The Cost of Eating Out
By Mariana Reyes
It’s 6PM on a Sunday night, and you find yourself weighing whether you want to get up and cook or spring for the convenience of yet another takeout order. It’s easy to take the easy way out, but how exactly is this affecting your wallet?
This blog takes a case study approach to quantifying the financial advantages of preparing a meal over ordering takeout. Let’s start with a classic dish: chicken, rice, and a vegetable of your choice.
To see how dramatic the difference can be, let’s price out this meal at 2 different grocery stores and a restaurant. At Trader Joe’s, for example, a single serving of chicken costs $2.06, and a side of rice and a portion of carrots costs $.25 and $.50, respectively, making the total cost of the meal $2.56. Prices at grocery stores vary, of course, and also differ by location. But perusing the Whole Foods website indicates that the cost of this meal is only slightly higher there, totaling $4.37 because of the higher price of chicken ($8.99/lb). These prices are over 50% cheaper than the cost of even a fast food meal of the same type. At Chipotle, for instance, a chicken bowl will run you $8-$12 depending on location.
The pattern holds for other dishes as well. Thinking of making salmon and potatoes? At Trader Joe’s, a portion of salmon will cost $3.75. A side of potatoes will cost $0.60, and butter and seasoning will cost about $.20. On the whole, the meal would cost $4.55. For purposes of comparison, the same meal at Whole Foods is only marginally more expensive. While the cost of potatoes and seasoning remains the same, the salmon itself costs $4.69 per piece, making the total a bit higher. Still, both grocery store options are significantly cheaper than restaurant alternatives. Bone Fish Grill charges $24.50 for the same meal.
Perhaps the most jarring price difference can be seen in the simple dish of pasta and meatballs. At Trader Joe’s, a portion of pasta costs $.12, the ground beef costs $1.50, and the sauce costs $.50, totaling $2.12. At Whole Foods, the same portions will cost $.19 for pasta, $1.88 for the meat, and $.60 for the sauce, coming to $2.67 overall. Compare that to the price of this meal at Olive Garden, which starts at $17.98.
It is important to take into account that all of these takeout prices reflect the base cost. These prices assume that the customer will go to pickup the order. If you are hoping for delivery, there are even more costs associated with takeout. Platforms like DoorDash and UberEats charge service fees, and restaurants charge delivery fees. Other potential costs include small order fees, heavy order fees, and generally higher-priced menu items.
The advantages of preparing your own meals are clear. The costs tend to be 2x to 6x lower. The cost of a single takeout meal could pay for four meals when prepared at home. Costs of cooking at home also tend to become lower the more you cook. For example, as you accumulate spices, sauces, and other ingredients that have longer shelf lives, future meal prepping becomes much cheaper.
So next time you are debating whether to place a takeout order, remind yourself how much money you could save by putting on that apron and getting to work!
Sources:
“Bonefish Grill,” https://www.bonefishgrill.com/.
Bradley’s Fine Diner. “How Much Does a Chicken Bowl Cost at Chipotle?” Bradley’s Fine Diner, 5 Aug. 2025, https://bradleysfinediner.com/fresh-meat/poultry/chicken/how-much-is-a-chicken-bowl-at-chipotle/.
“Products.” Trader Joe’s, https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products.
“Which is Cheaper: Trader Joe’s vs. Whole Foods.” Don’t Waste the Crumbs, 12 Sept. 2018, https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/cheaper-trader-joes-whole-foods/
“Whole Foods Market Storefront.” Whole Foods Market, https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/alm/storefront?almBrandId=VUZHIFdob2xlIEZvb2Rz.
