Cheapest States to Eat: Where South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota Rank

The cheapest state to eat out in is South Dakota, with an inexpensive meal costing $13.40 on average

The most expensive state to eat out is Hawaii, with an inexpensive meal costing $27.25

States were ranked based on the average cost of a meal at an inexpensive restaurant to determine which states are the most and least expensive to eat out

A new study by Seating Masters analyzed data from Numbeo, including the price of a meal at an inexpensive restaurant, to determine which states are the most expensive and cheapest to eat out in. The data from the cities in each state was collected and averaged to achieve a more accurate ranking. The price of a three-course meal at a mid-range restaurant for two people was also analyzed for each state and included in the ranking.

The cheapest state to eat out in is South Dakota, with an inexpensive meal costing $13.40. The Mount Rushmore State ranked second most affordable in the country for a three-course meal for two people, costing $54.00.

Iowa is in fourth place, with an inexpensive meal costing $14.40. For a three-course meal for two people, one would pay an average of $59.63, the 11th cheapest in the country.

CHEAPEST STATES TO EAT OUT

1. South Dakota: $13.40
2. Oklahoma: $14.00
3. Arkansas: $14.19
4. Iowa: $14.40
5. North Dakota: $14.50
6. Kansas: $14.70
7. Utah: $14.93
8. Kentucky: $15.24
9. Georgia: $16.11
10. Wisconsin: $16.36

Hawaii is the most expensive state to eat out in, with a meal at a lower-priced restaurant costing $27.25. A three-course meal for two in the Aloha State will cost $99.00, the most expensive in the U.S..

MOST EXPENSIVE STATES TO EAT OUT

1. Hawaii: $27.25
2. Alaska: $24.98
3. New Hampshire: $24.41
4. Rhode Island: $24.13
5. New Jersey: $23.06
6. Montana: $22.77
7. Maine: $22.65
8. Connecticut: $22.61
9. Massachusetts: $22.45
10. Vermont: $20.88

Data for the costs of ‘Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant’ and ‘Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course ‘ were scraped from Numbeo for all listed US Cities in each state.

Each state’s average cost was then calculated and ranked from least to most expensive.