WA chain restaurant prices are highest in the U.S., study says

It’s not just in your head. Restaurant prices in Seattle and across Washington are high.

In fact, they might be higher than almost any other part of the country, according to a new analysis of chain restaurant menu prices conducted by the Washington Hospitality Association, a lobby group that represents restaurants in the state.

In Seattle, eating out costs 17% more than it does on average across 20 major U.S. cities, the study found. This means it ranks as one of the costliest places for dining, beating even New York City and second to only San Francisco.

At the state level, Washington ranked the most expensive, with the study finding that menu prices here to be nearly 14% higher than the national average. (The study excluded Hawai’i and Alaska, which face unique affordability issues d