If you live in Pune—whether in Viman Nagar, Hinjewadi, or Koregaon Park—you've probably realized that ordering food every day is draining your wallet. But exactly how much are you losing? We crunched the numbers for 2025 to show you the true cost of eating out vs a tiffin service.
The Zomato/Swiggy Trap
Let's assume you order lunch and dinner through food delivery apps. You try to keep it cheap, ordering simple thalis or biryanis. A ₹150 meal on the app quickly inflates:
- Base Meal Cost: ₹150
- Delivery Fee: ₹30-50
- Platform Fee: ₹6-10
- Packaging Charges: ₹15-20
- GST (5%): ₹8-10
- Total per meal: ₹209 - ₹240
Even if we take a conservative estimate of ₹220 per meal, ordering twice a day for 30 days costs you ₹13,200 per month. And that's if you never order anything fancy.
The Tiffin Service Reality
Now let's look at a standard tiffin service in Pune, like those available on Tiffyy. A home-cooked meal consisting of Dal, Rice, 3 Rotis, Sabzi, and Salad typically costs between ₹70 and ₹100.
- Average Meal Cost: ₹80
- Delivery Fee: Usually ₹0 (included in subscription)
- Platform Fee: ₹0
- Packaging: Included
- Total per meal: ₹80
Two meals a day for 30 days equals ₹4,800 per month.
The Monthly Comparison
| Expense Category | Food Delivery Apps | Tiffyy Subscription |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per Meal | ₹220 | ₹80 |
| Meals per Month | 60 (Lunch + Dinner) | 60 (Lunch + Dinner) |
| Monthly Total | ₹13,200 | ₹4,800 |
| Time spent ordering | 3-5 hrs/month | 0 hrs (Automated) |
| Health Impact | High sodium, oily | Home-cooked, balanced |
What Can You Do With the Savings?
By switching to a tiffin service, you save approximately ₹8,400 every single month. That's over ₹1,00,000 a year! You could use that money to:
- Invest in a SIP
- Take a two-week international vacation
- Upgrade your apartment or lifestyle
- Pay off student loans faster
