10 American Cities Where People Spend the Most on Dining Out

Everyone eats out sometimes, but some people head to restaurants a lot. And, in some cities, they drop some serious money when they go. While this survey from Escoffer School of Culinary Arts doesn't tell you if people are eating at 5-star restaurants or McDonald's, here are the cities that spend the highest percentage of their food expenses on dining out.

Citizens of this Missouri city spend an average of $9,519 each year on dining out but just 13.37% of their total annual expenditures on restaurants. However, when it comes to looking strictly at food, it's a higher percentage — 27.49%, or more than a quarter of most people's food budget, earning the city the 10th spot. 

People who live in this beach front city don't seem to mind heading to a restaurant for a meal, dropping $10,449 on dining out. While that's only 12.11% of total money spent, it's 27.59% of money spent on food. 

In the eighth spot, Philly residents spend $10,492 a year on dining out, which is 12.21% of total expenses but 28.53% of their food budget.

If you live in Baltimore, you may spend $10,661 on dining out each year. That's 12.99% of total expenditures but 28.86% of food spending, putting the city into seventh place.

In the nation's capital, people spend more ($11,326), the highest amount in the top ten. It's just 12.03% of total expenditures, but it's 28.86% of food spending — equal to Baltimore.

In this Arizona city, residents spend $8,330 a year on dining out. That's just 11.61% of total spending, but 28.95% of the average food budget. 

In the City of Angels, foodie culture motivates people to spend $10,174 on dining out each year. That's 13.21% of total spending and 30.29% of food budget.

While Texans in this area spend less than Los Angelenos (and people in D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, San Diego, and St. Louis), that amount is 12.17% of overall expenditures and 31.07% of the average food budget. 

While Denver residents spend just $9,876 on dining out each year, that amount is 11.72% of total expenditures and 31.50% of total food expenditures. 

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This Texas city takes the top spot. While $8,818 isn't the highest amount spent on food (that honor goes to San Franciscans, which spend $13,137 but the city landed at 19 on the list). While that's just 9.28% of total spending, it's 31.72% of food spending.