The Real Cost: We Break Down 5 Popular Meals
Now for the main event. Is it cheaper to cook at home? To find out, we priced out five common meals, comparing the cost of a homemade version for four people to the typical cost of buying it from a restaurant or takeout spot. Our grocery prices are based on national mid-range supermarket store brands in the Midwest, and we assume you have basic pantry staples like oil, salt, and pepper. This is how to calculate meal cost in the real world.
Meal 1: Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
A timeless family dinner. Ordering this from a local Italian-American restaurant often runs $18 per person, totaling $72 for a family of four.
Homemade Cost Breakdown:
A one-pound box of store-brand spaghetti costs about $1.25. One pound of 80/20 ground beef is around $4.50. A large 28-ounce can of crushed tomatoes is $1.50. One yellow onion adds about $0.75, and a couple of cloves of garlic are negligible, maybe $0.25. Let’s add $1.00 for a sprinkle of dried herbs and a splash of cooking oil. The total cost to make a generous portion for four is approximately $9.25.
The Verdict: $2.31 per serving at home versus $18.00 at a restaurant. That’s a savings of over 87%.
Meal 2: Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice
A healthy staple, whether from a takeout container or a meal-prep rotation. A typical takeout bowl costs around $14.
Homemade Cost Breakdown:
We need about 1.5 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breast, which costs around $6.00. A large head of fresh broccoli is about $2.50. One cup of dry white rice, which cooks up to feed four, costs about $0.50 from a large bag. Add $1.00 for soy sauce, garlic, and ginger for a simple sauce.
The Verdict: The total home-cooked cost is $10.00, or $2.50 per serving. Compared to $14 for takeout, you save 82%.
Meal 3: Classic Cheeseburgers and Oven-Baked Fries
The quintessential American meal. A fast-food “value” meal can easily top $10 per person once you add a drink.
Homemade Cost Breakdown:
One pound of ground beef ($4.50) makes four quarter-pound patties. A pack of eight hamburger buns is $2.00, so we use half ($1.00). Four slices of American cheese are about $0.75. For the fries, two large russet potatoes will cost about $1.50. Add another $0.50 for oil and ketchup.
The Verdict: The total cost for four homemade cheeseburgers and fries is $8.25, or $2.06 per person. This is nearly an 80% savings over a fast-food meal, and you control the quality of the ingredients.
Meal 4: Taco Night
A fun, customizable meal that can get pricey at a restaurant, where tacos can be $4-5 each.
Homemade Cost Breakdown:
Let’s use one pound of ground turkey, a leaner option, for about $4.00. A packet of taco seasoning is $1.00. A package of 12 hard or soft taco shells is $2.00. For toppings, a head of iceberg lettuce is $1.75, a tomato is $0.75, and a bag of shredded cheddar is $2.50. We’ll use about half the toppings, so let’s call it $2.50 for toppings.
The Verdict: The grand total for a taco night feast is $9.50. With each person eating three tacos, that’s just $0.79 per taco, a massive saving compared to eating out.
Meal 5: The “Fancy” Salad with Grilled Chicken
Fast-casual salad bars are popular for lunch, but a single salad can cost $14 or more.
Homemade Cost Breakdown:
A large head of romaine lettuce is $2.00. One pound of chicken breast, grilled and sliced, is about $4.00. A whole cucumber is $0.75, a pint of cherry tomatoes is $2.50, and a small bag of croutons is $1.50. A bottle of store-brand vinaigrette dressing costs $2.50, and you’ll only use a fraction of it, so let’s budget $0.50 for the dressing per meal.
The Verdict: The total cost to make four large, filling salads at home is $11.25, or $2.81 per serving. You save nearly 80% and can control every single ingredient. The true cost of cooking a meal at home is consistently and dramatically lower.
