Hard to swallow! NYC workers spend over $5K each year on lunch and will likely spend more soon

This one is hard to swallow!The average New Yorker spends $5,015 on lunch every year — or $418 per month, up from $388 in 2023 — and 48% more per month than the national average, a new survey found.Nationally the average monthly cost of lunch is $282, but in big cities it is about $377, according to a survey of 5,000 full-time employees by Boston-based ezCater Los Angelenos had it even worse — spending $432 a month on the midday meal.

San Franciscans was behind NYC is third, at $416.Bostonians spend the least — $312 — followed by Phoenix, where workers fork over $349 monthly.Inflation has changed lunch habits, according to 78% of participants, with many choosing cheaper options, going out to lunch less, and using value menus and coupons.Some reported preparing meals in bulk, opting for smaller portions and even sharing lunch with colleagues.New Yorkers did take the cake on loving lunch, with 81% reported looking forward to their break, higher than respondents in any other city.Only 35% of workers in both San Francisco and Chicago said they look forward to lunching.New Yorkers also take the longest lunch breaks, 40 minutes, and have the longest waits to buy food, sometimes spending nearly 30 minutes waiting. Satisfied employees are more likely to work for a company that pays for lunch at least once per week, the report also found, and 58% percent of hybrid workers said they would come in to the office three days a week if they were offered free lunch.“Lunch breaks are often sacrificed due to tight schedules, but they can play a major role in bringing people together and improving employee well-being,” said Kaushik Subramanian, chief revenue officer at ezCater.Gen Z is surprisingly the most likely age group to skip lunch breaks, and feels the most guilty about taking one....