Washington has the highest chain restaurant prices in the nation, report says
Many Washington diners’ wallets are likely feeling the pinch from going out to eat. That’s according to a new report from the state’s leading hospitality trade group.
The Washington Hospitality Association (WHA) recently released its 2025 Cost of Dining report, which found the Evergreen State is the most expensive for eating out in the lower 48 states, with chain-restaurant menu prices 13.6% above the U.S. average.
The report examined average menu costs by looking at 20 chains with a presence in most states.
The difference between cheaper and pricier states can be attributed to varying wages, operating costs and real estate, the report says, as well as diners’ spending power and “regional dining culture.”
WHA President and CEO Anthony Anton said that although it’s disappointing that Washington is the country’s least affordable restaurant state, it also isn’t surprising.
“We need to work harder to help policy makers understand that their consistent actions to increase costs are having a real impact on Washington families,” he said in a statement.
The top restaurant costs are located on the West Coast and in some parts of the Northeast.
California is the second-most pricey state at 13.3% above the national average; at 9.1% more, Oregon is the third-highest. Meanwhile, Kansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana are the most affordable states in the report, with menu prices between 5.8% and 5.9% below average.
Of the top 20 cities, Seattle and San Francisco are the two least affordable cities for dining out, with prices exceeding the average by 17.1% and 17.5%, respectively. The report notes that these cities already are faced with high costs of living, wage pressures and regulatory burdens — leading to bigger checks for diners.
Fort Worth, Texas, and Charlotte, North Carolina, are the most affordable cities for dining out.
The report quotes an anonymous owner of a Seattle Italian restaurant who said that when city officials wanted great, affordable restaurants, their dining room was packed with families.
“Now the only ones who can afford my art are lawyers, tech executives and tourists, even though it’s the same menu,” the owner said. “My business is fine, but my heart is broken.”
This story was originally published November 11, 2025 at 12:48 PM.
.jpg)