Why the Same Meal Costs ₹810 at a Restaurant but ₹1,473 on Swiggy – Viral Post Exposes Shocking Price Gap
Why the Same Meal Costs ₹810 at a Restaurant but ₹1,473 on Swiggy – Viral Post Exposes Shocking Price Gap
People today often choose food delivery apps like Swiggy for the convenience of enjoying meals at home. But one user’s recent post has sparked a debate about whether this convenience is worth the steep extra cost. Sunder (@SunderjiJB) shared on X that ordering the same meal on Swiggy cost him 81% more than buying it directly from the restaurant just 2 kilometers away. He wrote:
“Hey @Swiggy, please explain. Why does ordering food in the app, 81% expensive than buying the same food from the same outlet, just 2kms away. Is this the real cost of convenience ? The extra that I have to pay to get the food delivered is INR 663.”
The price difference was striking:
Paratha (2 pieces): ₹70 on the app vs ₹20 per piece at the restaurant
Chicken 65: ₹240 on the app vs ₹150 at the restaurant
Chicken Lollipop: ₹320 on the app vs ₹200 at the restaurant
Chicken Thokku Biryani: ₹460 on the app vs ₹280 at the restaurant
This gap isn’t just about delivery charges. It also includes menu markups, platform commissions, packaging costs, taxes, and more — all adding to the final bill. Despite the viral nature of the post and widespread public discussion, Swiggy has not yet issued any public response or explanation.
Many people weighed in on the issue. One said, “Even if I take an auto and go eat there, it won’t cost this much extra.” Another commented, “People pay, that’s why they charge this much.” Some suggested the restaurant itself might be setting higher prices on the app. One user pointed out, “Swiggy doesn’t force you to order.”
Another user added, “You are behaving like it’s forced upon you. It’s an open market you can choose only. If you choose comfort you got to pay the price, there’s no monopoly. Check all the services, whatever suits you prefer that. App and manpower needs their cut to run. Someone spending an hour and petrol needs compensation to run their household.”
