Is Eating at Home Really Cheaper Than Eating Out?

Those sticking to a strict household budget avoid eating out because they consider it a luxury, and they assume eating out costs more than eating at home, but does it really? My husband, my daughter, and I eat out at least once a week, and I've come to a surprising conclusion. The following information might change your mind about eating out, depending on your restaurants of choice, and the number of people in your family. Eating out might be too costly for some, but for others it might just be too costly eating at home.

Where you Dine Makes a Difference

Eating out is more expensive than eating a sandwich at home if you consider the prices of fast food these days. A family of four used to be able to eat at fast food restaurants for under $20, but unless you order from the dollar menu or skip the fries or side salad, good luck finding the food you want and a drink for less than $5 a person. These days, fast food doesn't necessarily mean cheap food, and individual menu selections add up fast. Considering the quality of the food, fast food just isn't worth the price. My husband and I rarely eat at fast food restaurants these days.

Eating out is also generally more expensive than eating at home when considering the prices at high-end steak house restaurants. If costly drinks or desserts are ordered with your meal, you can count on the bill being sky-high. One evening meal for a couple can end up costing half the price of a weeks worth of groceries, so again, it's usually more expensive dining out at this type of restaurant than eating at home.

On the other hand, my husband, my daughter, and I dine out at least once a week at an Oriental buffet-style restaurant, and the prices can't be beat. My five year old daughter enjoys a limitless meal for approximately $3.00, and my husband and I both pay around $7.00 a piece. This doesn't include drinks, but I drink ice water with lemon, and it's free of charge. We end up paying for two soft drinks, and they're just a little more than $1.00 each. For less than $20 we enjoy a high-quality meal that includes foods I couldn't afford to buy at make at home.

The Cost of Eating at Home