Dining out in Washington costs more than you think, new study on chain restaurants shows

Spokane transplants be warned before offering to foot the dinner bill: It may be more than you’re used to.

Chain restaurants in Washington charge more than in any other state in the lower 48, according to a recent Washington Hospitality Association study evaluating the cost of dining out.

Washington residents tend to pay nearly 14% more than the national average, with those in the Seattle area seeing prices over 17% higher than average for the 20 largest American cities, according to the association’s 2025 Cost of Dining report.

Seattle’s prices were second only to San Francisco, and outpaced locations like New York City, Los Angeles, Denver and San Antonio. The association did not conduct a similar analysis for Spokane, but prices likely mirror the statewide trend, said Anthony Anton,