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What’s the average spend on food delivery apps?

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Many of us are happy to fork out a little extra for convenience, especially if it means staying in the comfort of our jammies ‘just this once’. We all deserve to treat ourselves to a lazy night in, but how much is that cheeky takeaway costing us in the long run?

To find out, we calculated the average cost of restaurant meal delivery services in Australia. We break down average spend by location, age group, household income and by food delivery app.

Average food delivery spend in Australia

How much does food delivery cost

Australians spend an average of $60 on food delivery services per week, according to Canstar Blue’s latest survey of restaurant meal delivery service users, almost doubling last year’s results of $32 per week! $60 a week equals to $240 per month, or $3,120 per year! For perspective, the average monthly spend on groceries ($608) in Australia.

Average food delivery spend by app/service

This table shows the average weekly food delivery cost by app/service, based on a Canstar Blue survey of more than 1,200 consumers.

Restaurant meal delivery service Average food delivery spend
Menulog $53
Uber Eats $59
DoorDash $60

Source: Canstar Blue research, May 2023.

What is the cheapest food delivery service?

Aussies who use Menulog spend the least on takeaway food, with our research revealing those using the platform spend on average $53 a week on meal deliveries, although the other brands aren’t too far behind.

Fancy a night in?

You’ve got your food, but what about your entertainment? Check out Disney+! With two subscription plans available, you can be enjoying your favourite food alongside your favourite show.

Brand Subscription Type No. of Screens/same time viewing Advertised Cost^^/month or year
Disney+ Logo

Disney+ Monthly Subscription

  • Stream the Disney+ library, including Disney+ Originals, Star Wars, Pixar, Marvel, National Geographic & Star
  • Watch on 4 screens at the same time
  • Add up to 7 profiles
  • Unlimited downloads of shows and movies on up to 10 devices

min. cost $13.99 over one month

4No. of Screens /same time viewing $13.99
Advertised Cost/month
Get DealCanstar Blue receives a commission for sign-ups through Disney+ *
Disney+ Logo

Disney+ Yearly Subscription

  • Stream the Disney+ library, including Disney+ Originals, Star Wars, Pixar, Marvel, National Geographic & Star
  • Watch on 4 screens at the same time
  • Add up to 7 profiles
  • Unlimited downloads of shows and movies on up to 10 devices
  • Prepay for a yearly subscription and save on the monthly cost

min. cost $139.99 over one year

4No. of Screens /same time viewing $139.99
Advertised Cost/year
Get DealCanstar Blue receives a commission for sign-ups through Disney+ *

Average food delivery spend by state

This table shows the average weekly food delivery spend across Australian states and territories, based on a Canstar Blue survey of more than 1,200 consumers.

State

Average weekly food delivery spend

Queensland

$51

Western Australia

$52

South Australia

$56

Victoria

$59

New South Wales

$72

Source: Canstar Blue research, May 2023. 

Canstar Blue’s recent survey found almost half of Aussies (48%) have tried more than one restaurant meal delivery service, with a quarter (25%) expecting to order more takeaway in the future. This is despite a similar portion of respondents (32%) stating they’ve spent more than intended on takeaway food and food delivery services.

Average food delivery spend by age group

Our research found that the average weekly spend on food deliveries didn’t differ too much between age brackets, although those aged between 50-59 were spending the least. Here’s an overview of the weekly restaurant meal delivery costs by age, based on a Canstar Blue survey of more than 1,200 consumers.

Age group Average weekly food delivery spend
18 to 29 years $57
30 to 39 years $68
40 to 49 years $61
50 to 59 years $47
60 to $69 years $59

Source: Canstar Blue research, May 2023. 

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Average food delivery spend by household income

Naturally, higher-income households spend more on restaurant meal deliveries than lower-income earners. Here is a breakdown of what households on various incomes spend on food deliveries per week, based on a Canstar Blue survey of more than 1,200 consumers.

Household income Average weekly food delivery cost
Less than $30,000 $48
$30,000 to $49,999 $55
$50,000 to $79,000 $58
$80,000 to $119,000 $53
More than $120,000 $69

Source: Canstar Blue research, May 2023. 

What costs should you look out for when ordering takeaway food?

Hidden-costs-of-food-delivery

The delivery fee isn’t the only thing to consider when ordering takeaway food. These are a few other factors to think about before handing over your credit card.

  • Minimum spending: Craving a soft-serve ice cream? To make the trip worth it for the driver and restaurant, many food delivery services have a minimum spend on orders, even with promotional offers applied.
  • Platform: Different food delivery apps may charge different fees (i.e. service fee, delivery fee, weekend surcharge, etc.) depending on the day and time you order, which food joint you order from, and so on. That’s where comparing platforms can save you money!
  • Website/app vs in-house delivery: Sometimes ordering directly from your favourite takeaway chain or restaurant (although these typically have a minimum spend) is cheaper than using a delivery service, so if you’re looking to satisfy those cravings on a budget, looking for a direct delivery from the brand itself might be the middle-ground you’re after.

Compare Restaurant Meal Delivery Services

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