Meal Prep Budget Calculator
Calculate weekly meal prep costs and savings vs eating out.
Results
Meal prepping saves most people $200-600 per month compared to eating out or ordering delivery. This calculator shows you exactly how much you can save based on your eating habits. The average American spends $3,000+ per year on restaurant meals - cooking at home can cut that dramatically.
Explore all our cooking cost calculator tools, or browse the full cooking hub.
Frequently asked questions
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.
A typical weekly meal prep budget is $40-75 for one person (15 meals). This covers proteins, grains, vegetables and basic seasonings.
Most people prep 10-15 meals per week (lunch and dinner for 5 weekdays). Start with 5 meals if you are new to meal prepping.
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.
Buy proteins in bulk, use seasonal vegetables, cook with dried beans and lentils, and plan meals around sale items. Rice and beans dishes can cost under $1 per serving.