As-salamu'alaykum sister, It costs more sometimes because there isn't a lot of people who slaugther the halal(right way) and that usually isn't in mass production like the american food producers, so it costs more to raise and slaugther the meat. A great websites also to find what is halal in the stores is: www.muslimconsumergroup.com There is all kinds of things that have pork or non-halal animal fat and by products in them.

The food industry in America is sick, we all know that. In "normal" countries, such as Russia, Iran, Spain etc etc food is natural and organic already, and costs much less than processed food. Here, we are always hearing about some new pest in vegetables or in the water supply. I guess this is to show that nowhere in the world will you have everything perfect and easy.