You often hear people say that meal delivery is “too expensive.” But have you ever calculated how much a week of grocery shopping, cooking, and food waste really costs you? We did. And the result is more surprising than you might think.
The true cost of a week of home-cooked meals
Cooking at home is economical—in theory. In practice, grocery shopping for two people in Switzerland costs between 80 and 120 CHF per week to eat properly. And that’s not even counting:
- Food waste: In Switzerland, the average household throws away 100 kg of food per year, which is worth about 500 CHF
- Last-minute impulse buys at the end of the day (kebab, takeout sushi) when your energy is completely drained
- Time: Between grocery shopping, cooking, and washing dishes, allow 45 to 75 minutes per meal
- Ingredients bought for a recipe and never used again
When broken down into a balanced meal for two, the actual cost is often between 12 and 18 CHF—not the 6–8 CHF one might expect.
How much does a meal kit really cost in Switzerland?
Meal delivery options vary by service, but ready-to-eat meals generally cost between 10 and 16 CHF per serving. What you pay includes:
- The ingredients (no waste—everything is measured out or already cooked)
- Prep time (no chopping, no long cooking)
- Home delivery
- No commitment: order whenever you want
Based on this criterion, the price difference compared to home-cooked meals is often between 0 and 4 CHF per meal—not the “twice as expensive” claim we often hear.
Head-to-Head Comparison: 5 Criteria That Really Matter
| Criterion | Homemade | Meal delivery |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per meal (for two people) | 12–18 CHF (actual, often underestimated) | 10–16 CHF (all-inclusive) |
| Time / Meals | 45–75 min (shopping + cooking + washing dishes) | 3–5 min (warm-up) |
| Waste | High (partial ingredients, forgotten in the fridge) | None (exact portion) |
| Flexibility | Total — but at the organization's request | No subscription = on-demand ordering |
| Cognitive load | Time-consuming (planning, shopping, cooking) | Zero (decision made in two clicks) |
Who really benefits from ordering meal delivery?
Not everyone—and it’s honest to admit that. If you enjoy cooking on the weekends, if you have the time, and if it’s something you enjoy doing: go for it. Home cooking has real benefits.
But if you work full-time, come home exhausted during the week, and spend more time scrolling through Migros Online than cooking: meal delivery isn’t a luxury. It’s a sensible trade-off between time and money.
What Weekly Food offers in this segment
Weekly Food is a service based in French-speaking Switzerland that delivers fresh, ready-to-eat meals to your doorstep throughout Switzerland. Meals are ready in 3 minutes, with no subscription required—you order what you need, when you need it. The service is designed for busy weeks: no meal planning, no commitment, no waste.
Want to try it out without any risk? Check out the weekly meal plans right on the website—delivery throughout Switzerland, no subscription required: weekly-food.ch
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