complex to make, not ideal for fast-paced combat.

Potato with Cheese

Potato with cheese heals 16 HP and costs as little as 300 coins. It’s a hidden gem for budget-conscious P2P players training or questing.

  • How to get: Cook at level 47 Cooking (needs potato and cheese) or buy from the Grand Exchange.
  • Pros: Very cheap, decent healing, easy to make.
  • Cons: Less healing than monkfish, not ideal for high-damage fights.

Cost vs. Healing Comparison Table

To help you choose the best cheap food, here’s a quick comparison of the foods mentioned, based on their healing power and approximate Grand Exchange prices (as of April 2025).

Food Healing (HP) Cost (Coins) HP per Coin F2P/P2P
Lobster 12 150 0.08 F2P
Swordfish 14 300 0.047 F2P
Anchovy Pizza 18 (9 × 2) 500 0.036 F2P
Monkfish 16 400 0.04 P2P
Tuna Potato 22 800 0.028 P2P
Potato with Cheese 16 300 0.053 P2P

Note: Prices fluctuate, so check the Grand Exchange before buying in bulk.

Tips for Getting Cheap Food in OSRS

Buying food is convenient, but there are smarter ways to keep costs down. These strategies can help you stock up without spending much.

Fish Your Own Food

Fishing is the best way to get free food, especially for F2P players. Lobsters and swordfish are accessible at Musa Point, while P2P players can fish monkfish at Piscatoris. Leveling Fishing and Cooking together lets you stockpile food while gaining XP.

  • Tip: Use the “fish and drop” method to train Fishing faster, then cook only what you need.
  • Locations: Karamja for F2P, Piscatoris or Fishing Guild for P2P.

Steal from Stalls

In F2P, stealing cakes from the Ardougne bakery stall (level 5 Thieving) provides food that heals 12 HP total (4 HP per bite, three bites). It’s slower to eat but free and great for low-level training.

  • Tip: Bank cakes for later or eat them during Thieving sessions to save inventory space.

Use Cooking Gauntlets

For P2P players, Cooking Gauntlets from the Family Crest quest reduce burn rates, saving you resources when cooking lobsters, monkfish, or higher-level fish. This means more usable food per fishing trip.

  • Tip: Cook at the Hosidius Kitchen (P2P) for an extra 5-10% burn reduction.

Combo Eating for Efficiency

In high-stakes situations like PvP or bossing, combo eating maximizes healing per tick. Pair an anchovy pizza (9 HP per bite) with a swordfish (14 HP) for 23 HP in one cycle, a lifesaver in F2P. P2P players can use karambwans (18 HP, fast-eating) with tuna potatoes for up to 40 HP.

  • Tip: Practice combo eating in safe areas to master the timing.

Final Thoughts on Cheap Food in OSRS

Choosing the best cheap food in OSRS depends on your playstyle, budget, and goals. F2P players can rely on lobsters and swordfish for most content, with anchovy pizzas for clutch moments. P2P players get more bang for their buck with monkfish, tuna potatoes, or potato with cheese, especially if you fish or cook your own. By fishing, stealing, or using smart cooking methods, you can keep your inventory stocked and your gold intact.

Next time you’re gearing up for a slayer task or a trip to the Wilderness, consider these budget foods to save gold while staying alive. What’s your favorite cheap food in OSRS? Drop a comment below and share your tips!