No.
The average price to eat out is not $28 in any state, including California.
The telehealth company Top Nutrition Coaching compared the cost of eating out to the cost of eating in for the most populated city in each state. They found that in California, the cost of eating out at an inexpensive restaurant was $16.50. In contrast, the cost of eating in was $4.27: a difference of $12.23.
Nationwide, the average cost to eat out was $16.28 versus $4.23 to eat in. That’s almost four at-home meals for every one restaurant meal.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cost of “food away from home” has risen 3.6% nationwide between April 2025 and April 2026, while the cost of “food at home” has risen 2.9%.
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Sources
- Top Nutrition Coaching: The cost of eating out versus eating in by state
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics: Consumer Price Index — April 2026