Food delivery is expensive because you pay for food, fees, markups, tips, and convenience all at once. Cutting it completely may not be realistic, but reducing it can free up money quickly.
Know The Real Cost
A delivery order can include:
- Higher menu prices (often 10 to 30% above in-restaurant prices on major apps)
- Delivery fee
- Service fee
- Small order fee if below a minimum
- Tip
- Taxes
Compare the app total to what you’d pay for pickup or cooking at home. The difference is the convenience cost, and on some orders it can nearly double the base meal price. Knowing the real number makes it easier to decide whether the convenience is actually worth it.
Set A Weekly Limit
Instead of saying “no takeout ever,” set a limit.
Examples:
- One delivery order per week
- Takeout only on Fridays
- Pickup instead of delivery for anything under a few miles away
- Delivery only when sick, traveling, or truly overwhelmed
Rules work better when they’re realistic. A rule you can keep beats a strict rule you break every third day. If one delivery a week fits comfortably in your budget, that is a reasonable place to land.
Use Pickup More Often
Pickup can remove delivery fees and reduce menu markups, depending on the restaurant and platform.
Many restaurants take direct orders through their own website or by phone, which avoids the platform fee entirely and sometimes gives you a lower price. If you’re already out or the restaurant is nearby, pickup gives you most of the convenience at a lower total cost.
Keep Emergency Meals
Many delivery orders happen because there’s no easy food at home when energy is low.
Keep a few backup meals stocked at all times:
- Frozen pizza
- Canned or boxed soup
- Pasta and jarred sauce
- Pre-cooked frozen rice or grain bowls
- Sandwich supplies
- Frozen dumplings or potstickers
- Eggs and toast
- Peanut butter and crackers
These don’t need to be exciting. They need to be easier to make than opening a delivery app. Having five minutes of effort available beats a $30 delivery fee. See How To Spend Less On Groceries for tips on building out a low-cost pantry that supports this habit.
Delete Saved Cards If Needed
If delivery apps are too easy to use impulsively, add friction.
Try:
- Delete saved payment cards from delivery apps (you have to re-enter each time)
- Turn off push notifications from delivery apps
- Remove delivery apps from your home screen
- Set app screen time limits
- Unsubscribe from promotional emails that trigger orders
The goal is to make ordering a deliberate choice rather than a reflex. Most impulse delivery orders happen because the path of least resistance is wide open. Closing it slightly is often enough.
Do Not Let Coupons Trick You
A delivery coupon or promo code may still leave you paying more than pickup or groceries.
Check the final total after the promo is applied and compare it to your alternatives. A $5 promo on a $40 delivery order still costs more than most home meals. A discount is only useful if the final order still fits your budget and was something you were going to order anyway.
Delivery subscription plans can be worth it if you order frequently enough to offset the monthly fee. If you have one but only order occasionally, the subscription itself is a cost to review.
Keep The Takeout You Value
If one restaurant meal each week genuinely makes your life better, plan for it and fit it into the budget on purpose. The problem isn’t takeout itself. It’s the unplanned, tired, low-enjoyment orders that quietly add up.
Intentional takeout is easier to afford and usually more enjoyable than accidental takeout. For help building a budget that includes a realistic food budget, see How To Build A Budget.
Delivery vs. Pickup vs. Cooking: A Cost Comparison
| Option | Relative Cost | Best When |
|---|---|---|
| Home cooking | Lowest | You have time and ingredients |
| Emergency pantry meal | Low | Tired, nothing planned |
| Restaurant pickup | Medium | Nearby, need a break from cooking |
| Food delivery | Highest | Convenience is genuinely worth the cost |
| Meal kits | Medium-high | You want to cook but hate planning |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is it cheaper to cook at home than order delivery?
Almost always, yes. Home cooking is typically a fraction of the cost of delivery once you account for delivery fees, service fees, tips, and menu markups. The gap is largest for simple meals, a pasta dish cooked at home costs far less than the same dish ordered through an app. The trade-off is time and planning, which is why having emergency pantry meals matters.
Q: How do I stop ordering food delivery out of habit?
The easiest fix is removing friction from cooking while adding friction to ordering. Stocking easy backup meals eliminates the “nothing to eat” situation that drives most impulse orders. Deleting saved payment cards from apps adds just enough friction to make ordering a deliberate choice instead of a reflex.
Q: Are food delivery subscriptions worth it?
Only if you order frequently enough to offset the monthly cost. If you order two or more times per week, a subscription that waives delivery fees may pay for itself. If you order once or twice a month, you’re paying for something you rarely use. Check your actual order history before deciding.
Q: What is the cheapest way to handle nights when you do not want to cook?
Pickup is usually the best middle ground, you get restaurant food without the delivery markup, fees, and tip. Ordering directly from the restaurant instead of through a third-party app can also reduce the cost. Emergency pantry meals are the cheapest option but require some upfront planning.
Learn More
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Making a budget