Which is More

• Not all beef roasts are created equal, so the prices vary per pound. Beef roasts that require longer cooking times to become tender cost less than roasts such as a standing rib roast or tenderloin. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that a chuck roast averages $4.54 per pound as of November 2013. A round roast costs $4.66 per pound. A bone-in ham costs $2.49, while a boneless ham costs $4.71 per pound. These prices should be used as examples; the price at your grocery store may be different. Besides the cheaper price, ham only has to be heated in the oven, while the beef must be roasted.

Cooked Versus Uncooked

• Ham is usually sold cooked, or ready to eat, unless it is clearly labeled a fresh ham. That means there is no or very little shrinkage when you heat it up. Beef roasts are sold raw. When the beef roast is cooked, it shrinks. How much it shrinks depends on the cooking temperature and how much fat the cut contains. It could be as much as 15 percent. That translates into the cost per pound being more. For example, a 4-pound beef roast at $4 per pound costs $16. If it shrinks 15 percent, you end up with about 3 1/4 pounds of meat after cooking. That increases the price per pound to $4.70. Long, slow cooking results in less shrinkage than cooking at high heat. When comparing the price of ham and beef, increase the price per pound from 10 to 20 percent to account for shrinkage.

Prime Versus Gourmet Ham

• Standing rib roast and beef loin are tender but pricey roasts, running from $5 to $10 per pound. Beef is also priced by the grade -- choice is less expensive than prime. However, prime is not always available in grocery stores. Gourmet honey-glazed, spiral-cut ham is about the same price as these beef roasts. Specialty hams such as Smithfield, Serrano -- a Spanish ham-- or Prosciutto Di Parma can be considerably more per pound than a rib roast or beef loin.

Grades of Beef and Types of Ham

• Hams are not usually graded like cuts of beef. Ham is sold as "ham in natural juices," "ham water added" and "ham and water product." The more water or juices, the lower the price of the ham. Prime graded beef roasts are the highest grade, tender, well flavored and marbled with fat. They are also the most expensive and not usually found in grocery stores. Choice grade is beef that is not quite as marbled as prime but still tender and juicy. Select is one step down from choice. Standard grade beef is sold ungraded in stores. A standard grade of beef roast may be less expensive per pound than a boneless ham, while a choice grade of beef roast is more expensive than "ham water added."