Miami Ranks Among the Least Affordable Cities to Eat Out and Yeah, We Feel That

October 9, 2025

If you’ve ever checked your bank account after brunch in Miami and immediately said “how did this happen?” — turns out, the data’s on your side.

A new report from Chef’s Pencil looked at over 170 cities worldwide, comparing restaurant prices to local wages, and surprise surprise — Miami ain’t cheap. The Magic City landed at #71 on the list of most affordable cities to dine out, meaning eating out here costs a bigger chunk of your paycheck than in tons of other places (including Dallas, Chicago, and even New York 👀).

Here’s how it breaks down:

Average mid-range meal: $60
Average monthly salary: $4,230
Meal-to-salary ratio: 1.4%

Basically, you’re spending a noticeable piece of your monthly cash just to grab dinner somewhere that probably has neon signs and $18 cocktails.

But Chef’s Pencil didn’t stop there — they also factored in everyday food splurges like coffee and beer. Miami ranked 56th for coffee affordability, with 3.9% of a person’s monthly income going toward caffeine fixes (so yes, your $7 oat milk latte habit is part of the problem 😭). And when it comes to beer? Expect to pay around $8 a glass on average.

Moral of the story: Miami’s restaurant scene might be vibey and Insta-worthy, but your wallet’s definitely feeling the heat too.

Written by: MJ Eccles