True Cost of Eating Out by City
One dinner for two in the principal cities of the 50 largest US metro areas, with every tax on the food and the drinks, the tip, and what the server is paid before tips.
Data: October 2026
Key Findings
$13.50
Gap between the cheapest and most expensive city for the same dinner for two
Portland, OR at $120.00 vs. Richmond, VA at $133.50
$8.39
Median tax on $80.00 of food and $20.00 of drinks
From $0.00 in Portland, OR to $13.50 in Richmond, VA
24.75%
Tax rate on drinks in Nashville, TN and Memphis, TN, the highest on alcohol in the list
13 cities add a tax that applies only to alcohol
$2.13
Tipped minimum cash wage per hour in 16 cities, the lowest in the list
Seattle, WA is highest at $21.30; 11 cities pay servers the full minimum wage in cash
Dinner cost by city
Each dot is a city, shaded by what the dinner costs. Select a dot or pick a city to print its receipt.
Compare your city
Select a city to print its dinner receipt.
Cheapest & most expensive cities for dinner
$80.00 of food and $20.00 of drinks, with a 20% tip on the bill before tax
Cheapest city
Portland, OR
Food$80.00
Drinks$20.00
Subtotal$100.00
No tax$0.00
Taxes$0.00
Tip 20% before tax$20.00
Dinner total$120.00
Median city
Las Vegas, NV
Food$80.00
Drinks$20.00
Subtotal$100.00
Clark County combined sales and use tax$8.38
Taxes$8.38
Tip 20% before tax$20.00
Dinner total$128.38
Most expensive
Richmond, VA
Food$80.00
Drinks$20.00
Subtotal$100.00
Virginia state sales tax$4.30
Local sales tax$1.00
Central Virginia regional sales tax$0.70
Richmond meals tax$7.50
Taxes$13.50
Tip 20% before tax$20.00
Dinner total$133.50
All 50 cities: full dinner breakdown
| # | City | Dinner Total | Tax on Food | Tax on Drinks | Tip | Tipped Wage | vs. Cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland, OR | $120.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $20.00 | $16.80 | CHEAPEST |
| 2 | Detroit, MI | $126.00 | $4.80 | $1.20 | $20.00 | $5.49 | +$6.00 |
| 2 | Grand Rapids, MI | $126.00 | $4.80 | $1.20 | $20.00 | $5.49 | +$6.00 |
| 2 | Louisville, KY | $126.00 | $4.80 | $1.20 | $20.00 | $2.13 | +$6.00 |
| 5 | Orlando, FL | $126.50 | $5.20 | $1.30 | $20.00 | $11.98 | +$6.50 |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | $126.60 | $4.80 | $1.80 | $20.00 | $3.63 | +$6.60 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $127.00 | $5.60 | $1.40 | $20.00 | $6.75 | +$7.00 |
| 7 | Pittsburgh, PA | $127.00 | $5.60 | $1.40 | $20.00 | $2.83 | +$7.00 |
| 9 | Hartford, CT | $127.35 | $5.88 | $1.47 | $20.00 | $6.38 | +$7.35 |
| 10 | Jacksonville, FL | $127.50 | $6.00 | $1.50 | $20.00 | $11.98 | +$7.50 |
| 10 | Tampa, FL | $127.50 | $6.00 | $1.50 | $20.00 | $11.98 | +$7.50 |
| 12 | San Diego, CA | $127.75 | $6.20 | $1.55 | $20.00 | $17.75 | +$7.75 |
| 13 | Cincinnati, OH | $127.80 | $6.24 | $1.56 | $20.00 | $5.50 | +$7.80 |
| 14 | Cleveland, OH | $128.00 | $6.40 | $1.60 | $20.00 | $5.50 | +$8.00 |
| 14 | Columbus, OH | $128.00 | $6.40 | $1.60 | $20.00 | $5.50 | +$8.00 |
| 14 | Denver, CO | $128.00 | $6.40 | $1.60 | $20.00 | $16.27 | +$8.00 |
| 14 | Miami, FL | $128.00 | $6.40 | $1.60 | $20.00 | $11.98 | +$8.00 |
| 14 | Providence, RI | $128.00 | $6.40 | $1.60 | $20.00 | $3.89 | +$8.00 |
| 19 | Austin, TX | $128.25 | $6.60 | $1.65 | $20.00 | $2.13 | +$8.25 |
| 19 | Dallas, TX | $128.25 | $6.60 | $1.65 | $20.00 | $2.13 | +$8.25 |
| 19 | Houston, TX | $128.25 | $6.60 | $1.65 | $20.00 | $2.13 | +$8.25 |
| 19 | Raleigh, NC | $128.25 | $6.60 | $1.65 | $20.00 | $2.13 | +$8.25 |
| 19 | San Antonio, TX | $128.25 | $6.60 | $1.65 | $20.00 | $2.13 | +$8.25 |
| 24 | Fresno, CA | $128.35 | $6.68 | $1.67 | $20.00 | $16.90 | +$8.35 |
| 25 | Las Vegas, NV | $128.38 | $6.70 | $1.68 | $20.00 | $12.00 | +$8.38 |
| 26 | Milwaukee, WI | $128.40 | $6.72 | $1.68 | $20.00 | $2.33 | +$8.40 |
| 26 | Philadelphia, PA | $128.40 | $6.40 | $2.00 | $20.00 | $2.83 | +$8.40 |
| 28 | San Francisco, CA | $128.63 | $6.90 | $1.73 | $20.00 | $19.61 | +$8.63 |
| 29 | Riverside, CA | $128.75 | $7.00 | $1.75 | $20.00 | $16.90 | +$8.75 |
| 29 | Sacramento, CA | $128.75 | $7.00 | $1.75 | $20.00 | $16.90 | +$8.75 |
| 31 | New York, NY | $128.88 | $7.10 | $1.78 | $20.00 | $11.35 | +$8.88 |
| 32 | Indianapolis, IN | $129.00 | $7.20 | $1.80 | $20.00 | $2.13 | +$9.00 |
| 33 | Phoenix, AZ | $129.10 | $7.28 | $1.82 | $20.00 | $12.15 | +$9.10 |
| 34 | Charlotte, NC | $129.25 | $7.40 | $1.85 | $20.00 | $2.13 | +$9.25 |
| 35 | Salt Lake City, UT | $129.45 | $7.56 | $1.89 | $20.00 | $2.13 | +$9.45 |
| 36 | Atlanta, GA | $129.50 | $7.12 | $2.38 | $20.00 | $2.13 | +$9.50 |
| 37 | St. Louis, MO | $129.68 | $7.74 | $1.94 | $20.00 | $7.50 | +$9.68 |
| 38 | San Jose, CA | $130.00 | $8.00 | $2.00 | $20.00 | $18.45 | +$10.00 |
| 38 | Washington, DC | $130.00 | $8.00 | $2.00 | $20.00 | $10.30 | +$10.00 |
| 40 | Los Angeles, CA | $130.25 | $8.20 | $2.05 | $20.00 | $18.42 | +$10.25 |
| 41 | Seattle, WA | $130.55 | $8.44 | $2.11 | $20.00 | $21.30 | +$10.55 |
| 42 | Birmingham, AL | $130.60 | $8.00 | $2.60 | $20.00 | $2.13 | +$10.60 |
| 43 | Oklahoma City, OK | $131.33 | $6.90 | $4.43 | $20.00 | $2.13 | +$11.33 |
| 44 | Kansas City, MO | $131.98 | $9.58 | $2.40 | $20.00 | $7.50 | +$11.98 |
| 45 | Chicago, IL | $132.00 | $9.60 | $2.40 | $20.00 | $12.96 | +$12.00 |
| 45 | Virginia Beach, VA | $132.00 | $9.60 | $2.40 | $20.00 | $2.13 | +$12.00 |
| 47 | Minneapolis, MN | $132.53 | $9.62 | $2.91 | $20.00 | $16.37 | +$12.53 |
| 48 | Memphis, TN | $132.75 | $7.80 | $4.95 | $20.00 | $2.13 | +$12.75 |
| 48 | Nashville, TN | $132.75 | $7.80 | $4.95 | $20.00 | $2.13 | +$12.75 |
| 50 | Richmond, VA | $133.50 | $10.80 | $2.70 | $20.00 | $2.13 | +$13.50 |
Meals tax by city
Every city taxes the same $80.00 of food, so the differences are the rates alone, from none in Portland, OR to 13.5% in Richmond, VA. Surcharges restaurants set themselves, such as service or kitchen fees, are left out, so a real bill can be higher. The amounts are at the default settings, and the numbers in brackets point to the source list below.
| City | Taxes on food, with source numbers | Food | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA |
Downtown Richmond. Total 13.5%. | $80.00 | $10.80 |
| Minneapolis, MN |
Downtown Minneapolis, inside the downtown restaurant tax area. Total 12.025%. | $80.00 | $9.62 |
| Chicago, IL |
Downtown Chicago, Cook County. Total 12%. | $80.00 | $9.60 |
| Virginia Beach, VA |
Virginia Beach oceanfront and Town Center. Total 12%. | $80.00 | $9.60 |
| Kansas City, MO |
Downtown Kansas City, inside the Main Street Rail district, Jackson County. Total 11.975%. | $80.00 | $9.58 |
| Seattle, WA |
Downtown Seattle, King County. Total 10.55%. | $80.00 | $8.44 |
| Los Angeles, CA |
Downtown Los Angeles, Los Angeles County. Total 10.25%. | $80.00 | $8.20 |
| Birmingham, AL |
Downtown Birmingham, Jefferson County. Total 10%. | $80.00 | $8.00 |
| San Jose, CA |
Downtown San Jose, Santa Clara County. Total 10%. | $80.00 | $8.00 |
| Washington, DC |
Downtown Washington, DC. Total 10%. | $80.00 | $8.00 |
| Memphis, TN |
Downtown Memphis, Shelby County. Total 9.75%. | $80.00 | $7.80 |
| Nashville, TN |
Downtown Nashville, Davidson County. Total 9.75%. | $80.00 | $7.80 |
| St. Louis, MO |
Downtown St. Louis. Total 9.679%. | $80.00 | $7.74 |
| Salt Lake City, UT |
Downtown Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County. Total 9.45%. | $80.00 | $7.56 |
| Charlotte, NC |
Uptown Charlotte, Mecklenburg County. Total 9.25%. | $80.00 | $7.40 |
| Phoenix, AZ |
Downtown Phoenix, Maricopa County. Total 9.1%. | $80.00 | $7.28 |
| Indianapolis, IN |
Downtown Indianapolis, Marion County. Total 9%. | $80.00 | $7.20 |
| Atlanta, GA |
Downtown Atlanta, Fulton County. Total 8.9%. | $80.00 | $7.12 |
| New York, NY |
Manhattan, New York City. Total 8.875%. | $80.00 | $7.10 |
| Riverside, CA |
Downtown Riverside, Riverside County. Total 8.75%. | $80.00 | $7.00 |
| Sacramento, CA |
Downtown Sacramento, Sacramento County. Total 8.75%. | $80.00 | $7.00 |
| Oklahoma City, OK |
Downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County. Total 8.625%. | $80.00 | $6.90 |
| San Francisco, CA |
Downtown San Francisco. Total 8.625%. | $80.00 | $6.90 |
| Milwaukee, WI |
Downtown Milwaukee, Milwaukee County. Total 8.4%. | $80.00 | $6.72 |
| Las Vegas, NV |
Downtown Las Vegas, Clark County. Total 8.375%. | $80.00 | $6.70 |
| Fresno, CA |
Downtown Fresno, Fresno County. Total 8.35%. | $80.00 | $6.68 |
| Austin, TX |
Downtown Austin, Travis County. Total 8.25%. | $80.00 | $6.60 |
| Dallas, TX |
Downtown Dallas, Dallas County. Total 8.25%. | $80.00 | $6.60 |
| Houston, TX |
Downtown Houston, Harris County. Total 8.25%. | $80.00 | $6.60 |
| Raleigh, NC |
Downtown Raleigh, Wake County. Total 8.25%. | $80.00 | $6.60 |
| San Antonio, TX |
Downtown San Antonio, Bexar County. Total 8.25%. | $80.00 | $6.60 |
| Cleveland, OH |
Downtown Cleveland, Cuyahoga County. Total 8%. | $80.00 | $6.40 |
| Columbus, OH |
Downtown Columbus, Franklin County. Total 8%. | $80.00 | $6.40 |
| Denver, CO |
Downtown Denver, City and County of Denver. Total 8%. | $80.00 | $6.40 |
| Miami, FL |
Downtown Miami, Miami-Dade County. Total 8%. | $80.00 | $6.40 |
| Philadelphia, PA |
Center City Philadelphia. Total 8%. | $80.00 | $6.40 |
| Providence, RI |
Downtown Providence. Total 8%. | $80.00 | $6.40 |
| Cincinnati, OH |
Downtown Cincinnati, Hamilton County. Total 7.8%. | $80.00 | $6.24 |
| San Diego, CA |
Downtown San Diego, San Diego County. Total 7.75%. | $80.00 | $6.20 |
| Jacksonville, FL |
Downtown Jacksonville, Duval County. Total 7.5%. | $80.00 | $6.00 |
| Tampa, FL |
Downtown Tampa, Hillsborough County. Total 7.5%. | $80.00 | $6.00 |
| Hartford, CT |
Downtown Hartford. Total 7.35%. | $80.00 | $5.88 |
| Boston, MA |
Downtown Boston, Suffolk County. Total 7%. | $80.00 | $5.60 |
| Pittsburgh, PA |
Downtown Pittsburgh, Allegheny County. Total 7%. | $80.00 | $5.60 |
| Orlando, FL |
Downtown Orlando, Orange County. Total 6.5%. | $80.00 | $5.20 |
| Baltimore, MD |
Downtown Baltimore. Total 6%. | $80.00 | $4.80 |
| Detroit, MI |
Downtown Detroit, Wayne County. Total 6%. | $80.00 | $4.80 |
| Grand Rapids, MI |
Downtown Grand Rapids, Kent County. Total 6%. | $80.00 | $4.80 |
| Louisville, KY |
Downtown Louisville, Jefferson County. Total 6%. | $80.00 | $4.80 |
| Portland, OR | No tax Downtown Portland, Multnomah County. Total 0%. Oregon has no general sales tax. [69] | $80.00 | $0.00 |
Taxes on drinks by city
The $20.00 of drinks are two cocktails made with distilled spirits. In 13 cities a tax that applies only to alcohol is added to the bill, and in 8 of them it takes the place of the sales tax on the drinks. Rates on drinks run from none in Portland, OR to 24.75% in Nashville, TN and Memphis, TN. Taxes levied on the restaurant itself, such as Texas's 6.7% gross receipts tax on alcohol sales, are in menu prices instead and are listed in the methodology.
| City | Taxes on drinks, with source numbers | Drinks | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN |
Total 24.75%. | $20.00 | $4.95 |
| Nashville, TN |
Total 24.75%. | $20.00 | $4.95 |
| Oklahoma City, OK |
Total 22.125%. | $20.00 | $4.43 |
| Minneapolis, MN |
Total 14.525%. On the drinks, the alcohol tax takes the place of the Minneapolis Downtown Restaurant Tax. | $20.00 | $2.91 |
| Richmond, VA |
Total 13.5%. | $20.00 | $2.70 |
| Birmingham, AL |
Total 13%. | $20.00 | $2.60 |
| Chicago, IL |
Total 12%. | $20.00 | $2.40 |
| Kansas City, MO |
Total 11.975%. | $20.00 | $2.40 |
| Virginia Beach, VA |
Total 12%. | $20.00 | $2.40 |
| Atlanta, GA |
Total 11.9%. | $20.00 | $2.38 |
| Seattle, WA |
Total 10.55%. | $20.00 | $2.11 |
| Los Angeles, CA |
Total 10.25%. | $20.00 | $2.05 |
| Philadelphia, PA |
Total 10%. On the drinks, the alcohol tax takes the place of the Pennsylvania state sales tax and the Philadelphia local sales tax. | $20.00 | $2.00 |
| San Jose, CA |
Total 10%. | $20.00 | $2.00 |
| Washington, DC |
Total 10%. | $20.00 | $2.00 |
| St. Louis, MO |
Total 9.679%. | $20.00 | $1.94 |
| Salt Lake City, UT |
Total 9.45%. | $20.00 | $1.89 |
| Charlotte, NC |
Total 9.25%. | $20.00 | $1.85 |
| Phoenix, AZ |
Total 9.1%. | $20.00 | $1.82 |
| Baltimore, MD |
Total 9%. On the drinks, the alcohol tax takes the place of the Maryland sales and use tax. | $20.00 | $1.80 |
| Indianapolis, IN |
Total 9%. | $20.00 | $1.80 |
| New York, NY |
Total 8.875%. | $20.00 | $1.78 |
| Riverside, CA |
Total 8.75%. | $20.00 | $1.75 |
| Sacramento, CA |
Total 8.75%. | $20.00 | $1.75 |
| San Francisco, CA |
Total 8.625%. | $20.00 | $1.73 |
| Las Vegas, NV |
Total 8.375%. | $20.00 | $1.68 |
| Milwaukee, WI |
Total 8.4%. | $20.00 | $1.68 |
| Fresno, CA |
Total 8.35%. | $20.00 | $1.67 |
| Austin, TX |
Total 8.25%. On the drinks, the alcohol tax takes the place of the Texas state sales tax, City of Austin sales tax and Austin MTA (Capital Metro) sales tax. | $20.00 | $1.65 |
| Dallas, TX |
Total 8.25%. On the drinks, the alcohol tax takes the place of the Texas state sales tax, City of Dallas sales tax and Dallas MTA (DART) sales tax. | $20.00 | $1.65 |
| Houston, TX |
Total 8.25%. On the drinks, the alcohol tax takes the place of the Texas state sales tax, City of Houston sales tax and Houston MTA (METRO) sales tax. | $20.00 | $1.65 |
| Raleigh, NC |
Total 8.25%. | $20.00 | $1.65 |
| San Antonio, TX |
Total 8.25%. On the drinks, the alcohol tax takes the place of the Texas state sales tax, City of San Antonio sales tax, San Antonio ATD (Advanced Transportation District) sales tax and San Antonio MTA (VIA) sales tax. | $20.00 | $1.65 |
| Cleveland, OH |
Total 8%. | $20.00 | $1.60 |
| Columbus, OH |
Total 8%. | $20.00 | $1.60 |
| Denver, CO |
Total 8%. | $20.00 | $1.60 |
| Miami, FL |
Total 8%. | $20.00 | $1.60 |
| Providence, RI |
Total 8%. | $20.00 | $1.60 |
| Cincinnati, OH |
Total 7.8%. | $20.00 | $1.56 |
| San Diego, CA |
Total 7.75%. | $20.00 | $1.55 |
| Jacksonville, FL |
Total 7.5%. | $20.00 | $1.50 |
| Tampa, FL |
Total 7.5%. | $20.00 | $1.50 |
| Hartford, CT |
Total 7.35%. | $20.00 | $1.47 |
| Boston, MA |
Total 7%. | $20.00 | $1.40 |
| Pittsburgh, PA |
Total 7%. On the drinks, the alcohol tax takes the place of the Pennsylvania state sales tax and the Allegheny County local sales tax. | $20.00 | $1.40 |
| Orlando, FL |
Total 6.5%. | $20.00 | $1.30 |
| Detroit, MI |
Total 6%. | $20.00 | $1.20 |
| Grand Rapids, MI |
Total 6%. | $20.00 | $1.20 |
| Louisville, KY |
Total 6%. | $20.00 | $1.20 |
| Portland, OR | No tax Total 0%. | $20.00 | $0.00 |
Tipped minimum wage by city
The tipped minimum wage is the least a restaurant may pay a server per hour in cash, before tips. The Labor Department's fact sheet says "An employer must pay a tipped worker at least $2.13 per hour under the FLSA." 9 cities set a higher rate by ordinance, 11 pay servers the full minimum wage in cash with no tip credit, and 18 have a change due on January 1, 2027.
| City | Tipped cash wage | Minimum wage | Set by, with source number | January 1, 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | $21.30 | $21.30 | City ordinance (Seattle Municipal Code 14.19), since January 1, 2026 [78] | $22.14 cash, $22.14 minimum [78] |
| San Francisco, CA | $19.61 | $19.61 | City ordinance (San Francisco Minimum Wage Ordinance), since July 1, 2026 [79] | No change scheduled Rises with inflation on July 1, 2027. |
| San Jose, CA | $18.45 | $18.45 | City ordinance (San Jose Minimum Wage Ordinance), since January 1, 2026 [80] | Annual inflation increase due; the city had not published the amount when checked [80] |
| Los Angeles, CA | $18.42 | $18.42 | City ordinance (Los Angeles Minimum Wage Ordinance), since July 1, 2026 [81] | No change scheduled Rises with inflation on July 1, 2027. |
| San Diego, CA | $17.75 | $17.75 | City ordinance (San Diego Earned Sick Leave and Minimum Wage Ordinance), since January 1, 2026 [82] | $18.35 cash, $18.35 minimum [82] |
| Fresno, CA | $16.90 | $16.90 | State law (California Labor Code 1182.12), since January 1, 2026 [83] | $17.40 cash, $17.40 minimum [84] |
| Riverside, CA | $16.90 | $16.90 | State law (California Labor Code 1182.12), since January 1, 2026 [83] | $17.40 cash, $17.40 minimum [84] |
| Sacramento, CA | $16.90 | $16.90 | State law (California Labor Code 1182.12), since January 1, 2026 [83] | $17.40 cash, $17.40 minimum [84] |
| Portland, OR | $16.80 | $16.80 | State law (Oregon minimum wage, Portland metro rate), since July 1, 2026 [85] | No change scheduled Rises with inflation on July 1, 2027. |
| Minneapolis, MN | $16.37 | $16.37 | City ordinance (Minneapolis Minimum Wage Ordinance), since January 1, 2026 [86] | $17.02 cash, $17.02 minimum [86] |
| Denver, CO | $16.27 | $19.29 | City ordinance (Denver Revised Municipal Code, chapter 58), since January 1, 2026 [87] | $16.82 cash, $19.84 minimum [88] |
| Chicago, IL | $12.96 | $17.05 | City ordinance (Chicago Minimum Wage and Paid Leave Ordinance), since July 1, 2026 [89] | No change scheduled Rises with inflation on July 1, 2027. The tipped wage stays at 76% of the minimum until June 30, 2028. |
| Phoenix, AZ | $12.15 | $15.15 | State law (Arizona Fair Wages and Healthy Families Act), since January 1, 2026 [90] | $12.65 cash, $15.65 minimum [91] |
| Las Vegas, NV | $12.00 | $12.00 | State law (Nevada Constitution, Article 15, Section 16), since July 1, 2024 [92] | No change scheduled |
| Jacksonville, FL | $11.98 | $15.00 | State law (Florida Constitution, Article X, Section 24), since September 30, 2026 [93] | No change scheduled Next inflation increase on January 1, 2028. |
| Miami, FL | $11.98 | $15.00 | State law (Florida Constitution, Article X, Section 24), since September 30, 2026 [93] | No change scheduled Next inflation increase on January 1, 2028. |
| Orlando, FL | $11.98 | $15.00 | State law (Florida Constitution, Article X, Section 24), since September 30, 2026 [93] | No change scheduled Next inflation increase on January 1, 2028. |
| Tampa, FL | $11.98 | $15.00 | State law (Florida Constitution, Article X, Section 24), since September 30, 2026 [93] | No change scheduled Next inflation increase on January 1, 2028. |
| New York, NY | $11.35 | $17.00 | State law (New York Hospitality Industry Wage Order), since January 1, 2026 [94] | No change scheduled |
| Washington, DC | $10.30 | $18.40 | City ordinance (DC Minimum Wage Revision Act), since July 1, 2026 [95] | No change scheduled Rises with inflation on July 1, 2027. The tipped wage stays at 56% of the minimum until July 1, 2028. |
| Kansas City, MO | $7.50 | $15.00 | State law (Missouri Minimum Wage Law), since January 1, 2026 [96] | No change scheduled |
| St. Louis, MO | $7.50 | $15.00 | State law (Missouri Minimum Wage Law), since January 1, 2026 [96] | No change scheduled |
| Boston, MA | $6.75 | $15.00 | State law (Massachusetts General Laws, chapter 151), since January 1, 2023 [97] | No change scheduled |
| Hartford, CT | $6.38 | $16.94 | State law (Connecticut General Statutes 31-60), since January 1, 2026 [98] | $6.38 cash, $17.48 minimum [99] |
| Cincinnati, OH | $5.50 | $11.00 | State law (Ohio Constitution, Article II, Section 34a), since January 1, 2026 [100] | $5.70 cash, $11.40 minimum [101] |
| Cleveland, OH | $5.50 | $11.00 | State law (Ohio Constitution, Article II, Section 34a), since January 1, 2026 [100] | $5.70 cash, $11.40 minimum [101] |
| Columbus, OH | $5.50 | $11.00 | State law (Ohio Constitution, Article II, Section 34a), since January 1, 2026 [100] | $5.70 cash, $11.40 minimum [101] |
| Detroit, MI | $5.49 | $13.73 | State law (Michigan Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act), since January 1, 2026 [1] | $6.30 cash, $15.00 minimum [102] secondary |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $5.49 | $13.73 | State law (Michigan Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act), since January 1, 2026 [1] | $6.30 cash, $15.00 minimum [102] secondary |
| Providence, RI | $3.89 | $16.00 | State law (Rhode Island General Laws 28-12), since January 1, 2026 [103] | $3.89 cash, $17.00 minimum [104] |
| Baltimore, MD | $3.63 | $15.00 | State law (Maryland Wage and Hour Law), since January 1, 2025 [105] | No change scheduled |
| Philadelphia, PA | $2.83 | $7.25 | State law (Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act), since July 24, 2009 [106] | No change scheduled |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $2.83 | $7.25 | State law (Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act), since July 24, 2009 [106] | No change scheduled |
| Milwaukee, WI | $2.33 | $7.25 | State law (Wisconsin Administrative Code DWD 272), since July 24, 2009 [107] | No change scheduled |
| Atlanta, GA | $2.13 | $7.25 | Federal minimum (Fair Labor Standards Act), since July 24, 2009 [1] | No change scheduled |
| Austin, TX | $2.13 | $7.25 | Federal minimum (Fair Labor Standards Act), since July 24, 2009 [1] | No change scheduled |
| Birmingham, AL | $2.13 | $7.25 | Federal minimum (Fair Labor Standards Act), since July 24, 2009 [1] | No change scheduled |
| Charlotte, NC | $2.13 | $7.25 | State law (North Carolina Wage and Hour Act), since July 24, 2009 [108] | No change scheduled |
| Dallas, TX | $2.13 | $7.25 | Federal minimum (Fair Labor Standards Act), since July 24, 2009 [1] | No change scheduled |
| Houston, TX | $2.13 | $7.25 | Federal minimum (Fair Labor Standards Act), since July 24, 2009 [1] | No change scheduled |
| Indianapolis, IN | $2.13 | $7.25 | State law (Indiana Minimum Wage Law), since July 24, 2009 [1] | No change scheduled |
| Louisville, KY | $2.13 | $7.25 | State law (Kentucky Revised Statutes 337.275), since July 1, 2009 [109] | No change scheduled |
| Memphis, TN | $2.13 | $7.25 | Federal minimum (Fair Labor Standards Act), since July 24, 2009 [1] | No change scheduled |
| Nashville, TN | $2.13 | $7.25 | Federal minimum (Fair Labor Standards Act), since July 24, 2009 [1] | No change scheduled |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $2.13 | $7.25 | Federal minimum (Fair Labor Standards Act), since July 24, 2009 [1] | No change scheduled |
| Raleigh, NC | $2.13 | $7.25 | State law (North Carolina Wage and Hour Act), since July 24, 2009 [108] | No change scheduled |
| Richmond, VA | $2.13 | $12.77 | State law (Virginia Minimum Wage Act), since January 1, 2026 [110] | $2.13 cash, $13.75 minimum [110] Rises to $15.00 on January 1, 2028. |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $2.13 | $7.25 | Federal minimum (Fair Labor Standards Act), since July 24, 2009 [1] | No change scheduled |
| San Antonio, TX | $2.13 | $7.25 | Federal minimum (Fair Labor Standards Act), since July 24, 2009 [1] | No change scheduled |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $2.13 | $12.77 | State law (Virginia Minimum Wage Act), since January 1, 2026 [110] | $2.13 cash, $13.75 minimum [110] Rises to $15.00 on January 1, 2028. |
City highlights
What the taxes and the tip add in six cities, at the default settings
Portland, OR
No tax on the billOregon has no general sales tax. The page found no Portland or Multnomah County tax on a restaurant bill either, so $100.00 of food and drinks plus the $20.00 tip comes to $120.00, the cheapest dinner in the list. Servers get the Portland metro minimum wage of $16.80 an hour in cash, with no tip credit.
Richmond, VA
Most expensive dinnerRichmond adds a 7.5% city meals tax to Virginia's 6% sales tax, so the dinner pays $13.50 in tax and costs $133.50, the most in the list. Virginia Beach's city meals tax puts it at 12%. Restaurants in both cities may pay servers $2.13 an hour in cash against Virginia's $12.77 minimum wage, which rises to $13.75 on January 1, 2027.
Nashville, TN
Highest tax on drinksTennessee's 15% liquor-by-the-drink tax comes on top of sales tax, so a cocktail in Nashville or Memphis pays 24.75% in tax, the highest rate on drinks in the list. The $20.00 of drinks pay $4.95, against $7.80 on $80.00 of food. Tennessee has no state minimum wage, so the federal $2.13 tipped wage applies.
Dallas, TX
Alcohol tax in place of sales taxOn drinks, Texas swaps its sales taxes for a 8.25% mixed beverage sales tax, the same total rate, so only the line on the receipt changes. Houston, San Antonio and Austin work the same way. The restaurant also owes a 6.7% gross receipts tax on its alcohol sales, which may not be charged to the customer separately, so it sits in the menu price.
Oklahoma City, OK
Alcohol tax listed on the receiptOklahoma adds a 13.5% mixed beverage tax to the 8.625% sales tax, and the law has it listed as a separate line on the customer's receipt. The $20.00 of drinks pay $4.43 in tax, which moves Oklahoma City from the middle of the list on food to #43 for the whole dinner.
Seattle, WA
Highest tipped wageSeattle's minimum wage of $21.30 goes to servers in full, with no tip credit, the highest cash wage in the list. It rises to $22.14 on January 1, 2027. The dinner itself pays 10.55% in sales tax and costs $130.55.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest US city for dinner out?
At the defaults, Portland, OR is the cheapest of the 50 cities, at $120.00 for $80.00 of food, $20.00 of drinks and a 20% tip, because the bill carries no tax. Detroit, MI, Grand Rapids, MI and Louisville, KY come next at $126.00, each with a 6% tax.
What is the most expensive US city for dinner out?
Richmond, VA is the most expensive at $133.50, $13.50 more than Portland, OR, because of its city meals tax. Memphis, TN and Nashville, TN follow at $132.75.
Which cities tax drinks more than food?
8 cities in the list charge a higher rate on cocktails than on food: Atlanta, GA (11.9% vs. 8.9%), Philadelphia, PA (10% vs. 8%), Minneapolis, MN (14.525% vs. 12.025%), Baltimore, MD (9% vs. 6%), Nashville, TN (24.75% vs. 9.75%), Oklahoma City, OK (22.125% vs. 8.625%), Memphis, TN (24.75% vs. 9.75%), Birmingham, AL (13% vs. 10%). An alcohol tax replaces the sales tax on drinks at the same rate in Dallas, TX, Houston, TX, San Antonio, TX, Austin, TX and Pittsburgh, PA.
Is the tip worked out before or after tax?
The page lets you pick either. A 20% tip on the bill with tax adds 20% of the tax to the tip, which at the defaults ranges from $0.00 more in Portland, OR to $2.70 more in Richmond, VA.
What is the tipped minimum wage in these cities?
It is the least a restaurant may pay a server per hour in cash, before tips. In this list it runs from $2.13 in 16 cities to $21.30 in Seattle, WA. The tipped wage is the full minimum wage in 11 cities: Los Angeles, Riverside, San Francisco, Seattle, Minneapolis, San Diego, Portland, Sacramento, Las Vegas, San Jose and Fresno.
Which cities do not tax a restaurant bill?
Portland, OR is the only city in the list with no tax on the dinner. Oregon has no general sales tax. The lowest rate elsewhere is 6%, in Detroit, MI, Grand Rapids, MI and Louisville, KY.
Our Methodology
Cities and sources
- The cities are the 50 on the business trip page, the principal cities of the most populous metropolitan statistical areas in the Census Bureau's Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas (Vintage 2025), from New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ (20,112,448 people) to Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT (1,171,426). The principal city is the first city in the metro area's title. The taxes are those of a restaurant in that city's downtown.
- Every tax and wage comes from a source listed once in the numbered list below and cited by number in the three tables. All were checked on October 21, 2026. Primary sources come first: state and city revenue departments, statutes and ordinances, and federal, state and city labor offices.
- Download the data at the default settings as a CSV file.
How we calculate
- The dinner is for two at a full-service, sit-down restaurant downtown, licensed to sell alcohol for drinking on the premises, not inside a hotel, with yearly sales over $1 million. It has $80.00 of food and $20.00 of drinks before tax, and the drinks are two cocktails made with distilled spirits.
- The food pays every tax the restaurant adds at checkout, from the state, county, city and transit or special districts, and any meals, restaurant or food and beverage tax. Miami-Dade's 1% food and beverage tax applies only to restaurants licensed for alcohol with more than $400,000 in yearly sales, and the page assumes this one is. The Kansas City restaurant is inside the Main Street Rail transportation development district, and St. Louis uses the city's base rate, outside any community improvement district.
- The drinks pay the same taxes, plus any tax that applies only to alcohol served on the premises and is added to the customer's bill. Where an alcohol tax takes the place of the sales tax on drinks, as in Texas, Pennsylvania and Maryland, the drinks pay the alcohol tax instead. Minnesota's 2.5% liquor gross receipts tax is levied on the restaurant, but the law lets it collect the tax from the customer, so it is counted as billed. Every tax applies to the price of the drinks, not to another tax.
- Surcharges restaurants set themselves, such as service, kitchen, wellness or card fees, are left out. So are taxes levied on the restaurant and built into its prices, listed below, and wholesale excise taxes on spirits, which distillers, importers or wholesalers pay.
- The tip is 20% of the food and drinks before tax by default, and the controls can put it on the bill with tax instead. Either choice changes only the tip line.
- The tipped wage is the least an employer may pay a tipped server per hour in cash, from the Labor Department's table of state tipped wages (revised July 1, 2026), checked against each state's own law. Where a city's ordinance sets a higher rate, as in Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, San Francisco, Seattle, Minneapolis, San Diego, Denver and San Jose, the city's rate is used. Florida's rate is the one that took effect on September 30, 2026, after the table was revised. January 1, 2027 changes come from official notices, statutes and ordinances.
- Each tax is worked out on the food and on the drinks separately and rounded to the cent, and the receipt adds the two. The tip is rounded to the cent. Cities that tie share a rank.
Taxes built into prices
These taxes are levied on the restaurant, not added to the bill, so they are in its menu prices and not on the receipt.
- Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin. Texas levies a 6.7% gross receipts tax on the restaurant's alcohol sales, which may not be charged to the customer separately. [111]
- Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania adds an 18% liquor tax, plus sales tax, when the restaurant buys spirits from the state liquor board. [112]
- Seattle. Washington charges restaurants a 13.7% spirits sales tax and $2.4408 a liter when they buy spirits. [113]
- Charlotte and Raleigh. North Carolina's ABC boards charge restaurants $20.00 for every 4 liters of spirits, on top of the 30% liquor excise in the bottle price. [114]
- St. Louis. The City of St. Louis taxes restaurants 1.5% of their gross receipts from food and nonalcoholic drinks. It is a tax on the restaurant, so the receipt leaves it out. [115]
- Virginia Beach and Richmond. Virginia adds a 20% tax to the price the restaurant pays the state ABC for spirits. [116]
- Salt Lake City. Utah's liquor agency marks spirits up at least 88.5% above cost before restaurants buy them. [117]
- Birmingham. Alabama's liquor taxes add 56% to the ABC Board's selling price, paid by the restaurant when it buys spirits. [118]
- Birmingham. Jefferson County taxes 6% of a business's gross sales of spirits, reported on its own return. No source found says it is billed to the customer, so the receipt leaves it out. [119]
Secondary sources
Where no current primary document gives an amount, the page uses the best other source, an older official filing first, then news coverage or another source. A charge that exists is never counted as zero. 3 amounts come from secondary sources, and each is marked "secondary" in the tables.
- Atlanta, GA. City of Atlanta excise tax on distilled spirits sold by the drink, 3% (other). Atlanta's own levy section (Sec. 10-184) could not be read, because the city code sites blocked every fetch. The 3% rests on the state law's cap on by-the-drink taxes, which Atlanta's code carries out, and a 2019 copy of the code's section list.
- Detroit, MI. January 1, 2027 tipped wage, $6.30 (other). Michigan's statute gives the $15.00 minimum for 2027, but the legislature's and the state's sites refused every fetch, so the 42% tipped share comes from a law firm's summary of the 2025 amendments.
- Grand Rapids, MI. January 1, 2027 tipped wage, $6.30 (other). Michigan's statute gives the $15.00 minimum for 2027, but the legislature's and the state's sites refused every fetch, so the 42% tipped share comes from a law firm's summary of the 2025 amendments.
Update Schedule
This page is reviewed quarterly. The current data reflects taxes and wages checked in October 2026.
Sources
Each source appears once. A source marked secondary is used only for amounts no current primary document gives.
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, for Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees and 13 more (dol.gov)
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, for Fact Sheet #15: Tipped Employees Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) (dol.gov)
- Commonwealth of Virginia (Va. Code § 58.1-603), for Virginia state sales tax (Richmond) and 1 more (law.lis.virginia.gov)
- Commonwealth of Virginia (local option levied by the city, Va. Code § 58.1-605), for Local sales tax (Richmond) and 1 more (law.lis.virginia.gov)
- Commonwealth of Virginia (Va. Code § 58.1-603.1 B, Planning District 15), for Central Virginia regional sales tax (Richmond) (law.lis.virginia.gov)
- City of Richmond Department of Finance (City Code ch. 26, art. VIII), for Richmond meals tax (Richmond) (rva.gov)
- Minnesota Department of Revenue, for Minnesota state sales tax (Minneapolis) and 5 more (revenue.state.mn.us)
- City of Minneapolis (collected by Minnesota Department of Revenue), for Minneapolis Downtown Restaurant Tax (Minneapolis) and 1 more (revenue.state.mn.us)
- Illinois Department of Revenue, for Illinois state sales tax (Retailers' Occupation Tax) (Chicago) and 2 more (tax.illinois.gov)
- Northern Illinois Transit Authority (collected by Illinois Department of Revenue), for Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA, formerly RTA) sales tax (Chicago) (tax.illinois.gov)
- Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (collected by Illinois Department of Revenue), for MPEA Food and Beverage Tax (Chicago) (tax.illinois.gov)
- City of Chicago Department of Finance, for Chicago Restaurant Tax (Chicago) (chicago.gov)
- Commonwealth of Virginia (Va. Code § 58.1-603.1, Planning District 23), for Hampton Roads regional sales tax (Virginia Beach) (tax.virginia.gov)
- City of Virginia Beach (Commissioner of the Revenue), for Virginia Beach meals (restaurant) tax (Virginia Beach) (cor.virginiabeach.gov)
- Missouri Department of Revenue, for Missouri state sales tax (Kansas City) and 1 more (dor.mo.gov)
- Missouri Department of Revenue (rate table), for Kansas City, Jackson County and Zoo District local sales taxes (combined) (Kansas City) and 2 more (dor.mo.gov)
- City of Kansas City, Missouri, Revenue Division (RSMo 92.327; City Code sec. 68-551), for Kansas City convention and tourism tax on food and drink (Kansas City) (archived copy of www.kcmo.gov)
- Washington State Department of Revenue, for Washington state retail sales tax (Seattle) and 1 more (dor.wa.gov)
- California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA), for California sales tax (state + local + district), City of Los Angeles (Los Angeles) (services.maps.cdtfa.ca.gov)
- Alabama Department of Revenue, for Alabama state sales tax (Birmingham) (revenue.alabama.gov)
- Jefferson County, Alabama (self-administered; listed by ADOR), for Jefferson County sales tax (Birmingham) and 1 more (revenue.alabama.gov)
- California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA), for California sales tax (state + local + district, San Jose) (San Jose) (services.maps.cdtfa.ca.gov)
- District of Columbia (D.C. Code § 47-2002(a)(3)); collected by the Office of Tax and Revenue, for DC sales tax on food or drink prepared for immediate consumption (Washington) (code.dccouncil.gov)
- District of Columbia (D.C. Code § 47-2002.02(2)), for Washington Convention and Sports Authority tax on prepared food (Washington) (code.dccouncil.gov)
- Tennessee Department of Revenue, for Tennessee state sales tax on prepared food (Memphis) and 1 more (revenue.support.tn.gov)
- City of Memphis (administered by the Tennessee Department of Revenue), for City of Memphis local option sales tax (Memphis) (tn.gov)
- Metropolitan Nashville-Davidson County (administered by Tennessee Department of Revenue), for Davidson County local option sales tax (Nashville) (tn.gov)
- Metropolitan Nashville-Davidson County (administered by Tennessee Department of Revenue), for Davidson County transit surcharge on local sales tax (Nashville) (tn.gov)
- Utah State Tax Commission, for Utah state and local sales tax, Salt Lake City (combined) (Salt Lake City) and 1 more (archived copy of files.tax.utah.gov)
- State of North Carolina (NCDOR), for North Carolina state sales tax (Charlotte) and 2 more (ncdor.gov)
- Mecklenburg County, Article 43 transit tax (collected by NCDOR), for Mecklenburg County public transportation sales tax (Charlotte) and 2 more (ncdor.gov)
- Mecklenburg County Office of the Tax Collector, for Mecklenburg County prepared food and beverage tax (Charlotte) (mecknc.widen.net)
- Arizona Department of Revenue, for Arizona state transaction privilege tax, restaurants and bars (Phoenix) and 2 more (archived copy of azdor.gov)
- Indiana Department of Revenue, for Indiana state sales tax (Indianapolis) (in.gov)
- Marion County (administered by Indiana Department of Revenue), for Marion County food and beverage tax (Indianapolis) (in.gov)
- Georgia Department of Revenue, for Georgia state sales tax (Atlanta) and 1 more (dor.georgia.gov)
- New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, for New York State sales tax (New York) and 1 more (tax.ny.gov)
- New York State Department of Taxation and Finance (collects for New York City), for New York City local sales tax (New York) (tax.ny.gov)
- California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA), for California sales tax (state + local + district), City of Riverside (Riverside) (services.maps.cdtfa.ca.gov)
- California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA), for California sales tax (state + local + district), City of Sacramento (Sacramento) (services.maps.cdtfa.ca.gov)
- Oklahoma Tax Commission (68 O.S. 1354), for Oklahoma state sales tax (Oklahoma City) and 1 more (oklahoma.gov)
- California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA), for California sales tax (state + local + district, San Francisco) (San Francisco) (services.maps.cdtfa.ca.gov)
- Wisconsin Department of Revenue (Wis. Stat. 77.52), for Wisconsin state sales tax (Milwaukee) and 2 more (revenue.wi.gov)
- Wisconsin Center District (administered by Wisconsin Department of Revenue), for Wisconsin Center District food and beverage tax (Milwaukee) (revenue.wi.gov)
- Nevada Department of Taxation, for Clark County combined sales and use tax (Las Vegas) (tax.nv.gov)
- California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA), for California sales tax (state + local + district), City of Fresno (Fresno) (services.maps.cdtfa.ca.gov)
- Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, for Texas state sales tax (Austin) and 3 more (comptroller.texas.gov)
- Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (local rate table), for City of Austin sales tax (Austin) and 8 more (comptroller.texas.gov)
- State of North Carolina (NCDOR), for North Carolina state sales tax (Raleigh) (ncdor.gov)
- Wake County Tax Administration, for Wake County prepared food and beverage tax (Raleigh) (wake.gov)
- Ohio Department of Taxation, for Ohio state sales tax (Cleveland) and 8 more (dam.assets.ohio.gov)
- City and County of Denver (rate table), for Colorado state sales tax (Denver) and 2 more (denvergov.org)
- City and County of Denver, for Denver prepared food and drink sales tax (Denver) (denvergov.org)
- State of Florida (s. 212.05(1)(a)1.a., F.S.; collected by Florida Department of Revenue), for Florida state sales tax (Miami) and 3 more (flsenate.gov)
- Miami-Dade County (collected by Florida Department of Revenue), for Miami-Dade County discretionary sales surtax (Miami) and 2 more (floridarevenue.com)
- Miami-Dade County (s. 212.0306(1)(b), F.S.; administered by the county), for Miami-Dade food and beverage tax for homeless and domestic violence programs (Miami) (miamidade.gov)
- Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, for Pennsylvania state sales tax (Philadelphia) and 2 more (pa.gov)
- City of Philadelphia (collected by the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue), for Philadelphia local sales tax (Philadelphia) (phila.gov)
- Rhode Island Division of Taxation (R.I. Gen. Laws § 44-18-18; 280-RICR-20-70-4), for Rhode Island sales tax (Providence) and 1 more (rules.sos.ri.gov)
- California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA), for California sales tax (state + local + district), City of San Diego (San Diego) (services.maps.cdtfa.ca.gov)
- Hillsborough County (collected by Florida Department of Revenue), for Hillsborough County discretionary sales surtax (Tampa) (floridarevenue.com)
- Connecticut Department of Revenue Services (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 12-408(1)(A)), for Connecticut sales tax (Hartford) (portal.ct.gov)
- State of Connecticut (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 12-408(1)(I)), for Connecticut additional sales tax on meals (Hartford) (cga.ct.gov)
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts (M.G.L. c. 64H § 2; Department of Revenue), for Massachusetts sales tax on meals (Boston) (malegislature.gov)
- City of Boston (M.G.L. c. 64L § 2; collected by DOR), for Boston local option meals excise (Boston) (boston.gov)
- State of Maryland (Tax-General § 11-104(a)); Comptroller of Maryland, for Maryland sales and use tax (Baltimore) and 1 more (mgaleg.maryland.gov)
- State of Michigan (General Sales Tax Act, MCL 205.52), for Michigan sales tax (Detroit) and 1 more (archived copy of www.legislature.mi.gov)
- Kentucky Department of Revenue, for Kentucky sales tax (Louisville) (revenue.ky.gov)
- Oregon Department of Revenue, for Portland: no sales tax (oregon.gov)
- Tennessee Department of Revenue (Tenn. Code Ann. 57-4-301), for Tennessee liquor-by-the-drink tax (Memphis) and 1 more (tn.gov)
- Oklahoma Tax Commission (37A O.S. 5-105), for Oklahoma mixed beverage gross receipts tax (Oklahoma City) (oklegislature.gov)
- Minnesota Department of Revenue (Minn. Stat. 295.75), for Minnesota liquor gross receipts tax (Minneapolis) (revisor.mn.gov)
- Jefferson County Department of Revenue (Acts 2001-545 and 2003-288); listed by ADOR as a sales tax, for Jefferson County additional sales tax on alcohol sold in restaurants (Birmingham) (archived copy of licenses.jccal.org)
- City of Atlanta (Code of Ordinances Part II, Ch. 10, Art. II, Div. 4, Subdivision IV, under O.C.G.A. 3-4-130), for City of Atlanta excise tax on distilled spirits sold by the drink (Atlanta) (codes.findlaw.com). Secondary source: other
- City of Philadelphia Department of Revenue (for the School District of Philadelphia; Phila. Code § 19-1805), for Philadelphia Liquor Sales Tax (Philadelphia) (phila.gov)
- Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (Tax Code ch. 183, subch. B-1), for Texas mixed beverage sales tax (Austin) and 3 more (comptroller.texas.gov)
- Allegheny County Treasurer (Ordinance 28-08-OR), for Allegheny County Alcoholic Beverage Tax (drink tax) (Pittsburgh) (alleghenycountytreasurer.us)
- City of Seattle, Office of Labor Standards (SMC 14.19), for tipped minimum wage (Seattle) and 1 more (seattle.gov)
- City and County of San Francisco, Office of Labor Standards Enforcement (Minimum Wage Ordinance), for tipped minimum wage (San Francisco) (media.api.sf.gov)
- City of San Jose, Office of Equality Assurance (Minimum Wage Ordinance), for tipped minimum wage (San Jose) (archived copy of www.sanjoseca.gov)
- City of Los Angeles, Office of Wage Standards (Minimum Wage Ordinance), for tipped minimum wage (Los Angeles) (wagesla.lacity.gov)
- City of San Diego, Earned Sick Leave and Minimum Wage Ordinance, for tipped minimum wage (San Diego) and 1 more (sandiego.gov)
- California Department of Industrial Relations, Labor Commissioner's Office, for tipped minimum wage (Fresno) and 2 more (dir.ca.gov)
- California Department of Industrial Relations, Labor Commissioner's Office, for January 1, 2027 wage (Fresno) and 2 more (dir.ca.gov)
- Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI), Portland metro rate, for tipped minimum wage (Portland) (oregon.gov)
- City of Minneapolis, Labor Standards Enforcement Division, for tipped minimum wage (Minneapolis) and 1 more (minimumwage.minneapolismn.gov)
- Denver Labor (Denver Auditor's Office), DRMC ch. 58, for tipped minimum wage (Denver) (denvergov.org)
- Denver Labor (Denver Auditor's Office), DRMC ch. 58, for January 1, 2027 wage (Denver) (denvergov.org)
- City of Chicago, Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, Office of Labor Standards, for tipped minimum wage (Chicago) (chicago.gov)
- Industrial Commission of Arizona (Fair Wages and Healthy Families Act), for tipped minimum wage (Phoenix) (archived copy of www.azica.gov)
- Industrial Commission of Arizona (Fair Wages and Healthy Families Act), for January 1, 2027 wage (Phoenix) (archived copy of www.azica.gov)
- Nevada Constitution Art. 15, Sec. 16; NRS 608.160, for tipped minimum wage (Las Vegas) (archived copy of www.leg.state.nv.us)
- Florida Constitution Art. X, s. 24(c) (state minimum wage; tip credit fixed at the 2003 FLSA tip credit, $3.02 per the DOL table), for tipped minimum wage (Jacksonville) and 3 more (flsenate.gov)
- New York State Department of Labor (Hospitality Industry Wage Order), for tipped minimum wage (New York) (dol.ny.gov)
- DC Department of Employment Services, Office of Wage-Hour (D.C. Code § 32-1003(f)(6A)), for tipped minimum wage (Washington) (does.dc.gov)
- Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Division of Labor Standards, for tipped minimum wage (Kansas City) and 1 more (labor.mo.gov)
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts (M.G.L. c. 151 §§ 1, 7), for tipped minimum wage (Boston) (malegislature.gov)
- Connecticut Department of Labor (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-60(b)), for tipped minimum wage (Hartford) (cga.ct.gov)
- Connecticut Department of Labor (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-60(b)), for January 1, 2027 wage (Hartford) (portal.ct.gov)
- Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance (2026 minimum wage poster), for tipped minimum wage (Cincinnati) and 2 more (dam.assets.ohio.gov)
- Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance (2026 minimum wage poster), for January 1, 2027 wage (Cincinnati) and 2 more (dam.assets.ohio.gov)
- Littler Mendelson (law firm summary of Michigan's 2025 amendments), for January 1, 2027 wage (Detroit) and 1 more (littler.com). Secondary source: other
- Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 28-12-3, 28-12-5), for tipped minimum wage (Providence) (archived copy of webserver.rilegislature.gov)
- Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 28-12-3, 28-12-5), for January 1, 2027 wage (Providence) (archived copy of webserver.rilegislature.gov)
- Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Labor and Industry, for tipped minimum wage (Baltimore) (labor.maryland.gov)
- Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (Minimum Wage Act), for tipped minimum wage (Philadelphia) and 1 more (pa.gov)
- Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, Equal Rights Division (Labor Standards), for tipped minimum wage (Milwaukee) (dwd.wisconsin.gov)
- North Carolina Department of Labor (N.C. Wage and Hour Act; same amounts as the federal FLSA), for tipped minimum wage (Charlotte) and 1 more (labor.nc.gov)
- Kentucky General Assembly (KRS 337.275, tracks the federal tipped wage under 29 U.S.C. 203), for tipped minimum wage (Louisville) (archived copy of apps.legislature.ky.gov)
- Virginia (Va. Code §§ 40.1-28.9, 40.1-28.10) with the federal FLSA $2.13 cash floor, for tipped minimum wage (Richmond) and 3 more (law.lis.virginia.gov)
- Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, for Texas mixed beverage gross receipts tax (comptroller.texas.gov)
- Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, for Pennsylvania liquor tax (pa.gov)
- Washington State Department of Revenue, for Washington spirits taxes on restaurants (dor.wa.gov)
- North Carolina ABC Commission, for North Carolina mixed beverage charge (abc.nc.gov)
- City of St. Louis License Collector, for St. Louis restaurant gross receipts tax (archived copy of www.stlouis-mo.gov)
- Commonwealth of Virginia (Va. Code § 4.1-234), for Virginia spirits tax on mixed beverage licensees (law.lis.virginia.gov)
- Utah Legislature (Utah Code 32B-2-304), for Utah liquor markup (archived copy of le.utah.gov)
- Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (Ala. Admin. Code 810-6-1), for Alabama ABC liquor taxes (admincode.legislature.state.al.us)
- Jefferson County, Alabama, Department of Revenue, for Jefferson County alcoholic beverage tax (archived copy of boe.jccal.org)
Cite this page
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APA Citation
CheckoutReceipt. (2026). True cost of eating out by city (2026). CheckoutReceipt.com. https://www.checkoutreceipt.com/tools/true-cost-eating-out-by-city
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