I'm sure some of you already know about this, but just in case you didn't, I've documented just how much more you pay every time you get food ordered on food delivery apps.

Today I got some food ordered at a restaurant in person and just to check the same prices on Zomato, which is what I usually use to get food at home, I filled the cart with all the items that I got. To my shock, the price difference was Rs.306.60!!!

Of course there's an option to add a promo code to get a discount and I was able to add a code to get Rs.118.80 off, but that was still Rs. 157.86 more. Seeing such a large discount makes it look crazy because when you see that without knowing the actual menu pricing in the restaurant, you think to yourself, why the hell would anyone go to the restaurant where you can't get this discount?! But it's all just an illusion. You're effectively paying Rs. 157.86 for the comfort of receiving that food at home. And sadly, not all of it goes to the actual person delivering the food to you, even though that's what you're mostly paying that extra amount for.

I've been warned by some restaurants that their menu on the apps are higher than their in-restaurant menu because they have to offset the fees that these apps charge for every order. But I was alarmed by how much they usually end up offsetting. There's a RS. 60 difference between chicken biriyani in restaurant vs. the app, just as an example.

Here's the paper receipt and the cart on Zomato for comparison.

​

The paper receipt. Amount comes to Rs. 590.

​

The cart with the same items at the same restaurant on Zomato.

​

Final price with discount comes to Rs. 149.86 more than if you get it at the restaurant. If you take off the optional Rs. 4 as a donation.

I don't have any problem with anyone still going for the food delivery apps because honestly, it's just more convenient. But please do be aware, that you're paying significantly more, and not less, as the promo codes would have you believe.