The Restaurant Index
Approx. cost of a meal per person (U.S. city avg), from BLS CPI Food Away from Home
Then
2015
$12.00
Now
2025
$18.10
Change
2015–2025
+51%
↑ Rising
The Restaurant Index: 2015–2025
Approx. cost of a meal per person (U.S. city avg), from BLS CPI Food Away from Home
Source: BLS Consumer Price Index: Food Away from Home (CUSR0000SEFV)
Historical Data
| Year | Price | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | $12.00 | — |
| 2016 | $12.30 | +2.5% |
| 2017 | $12.70 | +3.3% |
| 2018 | $13.00 | +2.4% |
| 2019 | $13.30 | +2.3% |
| 2020 | $13.80 | +3.8% |
| 2021 | $14.40 | +4.3% |
| 2022 | $15.30 | +6.3% |
| 2023 | $16.30 | +6.5% |
| 2024 | $17.70 | +8.6% |
| 2025 | $18.10 | +2.3% |
Analysis
What does a meal out cost? The Restaurant Index uses the BLS Consumer Price Index for "Food Away from Home" — the official measure of restaurant, takeout, and food-service prices — scaled to an approximate per-person meal cost so you can see the trend in dollars.
Over 10 years, that cost has risen from about $12 in 2015 to over $18 in 2025: a 51% increase. Most of the jump happened after 2020. Labor shortages, higher rents, and food cost pass-through pushed restaurant inflation into the 6–8% range in 2022–2023 before it eased to around 4% in 2024–2025. The result is a lasting step-up in what diners pay. A casual dinner that cost $30 for two in 2015 runs closer to $45 today.
The index covers full- and limited-service restaurants, cafeterias, and other food-away-from-home spending, so it reflects the broad experience of eating out rather than any single chain or segment.