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MAR 22, 2026

Chain vs. Local: Who's Actually Cheaper? The Answer Is Different in Every City

We analyzed 11,569 restaurants across 58 US metros and found the "chains are cheap" rule breaks down entirely in cities like Baltimore, Nashville, and Des Moines—where local spots charge half what Chipotle does. Here's where each side wins.

Team 1stKareAUTHOR

GUIDES●MAR 19, 2026

The Best Day of the Week to Eat Out (We Analyzed 50,000+ Meals)

We analyzed 50,000+ meals using MarketPulse’s Price Index and Metro Compare data to find the cheapest day to eat out, then broke down the category promo patterns and metro price gaps behind the result—so you know when to save and where prices run hottest.

Team 1stKareAUTHOR

MAR 14, 2026

Pizza Wars 2026: We Ranked Every City—And Chicago Isn't Cheap Anymore

We tracked 624 pizza restaurants across 58 US cities. Los Angeles leads at $25.00 median—above NYC, SF, and Seattle. Chicago sits at $19.55, nearly double Minneapolis and 35% above Pittsburgh. The cheap pizza city reputation doesn't match the data.

Team 1stKareAUTHOR

MAR 09, 2026

Seattle Has the Most Expensive Coffee in America. Austin Beats New York. Here's the Data.

We tracked median café prices across 7 major US cities. Seattle leads at $14.75—higher than San Francisco or New York. Austin's café prices beat NYC. Chicago is the most affordable at $10.00. The city-to-city gap is 47%. Here's what the data actually shows.

Team 1stKareAUTHOR

FEB 22, 2026

Restaurant Price Index 2026: Every Major US City Ranked

We ranked 22 US cities by the cost of eating out. San Francisco tops the list at 42% above average. Memphis is the cheapest. See the full Restaurant Price Index, year-over-year trends, and best-value cities — powered by 74,000+ menu items tracked daily.

Team 1stKareAUTHOR

FEB 03, 2026

Restaurant Pricing Strategies That Actually Work in Today’s Market

Discover proven restaurant pricing strategies that increase profit without losing customers. Learn menu engineering, price psychology, delivery pricing, and competitive tactics that work in today’s market.

Team 1stKareAUTHOR