Restaurant Price Inflation
17.8% vs 1.9% general inflation
Restaurant prices exploded since 2019, making dining out a luxury expense disguised as routine. Couples eating out twice weekly spend $4,000-$8,000 annually.
The real cost
$4,000-$8,000 vs $2,500-$4,500 pre-pandemic
How to not get wrecked
- 1Treat restaurants as special occasions
- 2Look for happy hour and early bird specials
- 3Split appetizers and entrees
- 4BYOB where legal to avoid alcohol markups
Related money drains
#21
Food Oligopoly Price Coordination
3 chains control 57% of market
Three grocery chains control 57% of the Canadian market. Prices run 30–50% above inflation.
#22
Coffee Shop Addiction Tax
$3+ daily = $780-$1,095/year
A daily $3 coffee habit costs $780–$1,095/year, more than many grocery budgets.
#23
Food Delivery App Fee Explosion
53% surcharge per order
Delivery apps add up to 53% in fees. A $15 meal becomes $23.
Track your spending and plug these drains with Prosperi.