How Much Could You Save Cooking Instead of Ordering?
Food delivery is convenient, but costs add up fast. Ordering 3 times a week at $35 per order totals $5,460 per year. Cooking the same meals at $10 each costs only $1,560 — a difference of nearly $3,900 annually.
This calculator quantifies the real annual gap between delivery and home cooking. Even cutting back a few orders per week leads to significant yearly savings that could fund a vacation or boost your savings rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — include the full amount you pay: food subtotal, delivery fee, service fee, and tip. That's your true cost per order.
Meal kit cost per serving is usually $8–12, still cheaper than most delivery orders. Enter that figure as your home cooking cost for an accurate comparison.
Redirecting even $100/month into a high-yield savings account or index fund can grow substantially over years through compound interest.