Do you frequently order food online? If yes, this news might be for you. You might be surprised to know that sometimes you could be getting overcharged for your food on delivery apps compared to what you would pay directly at the restaurant. An X user had a similar complaint and took to social media to express his disappointment. Here’s more on this.
X User Claims Ordering Food On Swiggy Is 81% Costlier Than Dining Out
Hey @Swiggy, please explain. Why does ordering food in the app, 81% expensive than buying the same food from the same outlet, just 2kms away. Is this the real cost of convenience ? The extra that I have to pay to get the food delivered is INR 663. pic.twitter.com/rvLghtJJ3H
— Sunder (@SunderjiJB) September 7, 2025
An X user, @SunderjiJB, recently took to his account to share his disappointment about being overcharged for the food he ordered online. Apparently, he wanted to know why ordering food on Swiggy was 81% more expensive than buying the same food directly from the restaurant, which was just 2 km away.
He also posted two pictures showing the bills: one from the restaurant, Hotel Sathar Rowther in Coimbatore and the other from Swiggy for the same items. The four dishes, which included Parotta, Chicken 65, Chicken Lollipop, and Chicken Thokku Biryani, came to ₹810 when ordered in the restaurant but ₹1,473 on Swiggy. This stark difference raised questions. The user also wrote, “Is this the real cost of convenience? The extra that I have to pay to get the food delivered is INR 663.”
Also Read: With 18% GST On Food Delivery, Will Your Zomato & Swiggy Orders Get Costlier?
Mixed Reactions On Social Media
Many X users came forward with their own experiences. One said, “Every time it happened, but people don’t care, that’s why they are charging too much.” While another argued that these are operational or platform fees, and if it bothers people, they shouldn’t order food online at all. They wrote, “Yes, that’s the cost of convenience. If you can afford it, order it or just go walk-in and dine or takeaway your food, it’s simple science, brother.”
Some agreed that the difference was indeed steep, while others blamed the restaurant for inflating online prices. One user wrote, “These are restaurant charges. Not Swiggy charges. Swiggy charges the restaurants for visibility, and that is the additional cost that you see.” Another pointed out, “Why would you want Swiggy and Zomato to work for free? Aren’t they gonna charge a platform fee? When you go to a restaurant yourself, there’s no delivery guy, no platform, nothing. So all the money goes straight to the restaurant.”
One user even explained that higher costs can include logistics, running a tech platform, marketing, promotions, ads, and other expenses, making commission a top source of revenue for delivery apps like Swiggy and Zomato. Though many agreed the difference felt too high, a majority felt restaurant owners were also at fault for keeping prices higher online than what they charge at their outlets.
What do you think of this? Have you ever faced a situation like this while ordering food online? Let us know!
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/ tom davis (Representative Image) & @SunderjiJB/ X
For more such snackable content, interesting discoveries and the latest updates on food, travel and experiences in your city, download the Curly Tales App. Download HERE. First Published: September 08, 2025 1:01 PM