How to Use the Home Cooking vs. Delivery Cost Comparison
Food delivery is convenient, but delivery fees, service charges, and restaurant markups make it significantly more expensive than cooking at home. This calculator compares monthly delivery spending against home cooking ingredient costs to show your actual monthly and annual difference.
The average American household spends $3,000–$5,000 per year on food delivery. Even cutting delivery orders in half can save hundreds per month. Home-cooked meals typically cost $4–$8 per person per meal in ingredients, compared to $15–$25+ per person for delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Simple meals cost $3–$5 per person; protein-heavy meals run $6–$10 per person. Batch cooking and buying staples in bulk reduces average cost further.
If you value your time highly, home cooking has a hidden cost. But even at $15/hour, a 30-minute home-cooked meal adds $7.50 to the cost — often still cheaper than delivery for 2+ people.
They eliminate delivery fees but add a monthly fee. Calculate whether the subscription pays for itself based on how often you order.