Autopsy of a $14 burrito

Illustrative example. Fees and taxes vary by restaurant, platform, city, membership, demand, and order size. [1][2]

The burrito costs $11.50 in the restaurant. You paid $25.72 for it to arrive lukewarm. Here is the coroner's report.

The first wound can be the in-app menu markup. Some restaurants charge more in-app, partly to offset platform commissions that can reach 30 percent on advertised U.S. plans. [1] In this example, that $2.70 is part of the listed item price, not a separate fee.

Then the stack begins. Service and delivery fees vary. [2] The tip is real, deserved, and optional — it is separate from platform fees. Applicable tax follows local rules; this receipt uses an estimate.

The multiplier

In this illustration, divide what you paid by the restaurant price and you get 2.2x. That is not an industry average. It is what can happen when a higher app price, fees, estimated tax, and your chosen tip stack up: a delivered meal can cost twice the restaurant price.

You are not paying for food. You are paying for food to travel.

Next time the craving hits, do the autopsy in advance. The burrito is $11.50. Everything else is the ambulance ride.