Dining In vs. Eating Out

To get a read on the relative value of eating out versus dining in, The Fiscal Times took a (virtual) trip to some large restaurant chains and compared the prices of meals there to the costs of the same meals if prepared at home. Admittedly, our methodology was highly unscientific. After all, we’re based in Manhattan and didn’t go hunting for the best deals we could find on groceries. We also didn’t factor in whether one meal or another would be healthier, or friendlier to the environment. But that’s part of the point: Eating right and finding the extra savings that could be had by comparison shopping comes with a time trade-off that many families can’t afford to make these days. The comparisons that follow at least offer some food for thought.