Cities where fast food is cheaper than cooking

(Stacker) - When your schedule is busy, getting fast food may seem like your most convenient option for eating a meal. But while eating out will generally save you time (compared to cooking), that takeout habit can be tough on your savings, right? According to recent data, not necessarily. In some places, in the battle of “fast food versus cooking,” takeout surprisingly reigns supreme for being both time-saving and wallet-friendly.

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in the past five years, average grocery prices in the United States have risen by nearly 25%, and the rate of eating out has increased by about 30%. But these data points don’t offer a clear snapshot of whether eating out makes more sense than cooking — those averages neither consider price differences