Cities Where Fast Food Costs Less Than Home Cooking – newspressnow.com

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Cities Where Fast Food Is Cheaper Than Cooking

In today’s fast-paced world, convenience often dictates our eating habits. For those juggling busy schedules, fast food can appear as the golden ticket to a quick meal. However, the financial implications of this habit can be challenging. Surprisingly, in numerous metropolitan areas across the United States, opting for fast food can be more budget-friendly than cooking at home.

Based on insights from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, grocery prices have surged nearly 25% over the past five years, while the costs associated with eating out have jumped by around 30%. But these averages alone don’t provide a full perspective on the cost-effectiveness of fast food versus home cooking. They fail to factor in regional variances and significant details such as nutritional content and the capability of using grocery items throughout the week. A recent survey by Hims aimed to clarify the situation.

Hims undertook a detailed analysis of grocery ingredient prices and fast food meal costs from 50 metropolitan areas in the U.S. Their goal was straightforward: determine whether it’s more economical to eat out or cook at home in various cities. For simplicity, Hims calculated the cost of making a cheeseburger at home and compared it to the price of a fast food version from a well-known chain. This approach shed light on the often-overlooked benefits of home cooking beyond simple price comparisons.

Hims

The 29 Cities Where Getting Fast Food Is Cheaper Than Cooking, Ranked From Largest to Smallest Price Difference

1. Minneapolis, Minnesota ($1.41)
2. Las Vegas, Nevada ($1.37)
3. Columbus, Ohio ($1.22)
4. Indianapolis, Indiana ($0.94)
5. Houston, Texas ($0.86)
6. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ($0.83)
7. Milwaukee, Wisconsin ($0.79)
8. Raleigh, North Carolina ($0.76)
9. Tulsa, Oklahoma ($0.71)
10. Cincinnati, Ohio ($0.67)
11. Dallas, Texas ($0.67)
12. Austin, Texas ($0.56)
13. Nashville, Tennessee ($0.54)
14. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma ($0.52)
15. Atlanta, Georgia ($0.50)
16. Richmond, Virginia ($0.47)
17. Salt Lake City, Utah ($0.45)
18. Portland, Oregon ($0.40)
19. Memphis, Tennessee ($0.37)
20. New York, New York ($0.37)
21. Detroit, Michigan ($0.34)
22. Honolulu, Hawai‘i ($0.34)
23. San Antonio, Texas ($0.32)
24. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ($0.30)
25. Kansas City, Missouri ($0.24)
26. Chicago, Illinois ($0.16)
27. San Jose, California ($0.11)
28. Cleveland, Ohio ($0.09)
29. Birmingham, Alabama ($0.03)

The 21 Cities Where Cooking at Home Is Cheaper Than Getting Fast Food, Ranked from Largest to Smallest Price Difference

1. Buffalo, New York ($1.35)
2. Jacksonville, Florida ($0.97)
3. Los Angeles, California ($0.83)
4. Sacramento, California ($0.82)
5. San Diego, California ($0.78)
6. Denver, Colorado ($0.76)
7. Providence, Rhode Island ($0.60)
8. Hartford, Connecticut ($0.57)
9. Phoenix, Arizona ($0.55)
10. Boston, Massachusetts ($0.45)
11. Seattle, Washington ($0.43)
12. San Francisco, California ($0.41)
13. Washington, DC ($0.40)
14. Tampa, Florida ($0.33)
15. Baltimore, Maryland ($0.21)
16. Rochester, New York ($0.21)
17. St. Louis, Missouri ($0.10)
18. Omaha, Nebraska ($0.10)
19. Orlando, Florida ($0.09)
20. Louisville, Kentucky ($0.08)
21. Miami, Florida ($0.03)

Key Findings

• In Minneapolis, Las Vegas, and Columbus, making a burger at home is more than $1 pricier than it would be from a fast food restaurant. Fast food prices in these cities are competitively low, balancing against the soaring grocery costs.
• Major Texas cities display a notable trend where fast food costs less than home-cooking. Reports indicate Texas is home to some of the nation’s most affordable fast food, contributing to this finding.
• In California, cooking at home generally turns out to be cheaper than ordering takeout, aside from cities like San Jose where costs are nearly equivalent. High labor expenses on the West Coast may play a significant role in this trend.

Fast Food vs. Cooking: Trends and Insights

Where is a fast food cheeseburger the most expensive?

1. San Francisco, California ($7.36)
2. Jacksonville, Florida ($7.01)
3. San Diego, California ($6.93)

Where is a fast food cheeseburger the least expensive?

1. Las Vegas, Nevada ($4.29)
2. Minneapolis, Minnesota ($4.60)
3. Houston, Texas ($4.72)

Where is the price of cooking a cheeseburger at home the most expensive?

1. San Francisco, California ($6.95)
2. New York, New York ($6.83)
3. San Jose, California ($6.53)

Where is the price of cooking a cheeseburger at home the least expensive?

1. San Antonio, Texas ($5.51)
2. Dallas, Texas ($5.57)
3. Austin, Texas ($5.57)

Methodology: How Hims Calculated Price Differences

To arrive at its conclusions, Hims employed the quarterly Cost of Living Index from The Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER), which provided valuable data regarding the 50 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. The analysis focused on a single fast food cheeseburger and the key ingredients needed to assemble one at home, including ground beef, lettuce, bread, cooking oil, and cheese.

The methodology was straightforward:

• One pound of ground beef, divided into four servings.
• Each loaf of bread contains 20 slices; two slices are necessary for a burger.
• A head of iceberg lettuce typically serves four burgers.
• A 15-ounce bottle of cooking oil averages out to two servings per ounce.
• An 8-ounce container of cheese serves four burgers.

By calculating the costs based on these proportions, Hims was able to discern whether cooking at home or opting for fast food was more financially viable for consumers in different regions.

Four Major Benefits of Cooking at Home

While fast food may offer immediate convenience — and sometimes cost savings depending on location — home cooking can provide significant nutritional and practical advantages worth considering:

• Better nutrition. Home-cooked meals give you control over every ingredient, making it simpler to reduce unhealthy additives commonly found in restaurant dishes. A 2017 study highlighted how individuals often underestimate sodium levels in fast food options.
• Budget-friendly, especially with meal planning. Cooking at home often results in leftover ingredients that can be repurposed for future meals, extending the value of your grocery purchase beyond a single meal, unlike fast food.
• Portion control for weight management. Preparing meals at home facilitates maintaining appropriate portion sizes, which can be instrumental in managing weight effectively.
• Fostering long-term healthy habits. Engaging in regular cooking encourages mindful eating and the establishment of healthy routines, which can contribute positively to overall well-being over time.

This story was produced by Hims and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.