Dining Out vs Cooking Cost Calculator
Food is one of the largest variable expenses in most household budgets, and the split between dining out and cooking at home has a significant impact on total spending. This dining out vs cooking cost calculator lets you enter the number of people in your household, how many meals per week you currently eat out (with average cost per person including tip and drinks), and how many meals per week you would cook at home instead (with average home meal cost per person). The tool shows your current weekly and annual food cost, the cost if you switch some or all restaurant meals to home cooking, and the annual saving from making the change.
Dining cost formula
Weekly Restaurant Cost = Meals Out x People x Cost per Person (out)
Weekly Home Cost = Home Meals x People x Cost per Person (home)
Current Weekly = Restaurant Cost + Home Cost
Weekly Saving = Swap Meals x People x (Cost Out - Cost Home)
Annual Saving = Weekly Saving x 52
Frequently asked questions
How much more expensive is dining out than cooking at home?
The USDA Economic Research Service consistently finds that away-from-home food costs 3-5x more per calorie than at-home food. For a typical meal, cooking at home costs $2-5 per person while a restaurant meal costs $12-25 per person including tip, drinks, and tax. A household of two that eats out 5 times per week vs cooking all meals could save $5,000-10,000 per year by switching predominantly to home cooking.
Does the BLS measure how much Americans spend on food away from home?
Yes. The Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey tracks food spending in detail. In 2023, the average US consumer unit spent $3,639 on food at home and $3,693 on food away from home, making out-of-home spending essentially equal to at-home spending despite providing far fewer meals per dollar. This represents a long-term trend toward more away-from-home eating.
How can I reduce food costs without giving up dining out?
Cook batch meals on weekends (reduces weeknight cooking time), plan meals weekly and shop with a list (reduces waste and impulse buys), use leftovers intentionally, limit restaurant dining to special occasions or social events, choose lunch specials over dinner entrees when dining out (same food, lower price), use cashback credit cards for grocery spending, and take advantage of restaurant happy hours for reduced-price appetisers.
Is meal kit delivery cheaper than dining out?
Meal kit services (HelloFresh, Blue Apron) typically cost $8-12 per serving, which is cheaper than restaurant dining ($12-25 per person) but more expensive than cooking from scratch ($2-5 per serving). Their value proposition is convenience and reduced food waste (pre-portioned ingredients) rather than pure cost savings. They are best compared to frequent restaurant dining, not to efficient home cooking.
How much time does home cooking save vs dining out?
This is a common counterargument - dining out saves time. For a sit-down restaurant, the total time including travel, waiting to be seated, ordering, eating, and returning home is typically 60-90 minutes for a meal that might cost $20-40 per person. A simple home-cooked meal takes 20-40 minutes to prepare plus eating time, for a per-person cost of $3-8. Quick home meals (pasta, stir-fry, eggs) are genuinely faster than most restaurant visits.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Consumer Expenditure Survey - food spending.
- USDA Economic Research Service: Food away from home.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 14 June 2026. See our methodology.