No.
The average price to eat out is not $28 in any state, including Maine.
The telehealth company Top Nutrition Coaching compared the cost of eating out to the cost of eating in for the most populated city in each state. It found that in Maine, the cost of eating out at an inexpensive restaurant was $18. By contrast, the cost of eating in was $4.40: a difference of $13.60.
Nationwide, the average cost to eat out was $16.28 versus $4.23 to eat in. That’s about four at-home meals for every one restaurant meal, both nationally and in Maine.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cost of “food away from home” rose by 3.6% nationwide between April 2025 and April 2026, while the cost of “food at home” increased 2.9%.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
The Maine Trust for Local News partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.
Sources
- Top Nutrition Coaching: The cost of eating out versus eating in by state
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Consumer Price Index — April 2026
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