₹ Zomato/Swiggy True Cost Calculator
That "free delivery" isn't so free. See the real cost of your food delivery habit!
₹ Monthly Breakdown
₹ Delivery vs Cooking
₹ Money-Saving Tips
- ₹ Use Pro/Gold subscription if ordering 8+ times/month
- ₹ Stack coupons with bank offers for maximum discounts
- ⏰ Order during off-peak hours for lower surge fees
- 💰 Try meal prepping on weekends - save 50% easily!
- ₹ Pickup option often waives ₹40-60 in fees
📖 How to Use Zomato Swiggy Cost Calculator
- Orders Per Week: Enter how many times you order food delivery weekly (breakfast/lunch/dinner combined)
- Average Order Value: Set typical amount you spend per order including taxes and delivery fees
- Platform Fees & Surge: Factor in packaging, platform fees, surge pricing (usually ₹20-50 extra per order)
- Review Total Cost: See monthly, yearly, and 10-year costs with investment opportunity comparison
- Get Alternatives: Compare with cooking at home or dining out to understand true premium you pay
₹ Why Food Delivery Is Quietly Draining Your Wealth
"Just ordering in tonight" has become India's most expensive habit. What started as convenience during COVID lockdowns has become a lifestyle for millions. But have you ever calculated the true cost?
Let's break down a typical order: Biryani that costs ₹180 in the restaurant becomes ₹250 on Zomato/Swiggy. Add ₹40 delivery fee, ₹6 platform fee, ₹10 GST, and ₹15 packaging charges. Your ₹180 biryani just became ₹321—a 78% markup. If you're ordering 3 times a week at ₹350 average, that's ₹54,600/year. Over 10 years with 12% investment returns? ₹10.5 lakhs opportunity cost.
But here's what nobody tells you: The same meal costs ₹250 if you dine-in (no delivery/platform fees) and ₹120 if you cook at home (ingredients for 2 portions). You're not paying for food—you're paying ₹100-200 per meal for "not having to step out." At 10-15 orders/month, that's ₹1,500-3,000/month just in convenience charges.
We're not saying never order food—we're saying understand the premium. Weekend indulgence? Worth it. Ordering breakfast because you woke up late? That's a ₹2 lakh/year habit. Cook 5 days, dine out 1 day, order 1 day—you've just saved ₹30,000/year without sacrificing lifestyle.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the average Indian spend on food delivery?
According to industry data, urban Indians spend ₹3,000-6,000/month on food delivery (10-15 orders). Metro city professionals often spend ₹8,000-12,000/month. This doesn't include groceries or dining out—purely Zomato/Swiggy/Dunzo orders. At ₹6,000/month for 10 years invested at 12% returns, that's ₹13.9 lakhs opportunity cost!
What's the actual markup on food delivery apps?
Typical markup breakdown: Restaurant markup (15-30% higher menu prices on apps), Delivery charges (₹20-60 depending on distance/surge), Platform fee (₹3-7), GST (5% on food), Packaging charges (₹10-25). Combined? You're paying 50-100% more than restaurant dine-in prices. A ₹200 restaurant meal becomes ₹350-400 delivered.
Are food delivery subscriptions like Zomato Gold worth it?
It depends on usage. Zomato Gold (₹399 for 3 months) gives free delivery on orders ₹199+. If you order 12+ times in 3 months (4/month), you break even. At 8+ orders/month? Definitely worth it—saves ₹2,000+/year. Swiggy One (₹899 for 3 months) needs ~20 orders/quarter to justify. Calculate: (monthly orders × avg delivery fee) vs subscription cost.
How much cheaper is cooking at home really?
Dramatically cheaper! Examples: Dal Tadka + Roti: ₹250 delivered vs ₹60 home-cooked (75% saving). Chicken Biryani: ₹350 delivered vs ₹140 home-cooked (60% saving). Pasta: ₹300 delivered vs ₹80 home-cooked (73% saving). Even factoring in your time (₹200/hour cooking opportunity cost), home cooking saves ₹100-150 per meal. At 2 meals/day? That's ₹3,000-4,500/month saved = ₹36,000-54,000/year!
What about the "convenience" factor—isn't that worth paying for?
Absolutely—but price it consciously! Convenience is worth paying for when: (1) You're working and can't take 30 mins to cook, (2) You're sick/exhausted, (3) Social occasion with friends. It's NOT worth it when: (1) You're just lazy/bored, (2) Ordering breakfast because poor planning, (3) Ordering solo dinner every night out of habit. Rule of thumb: If ordering saves you productive work time worth ₹300+, do it. If ordering just saves you from walking to kitchen? Cook.
What's a realistic "food delivery budget" for someone earning ₹50,000/month?
Financial advisors suggest food delivery should be <5% of take-home income max. At ₹50,000/month, that's ₹2,500 for delivery—roughly 6-8 orders/month. Compare this to: (1) Groceries: ₹6,000-8,000/month, (2) Dining out: ₹2,000-3,000/month, (3) Delivery: ₹2,000-2,500/month. Total food budget = 20-25% of income (₹10K-12.5K). Spending ₹6K+/month on delivery alone? That's a lifestyle inflation red flag.