Meal Kit Cost Comparison: The Real Numbers
Advertised prices don't tell the full story. We calculated the true cost per serving for 8 popular meal kit services — including shipping, minimum order sizes, and what's actually included.
True Cost Per Serving (4 Meals/Week, 2-Person Box)
| Service | Advertised | With Shipping | Weekly Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dinnerly | $4.99 | $6.49 | $51.92 |
| EveryPlate | $4.99 | $6.35 | $50.80 |
| HelloFresh | $8.99 | $10.49 | $83.92 |
| Blue Apron | $7.99 | $9.49 | $75.92 |
| Home Chef | $7.99 | $9.49 | $75.92 |
| Green Chef | $11.99 | $13.49 | $107.92 |
| Marley Spoon | $8.69 | $10.19 | $81.52 |
| Gobble | $11.99 | $13.49 | $107.92 |
What These Numbers Don't Include
- Pantry basics: Some services expect you to have oil, salt, pepper, butter. Dinnerly and EveryPlate require more pantry items than premium services.
- First-box discounts: Most services offer 40-60% off your first box. These prices are regular prices after the intro offer.
- Larger boxes are cheaper per serving: A 4-person, 5-meal box often drops the per-serving price by $1-2.
How to Use This Comparison
Use the table as a first-pass budget filter, then check the final weekly total for your ZIP code, household size, delivery day, and intro offer. Budget meal kits can look similar on advertised serving price, but shipping, box size, and skipped-week rules change the real monthly cost.
- If you want the lowest possible weekly total: start with Dinnerly and EveryPlate.
- If you want more convenience: compare whether printed recipe cards and pre-sorted bags are worth the added cost.
- If you cook for picky eaters: check current weekly menus before choosing by price alone.
The Bottom Line
Dinnerly and EveryPlate are nearly identical on price — usually within about $1/week before location-specific promotions. The difference is experience: EveryPlate includes printed cards and meal bagging; Dinnerly is digital-only. For the absolute lowest grocery bill replacement, either one can work. Premium services can cost noticeably more per week for the same number of meals.
Before ordering, confirm the live price for your household size and ZIP code so you compare the true weekly total instead of only the advertised per-serving price.