Cooking Cost Calculator
Calculate cost per serving and see how much you save by cooking at home vs eating out.
Results
Knowing your cost per serving helps you budget for meal prep, compare homemade vs takeout costs and plan weekly menus. Most home-cooked meals cost $1-4 per serving compared to $8-15 for restaurant equivalents. The meal prep budget calculator shows your weekly, monthly and yearly savings to help you stay motivated.
Frequently asked questions
Divide total ingredient cost by the number of servings. A recipe that costs $12 in ingredients and makes 4 servings costs $3 per serving.
A good target is $2-4 per serving for home-cooked meals. Rice and bean dishes can be under $1, while meat-heavy meals are typically $3-5.
Home cooking is typically 3-5x cheaper than eating out. A restaurant meal at $15 per person can often be made at home for $3-5 per serving.
Most people save $200-600 per month by meal prepping instead of eating out. The exact amount depends on how many meals you prep and your local restaurant prices.
Yes, even budget fast food at $7-10 per meal adds up to $35-50 for 5 meals. The same 5 meals home-prepped typically cost $15-25 total.
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