Yes, higher CRI generally comes with a modest reduction in luminous efficacy. A CRI 80 LED may achieve 150-170 lm/W, while a CRI 90+ version of the same fixture typically delivers 130-150 lm/W because more red-spectrum phosphors are needed, which are less efficient. This means you may need slightly higher wattage to achieve the same brightness. High CRI chips also cost more, increasing the fixture price by 10-25%. However, for applications where color quality matters (retail, art, healthcare, photography), the visual benefit usually justifies the trade-off. For warehouses and industrial spaces, CRI 70-80 is sufficient and more energy-efficient.