Meal Cost Per Serve Calculator
Work out the cost per serve of a home-cooked meal by dividing total ingredient cost by the number of servings.
Your results
Calculation breakdown
- Cost per serve
- total ingredient cost ÷ number of servings
Worked example
A $24 recipe that makes 4 servings costs $6.00 per serve.
Assumptions
- Only counts ingredients bought specifically for the meal, not pantry staples already owned.
How this calculator works
Enter the total cost of ingredients for a recipe and the number of servings it makes to calculate the cost per serve, useful for comparing home cooking with takeaway.
Frequently asked questions
Should I include pantry staples I already own?
For accuracy, only include the cost of ingredients you had to buy specifically for this meal, or a small estimated share of staples used.
How does this compare to takeaway?
Compare your result against typical takeaway prices per person to see potential savings from cooking at home.
Can I use this for batch cooking?
Yes, enter the total recipe cost and total servings produced, even if you're freezing portions for later.
Results are estimates only and are not financial, tax, legal or credit advice.