Hard to swallow! NYC workers spend over $5K each year on lunch — and will likely spend more soon

This 1 is difficult to swallow!

The mean New Yorker spends $5,015 connected luncheon each twelvemonth — aliases $418 per month, up from $388 successful 2023 — and 48% much per period than nan nationalist average, a caller study found.

Nationally nan mean monthly costs of luncheon is $282, but successful large cities it is astir $377, according to a survey of 5,000 full-time labor by Boston-based ezCater

Los Angelenos had it moreover worse — spending $432 a period connected nan midday meal. San Franciscans was down NYC is third, astatine $416.

Bostonians walk nan slightest — $312 — followed by Phoenix, wherever workers fork complete $349 monthly.

Inflation has changed luncheon habits, according to 78% of participants, pinch galore choosing cheaper options, going retired to luncheon less, and utilizing worth menus and coupons.

Some reported preparing meals successful bulk, opting for smaller portions and moreover sharing luncheon pinch colleagues.

New Yorkers did return nan barroom connected loving lunch, pinch 81% reported looking guardant to their break, higher than respondents successful immoderate different city.

Only 35% of workers successful some San Francisco and Chicago said they look guardant to lunching.

New Yorkers besides return nan longest luncheon breaks, 40 minutes, and person nan longest waits to bargain food, sometimes spending astir 30 minutes waiting. 

Satisfied labor are much apt to activity for a institution that pays for luncheon astatine slightest erstwhile per week, nan study besides found, and 58% percent of hybrid workers said they would travel successful to nan agency 3 days a week if they were offered free lunch.

“Lunch breaks are often sacrificed owed to tight schedules, but they tin play a awesome domiciled successful bringing group together and improving worker well-being,” said Kaushik Subramanian, main gross serviceman astatine ezCater.

Gen Z is amazingly nan astir apt property group to skip luncheon breaks, and feels nan astir blameworthy astir taking one.