Food Delivery Compound Cost Calculator
Compound opportunity cost of weekly food delivery habit over years.
See the compound cost of a weekly food delivery habit redirected to investing. Enter weekly delivery spend and return for an instant result.
What this tool does
Food delivery apps (Deliveroo, Uber Eats, Just Eat) charge 20-40% premium over eating. Enter weekly delivery spend, expected investment return, and horizon. The tool returns the compound opportunity cost of continuing the habit.
Enter Values
Formula Used
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Disclaimer
Results are estimates for educational purposes only. They do not constitute financial advice. Consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.
50 a week on delivery over 20 years at 7% compounds to roughly 112,900 if redirected. The delivery premium over restaurant pickup is typically 10-15 per order; even cutting that marginal premium adds up over decades.
Where the premium lives
Delivery apps charge 15-30% markup plus service fees plus tip. Pickup from the same restaurant typically costs 20-30% less. Cooking the same meal at home is 60-80% less. Tool shows the compound cost; you decide how to respond.
Quick example
With weekly delivery spend of 50 and annual return of 7% (plus years of 20 years), the result is 112,858.76. Change any figure and watch the output shift — it's often more useful to see the pattern than to memorise the formula.
Which inputs matter most
You enter Weekly Delivery Spend, Annual Return, and Years. The rate and the time horizon usually dominate — compounding means a small change in either reshapes the final figure more than a similar shift in contribution size. Test this by doubling one input at a time.
What's happening under the hood
Weekly spend converted to monthly (× 4.333). Standard FV of monthly annuity with monthly compounding. The formula is listed in full below. If the number looks off, you can retrace the calculation by hand — that's the point of showing the working.
Reading the result without judgement
The figure isn't a scorecard. It's a prompt — something to sit with for a few days before deciding whether any habit needs changing. Reflexive reactions ("I need to cut everything") usually don't last; considered ones do.
What this doesn't capture
Behaviour-adjacent math is always an approximation. Human habits are lumpy and context-dependent; the figure here assumes steady behaviour which is a simplification. Treat the output as a prompt for thinking rather than a precise prediction.
The compound opportunity cost of your delivery habit is shown above.
Inputs
This example uses typical values for illustration. Adjust the inputs above to match a specific situation and see how the result changes.
Sources & Methodology
Methodology
Weekly spend converted to monthly (× 4.333). Standard FV of monthly annuity with monthly compounding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is delivery always worse value?
What's a reasonable weekly spend?
Does this include all delivery fees?
What's the best cost reduction?
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