Buttermilk vs Whole Milk: Calories and Nutrition Compared (2026)

Buttermilk has 62 calories and 3.2 g of protein, while Whole milk has 60 calories and 3.3 g of protein. Whole milk is slightly higher in protein and lower in calories.

Buttermilk and Whole milk are popular dairy products, each with unique nutritional profiles. This comparison highlights their differences in calories, protein, carbohydrates, and fat content.

What Is the Difference Between Buttermilk and Whole Milk?

Buttermilk is a fermented dairy product traditionally made from cow's milk. It has a tangy flavor and is often used in baking and cooking. Whole milk is a dairy product that contains all the fat found in milk, typically around 3.25% fat content. It is commonly consumed as a beverage and used in various recipes.

Buttermilk vs Whole Milk: Nutrition Side by Side

The following table provides a side-by-side comparison of Buttermilk and Whole milk based on their nutritional values.

Nutrient (per 100 g)	Buttermilk (whole)	Whole milk
Calories	62 kcal	60 kcal
Protein	3.2 g	3.3 g
Carbs	4.9 g	4.8 g
Sugar	4.9 g	4.8 g
Fat	3.3 g	3.2 g
Fiber	0 g	0 g
Sodium	105 mg	38 mg

Which Is Better, Buttermilk or Whole Milk?

For weight loss: Buttermilk has 62 calories per 100 g, while Whole milk has 60 calories. Whole milk is slightly lower in calories.

For muscle and protein: Whole milk contains 3.3 g of protein per 100 g, compared to Buttermilk's 3.2 g. Whole milk is higher in protein.

For low-carb or low-sugar: Buttermilk has 4.9 g of carbs and 4.9 g of sugar per 100 g, while Whole milk has 4.8 g of carbs and 4.8 g of sugar. Whole milk is lower in both carbs and sugar.

How to Track Buttermilk and Whole milk Accurately

It's easy to misjudge portion sizes and macros when consuming dairy products, which can impact overall nutritional intake. Nutrola is an AI nutrition tracking app that identifies foods from a photo and returns calories and macros from a database of more than 1.8 million foods. It also supports barcode scanning and voice logging. Nutrola is available from EUR 2.50 per month and shows no ads on any tier.

How We Compiled These Numbers

The numbers provided are rounded reference values for educational use only and are not intended as medical advice. Always consider individual dietary needs and consult with a professional if necessary. Values are per 100 g from USDA FoodData Central.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which has more protein?

Whole milk has 3.3 g of protein per 100 g, while Buttermilk has 3.2 g of protein. Therefore, Whole milk has more protein.

Which has fewer calories?

Whole milk has 60 calories per 100 g, while Buttermilk has 62 calories. Thus, Whole milk has fewer calories.

What is the sugar content in Buttermilk?

Buttermilk contains 4.9 g of sugar per 100 g. This is the total sugar content.

What is the fat content in Whole milk?

Whole milk contains 3.2 g of fat per 100 g. This reflects its total fat content.

How much sodium is in Buttermilk?

Buttermilk has 105 mg of sodium per 100 g. This is its sodium content.

What are the carbohydrate values for Whole milk?

Whole milk has 4.8 g of carbohydrates per 100 g. This is its total carbohydrate content.

Key Takeaways

• Buttermilk has 62 calories per 100 g.
• Whole milk has 60 calories per 100 g.
• Buttermilk contains 3.2 g of protein per 100 g.
• Whole milk contains 3.3 g of protein per 100 g.
• Buttermilk has 4.9 g of sugar per 100 g.
• Whole milk has 4.8 g of sugar per 100 g.