Dining out is often viewed as a luxury, despite its financial toll, with Americans reportedly spending approximately $328 monthly on meals outside the home in 2023. Online review platforms such as Yelp have made it easier for diners to voice their opinions about their experiences, especially when it comes to feeling ripped off by overpriced meals.
Recent analysis by Preply, a language-learning marketplace, examined over 57,000 Google reviews from more than 10,000 restaurants across 50 major U.S. cities to determine which locales had the most overpriced dining options. Below is the list of the 15 cities where customers frequently felt they were overpaying for their meals, along with relevant cost of living data.
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Oakland, California
- Overpriced score: 86.28
- Cost of living: 40% higher than the national average
- Cost of groceries: 16% higher
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San Jose, California
- Overpriced score: 85.72
- Cost of living: 78% higher
- Cost of groceries: 15% higher
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Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Overpriced score: 84.68
- Cost of living: 16% higher
- Cost of groceries: N/A
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Washington, D.C.
- Overpriced score: 84.11
- Cost of living: 39% higher
- Cost of groceries: 10% higher
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Fresno, California
- Overpriced score: 81.61
- Cost of living: 9% higher
- Cost of groceries: 5% higher
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Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Overpriced score: 81.52
- Cost of living: 5% higher
- Cost of groceries: 3% higher
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Mesa, Arizona
- Overpriced score: 80.84
- Cost of living: 3% higher
- Cost of groceries: 4% higher
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Boston, Massachusetts
- Overpriced score: 79.73
- Cost of living: 46% higher
- Cost of groceries: 5% higher
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Tucson, Arizona
- Overpriced score: 77.66
- Cost of living: 4% higher
- Cost of groceries: 6% higher
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Omaha, Nebraska
- Overpriced score: 77.98
- Cost of living: 7% lower
- Cost of groceries: 1% lower
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Baltimore, Maryland
- Overpriced score: 77.84
- Cost of living: 10% lower
- Cost of groceries: 4% higher
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Sacramento, California
- Overpriced score: 77.77
- Cost of living: 25% higher
- Cost of groceries: 8% higher
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Seattle, Washington
- Overpriced score: 77.31
- Cost of living: 46% higher
- Cost of groceries: 14% higher
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Fort Worth, Texas
- Overpriced score: 76.85
- Cost of living: 4% lower
- Cost of groceries: 1% lower
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San Francisco, California
- Overpriced score: 76.31
- Cost of living: 70% higher
- Cost of groceries: 23% higher
This list showcases the 15 U.S. cities where dining experiences have been frequently described as overpriced, paralleling broader concerns regarding the cost of living and meal expenses in these areas.