Historical question on food prices (ale vs. meat)

In a certain novel that takes place in 1792, in Cumbria, England, two
characters are eating at an inn. The ale cost tenpence, which, I
calculated, is equal to 5.26 GDP in today's money. (Or, in U.S. dollars,
$6.86.)
That sounds pretty plausible, even for a whole pint. What I don't get
is, the meat cost...twopence.
Unless we're talking about two measly strips of bacon - which I doubt -
why would it cost only one-fifth of what the ale cost?
Hope someone can help. Thank you.