New Survey Shows Where You’re Likely to Spend the Most on Dining

Planning an upcoming trip, but want to save a little cash where you can? You might want to avoid any of the top destinations where you’re likely to spend the most on dining out. A study from Meal Delivery Experts compared the average annual cost of dining out per year for households in each state to predict where dining out is most expensive.

According to the survey, the top destination in the United States for annual spending on restaurant dining was Washington, D.C., where the average household spends more than $100 per week on dining out, for a total average of $6,051 per year. Following, in descending order, were New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland, and California.

On the flip side, the most affordable dining destinations, according to the survey’s data on annual restaurant spending, were Mississippi, West Virginia, Arkansas, Kentucky, and New Mexico. In Mississippi, the most budget-friendly state, the survey found households are likely to spend slightly more than $50 per week on dining out, or about $2,700 per year.

“It is fascinating to see how so many of the states that appear in the top 20 are located on the East Coast,” said a spokesperson with Meal Delivery Experts. “Washington, D.C., stands out, with the average household in the district spending $1,000 more than any other state in the U.S. on dining out each year. This data also demonstrates the significant amount of money that people could save if they cut back on restaurant dining. Reducing dining out by even just one quarter could save a lot of households more than a thousand dollars a year.”