How much can I save by meal prepping?

It depends on how often you currently buy meals and the price gap. Swapping 5 bought meals a week at $18 each for home-cooked meals at about $6 each saves around $60 a week, or roughly $3,120 a year. The bigger your habit and the larger the price gap, the more meal prepping saves you. ASIC MoneySmart highlights small, repeated savings like this as some of the easiest to make.

How much does the average Australian spend on takeaway?

Many Australians spend well over $100 a week on takeaway, cafe lunches and food delivery once you add it all up. A single bought lunch often costs $15 to $20, so buying lunch five days a week alone can run to $75 to $100 weekly. Costs are higher again if you use delivery apps, which add service and delivery fees on top of the meal price.

Is cooking at home really cheaper?

Yes, in almost every case. A home-cooked meal typically costs a few dollars in ingredients compared with $15 or more for the same meal bought out, and cooking in batches (meal prep) cuts the per-meal cost further. The saving isn't just money — prepping ahead also saves time and decision fatigue during the week.

Meal Prep Savings Calculator

See how much you'd save by cooking and meal-prepping at home instead of buying takeaway and lunches out — per week, per year, and invested over 10 years.

Last verified: 5 May 2026

How much does cooking at home save you?

Swapping even a few bought meals for home-cooked ones adds up fast. The price gap between a $15–$20 lunch out and a few dollars of ingredients is large, and small, repeated savings are the easiest kind to make. Source: ASIC MoneySmart.

Worked example. 5 bought meals a week at $18 swapped for home-cooked meals at $6 saves about $60/week, or roughly $3,120/year — about $47,800 if invested at 8% over 10 years.

General information and estimates only — not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always verify with a licensed adviser or the ATO.

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