I looked up how much a single restaurant meal costs to make at home

I was bored and decided to check the price of my favorite takeout pad thai from a place in Austin. The dish is $16.50. I added up the ingredients at my local grocery store, and the total for everything I'd need to make four servings was under $12. That means each plate at home is about $3. That blew my mind. I knew cooking was cheaper, but I didn't think the gap was that huge for one specific thing. I made it last weekend and it tasted just as good, maybe better because I could add more peanuts. It made me wonder what other dishes have a crazy markup. Has anyone else done this math for their go-to order and been shocked by the difference?

2 comments

2 Comments

scott.grace7d ago

but you're forgetting all the stuff you already have at home... oil, spices, pans. plus the time to shop and cook. my hour is worth more than the savings sometimes.

riley_king167d ago

Honestly, when you say your hour is worth more, how do you actually figure that out? Like, do you have a set dollar amount for your free time, or is it more about just being tired after work?