Meal Cost Comparison Calculator
Compare the cost of home cooking, meal kits, and takeaway to see how your food spending stacks up.
Number of people you cook for
How many evening meals you cook or order per week
Average total cost per home-cooked meal (groceries for the whole household)
Cost per person per meal from a kit service (e.g. HelloFresh, Marley Spoon)
Average cost per person including delivery fees (Uber Eats, Menulog, etc.)
Meal Prep Essentials
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a home-cooked meal cost in Australia?
The average home-cooked dinner in Australia costs $10-$15 for a family of four using standard supermarket ingredients. This can drop to $6-$8 per meal with budget planning, or rise to $20+ with premium ingredients. The key variable is whether you shop at Aldi, Coles, or Woolworths, and whether you meal plan.
Are meal kits cheaper than cooking from scratch?
Generally no. Meal kits like HelloFresh cost around $8-$12 per person per serve in Australia, which is more expensive than cooking from scratch for most families. However, meal kits reduce food waste and save planning time. For singles or couples, the cost difference is smaller and meal kits can actually save money compared to buying ingredients that go to waste.
How much does the average Australian family spend on takeaway?
Australian families spend an average of $60-$100 per week on takeaway and food delivery. With delivery app fees and surcharges, the average Uber Eats order for a family of four is around $70-$90. Cutting just one takeaway meal per week can save $3,000-$5,000 per year.
What is the cheapest way to feed a family in Australia?
Batch cooking and meal planning with supermarket specials is the most cost-effective approach. Shop at Aldi for staples, buy seasonal produce, cook in bulk on weekends, and use a freezer. A family of four can eat well for $120-$150 per week with disciplined planning.
Does this calculator include lunch and breakfast?
This calculator focuses on dinner meals as that's where the biggest cost variation occurs between home cooking, meal kits, and takeaway. You can adjust the "meals per week" number to include other meals if you want a more complete picture.
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