[ghaff]

I'm pretty sure you would be correct.

The cost (assuming you have at least a minimal amount of equipment--including an oven obviously) is basically the flour (which, as you say, can be hard to find right now).

A 5 pound bag of flour is normally around $4-$5 in the US, and a large boule (5 cups of flour) takes about 600 grams (~1.5 pounds) of flour, so maybe $1.50. The other ingredients in a basic loaf are negligible and the electricity is about 30 cents at a typical US price (ballpark of 10 cents per KWh).

Call it about $2 all together. So, yes, less than an artisanal loaf but maybe a bit more than cheap supermarket bread (though that's a larger loaf as well.)

[rebuilder]

Is this some kind of specialist flour? 1 USD per pound seems high.

[ghaff]

King Arthur flour (one of the big national brands) at Walmart in 5 pound bags. They probably have their own brand which is cheaper.

[maxerickson]

Great Value flour here lists for ~$0.22 a pound in a 5 pound bag. Website says they are out of stock though.

(Great Value is the Walmart store brand)

[0xffff2]

King Arthur is absurdly expensive. I'd say Gold Medal is a much better benchmark and it's usually about half the price.

[masonic]

Grocery Outlet's store brand of bread has been $1.59 a loaf for a long time. White or whole wheat.