If you think grabbing takeout in Seattle feels pricey, you’re not imagining it. According to a new analysis, Seattle tops the list as the most expensive city in America for takeout—ringing in at a steep 29% above the national average. Just across Lake Washington, Bellevue also makes the top 10, landing at number 9 with prices roughly 16% higher than average. And it’s not just Washington feeling the heat: six of the 10 most expensive takeout cities are in California, reinforcing the West Coast’s reputation for high food costs.
These findings come at a time when fast-food prices are already soaring. McDonald’s prices have doubled over the past decade, and overall takeout costs have climbed 3.4% in just the last year. Even so, how much you feel the sting depends heavily on where you live.
To map out the landscape, Net Credit analyzed menu prices on Grubhub across 260 U.S. cities, comparing the cost of popular items from major fast-food chains. They established a national average, then ranked states and cities by how far they deviate from it.
Curious about where to find the cheapest takeout in the country? West Virginia was ranked as the #1 cheapest state, coming in at 9.95% below the national average for takeout pricing. Even better for locals, Parkersburg, West Virginia is the most affordable takeout city in 2025, with costs coming in at 14.01% below the norm. Other bargain cities cluster in the South as well, including three in Georgia and two each in Mississippi and Tennessee.
One important caveat: the study focused on takeout prices alone, not delivery fees—meaning the true cost of your next food craving could be even higher once apps and delivery charges come into play.
See the full breakdown on Net Credit.