Meal Cost Per Serving Calculator

Break down the total cost of a home-cooked recipe to find the cost per serving.

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Cost per Serving

$3.08

Total Recipe Cost$18.50
Savings vs. Restaurant$11.92
Savings Percentage79 %
View formula & how it works →

How to Calculate Cost Per Serving

Formula

Cost per Serving = (Total Ingredients + Energy Cost) / Number of Servings

What to Include

  • Ingredients: Sum up the cost of every ingredient used (prorated if you only use part of a package)
  • Energy: A rough estimate for oven or stove use is $0.25-1.00 per meal
  • Do not include: Labor (your time), equipment depreciation, or kitchen overhead

    • Why This Matters

    Home cooking typically costs 50-80% less per serving than restaurant meals. Tracking cost per serving helps you identify which recipes deliver the best value and plan a budget-friendly meal rotation.

    Example Calculation

    A chicken stir-fry: $18 in ingredients, $0.50 energy, serves 6. Restaurant price: $15.

    1. 01Total cost = $18 + $0.50 = $18.50
    2. 02Per serving = $18.50 / 6 = $3.08
    3. 03Restaurant price = $15.00
    4. 04Savings = $15.00 - $3.08 = $11.92 per serving (79%)

    Frequently Asked Questions

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