Does dining out cost an average of $28 in Missouri?

The average price to dine out is not $28 in any state, including Missouri.

The telehealth company Top Nutrition Coaching compared the cost of dining out to the cost of eating in for the most populated city in each state. They found that in Missouri, the cost of dining out at an inexpensive restaurant was $18. In contrast, the cost of eating in was $3.34: a difference of $14.66.

Nationwide, the average cost to dine out was $16.28 versus $4.23 to eat in. That’s almost four at-home meals for every one restaurant meal.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cost of “food away from home” has risen 3.6% nationwide between April 2025 and April 2026, while the cost of “food at home” has risen 2.9%.