Whether it’s a lazy afternoon or a busy evening, someone’s stomach starts growling. They grab their phone, open and scroll through DoorDash, and find exactly what they’re craving—burgers, fries, a boba, whatever hits the spot. They tap “Order,” but then the total appears. How did a $10 meal suddenly become $25?
Lots of students love the convenience of food delivery apps like DoorDash. It’s quick, easy, and saves a trip or asking your parents for a ride. But many are starting to question if it’s really worth it. A $10 meal can easily jump to $25 after service fees, marked-up menu prices, a delivery charge, and the driver’s tip. What starts as a simple order often turns into a pricey splurge. Even younger users are noticing that convenience comes at a steep cost.
Freshman Adriana VanZweden first started using DoorDash when she began high school. She appreciated the independence, no longer needing to rely on others, even her own relatives.
“What first drew me to DoorDash was that I did not have to bug my older sister or mom to bring me something good,” VanZweden said.
VanZweden also likes how it says no delivery fee. But she quickly found out that wasn’t the whole story.
“There is around a six-dollar difference between getting it from DoorDash and getting it straight from the restaurant without a tip,” VanZweden said. “It says it is zero delivery, but it makes you pay ten dollars in service fees, which is the delivery fee. If they were more honest about it, I would be more likely to get it from there [a restaurant].”
According to, Why Is DoorDash So Expensive?, by Ralph Wade in Lifestyle, it’s not just your imagination; DoorDash is more expensive.
“DoorDash allows restaurants to set inflated prices to help offset the commission fees… A $12 entree might cost $15-16 on DoorDash before other fees even get added,” Wade said.
DoorDash charges restaurants a big commission, sometimes 15% to 30% of your order. So restaurants raise DoorDash prices to cover that loss, and you end up paying more for the same food you could get cheaper if you just picked it up yourself.
And it’s not just the food. There are service fees, hidden delivery fees, taxes, and tips. By the time you check out, the total can be way more than you expected.
Junior Kendra Dame occasionally uses DoorDash, especially when she’s feeling too tired to cook after a busy day.
“I usually will DoorDash after a practice or if I’m honestly just lazy,” Dame said. “Mostly for after practices.”
But even Dame admits it’s not cheap. She thinks going in and ordering is so much better.
“Ordering at a restaurant is 100% cheaper,” Dame said. “The main thing that stops me from ordering sometimes is the pricing.”
One time, Dame paid extra, thinking the food would arrive quickly and fresh, but it didn’t.
“The last time I ordered DoorDash food to my house, it was cold,” Dame said. “Even when tipping high, your order isn’t always the dasher’s priority.”
Kendra tries to be smart about it, thinking there might be another way.
“There are different alternatives like just ordering the food online and then picking it up,” Dame said. “That shaves off delivery fees.”
While DoorDash isn’t always budget-friendly, both VanZweden and Dame admit it has its moments. VanZweden, for example, leaned on it during cheer season when she had to stay late at school.
“That way I could eat before my [football] game,” VanZweden said.
When you’re super busy or stuck somewhere, DoorDash can be a lifesaver—but those moments are the exception, not the rule. It feels simple: tap a few buttons, and food arrives. But behind the convenience are extra fees, marked-up prices, and potential delivery hiccups.
So before you order, pause and ask: Could I pick it up? Cook something quick? Is it worth the cost this time? Sometimes, yes—but that convenience often costs more than you think.
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