Why XOOM costs 50% less than delivery apps
It comes down to the delivery model. Same restaurant food — different economics. Here is the arithmetic, and the independent evidence behind it.
The per-serving calculation
XOOM's 6-meal plan costs $150. Each XOOM meal is a meal for 2, so that is 12 servings total. Divide: $12.50 per serving, with free ground shipping to 23 eastern states. In air-shipped states, a flat $14.95 surcharge adds roughly $1.25 per serving, bringing the air-shipped cost to $13.75 — still well below a delivery-app order.
Order the same category of restaurant food through a delivery app. A typical restaurant entrée carries an in-store menu value of around $18. By the time the app adds its menu markup, delivery fee, service fee, and the expected tip, the total per person, delivered lands at roughly $28–34. Independent studies put the average delivery-app order value at $37.28.
| XOOM per serving | Delivery app per person, delivered | |
|---|---|---|
| Ground shipping | $12.50 | $28–34 |
| Air-shipped states | $13.75 | $28–34 |
| 12 servings (one XOOM box) | $150 | $340–390 |
| Service fees | None | ~15% of order, $4 min |
| Tips | None | 15–20% norm, ~$5 min |
What about portion sizes?
Restaurant entrées vary — 12 to 20 ounces depending on the dish — and prices don't track ounces: the 14 oz plate often costs the same as the 20 oz one. So we compare the way people actually order: one entrée per person, delivered. And if you'd rather count nutrition servings (about 500–600 calories each), apply it to both sides — a typical 1,200-calorie restaurant entrée is two servings by that standard, the same standard behind our 13 oz meals for 2. Whichever yardstick you choose, use it on both plates. We did.
The math behind 50% less
Sources: Self Financial 2025 (100-city study), FinanceBuzz, Gordon Haskett Research. Per-serving math: 6-meal plan ÷ 12 servings = $12.50. Delivery-app cost based on $18 in-store food value plus typical fees and tip.
Independent evidence
These figures are drawn from third-party published research. XOOM has no control over delivery-app pricing and does not represent that these figures apply to every order — they reflect documented averages and study findings.
| Source | Finding |
|---|---|
| Self Financial, 2025 100-city study | The leading delivery app charges an average of 71.1% more than purchasing the same items in-store. |
| FinanceBuzz Total markup analysis | Total markups (menu price + all fees) across major delivery apps: Postmates 92%, market leader 83%, GrubHub 80%, Uber Eats 69%. |
| Gordon Haskett Research Menu markup tracking, 25 brands | Delivery apps charge an average ~20% menu markup on top of in-store prices across 25 restaurant brands. |
| Delivery app fee structure Published fee mechanics | Service fee: approximately 15% of order ($4 minimum). Delivery fee: $1.99–$5.99. Tip: 15–20% norm, approximately $5 minimum. |
Delivery app average order value
The leading delivery app has published an average order value of $37.28. That is a single-order figure — for a single meal for one or two people. XOOM's 6-meal box at $150 covers 12 servings, or the equivalent of 12 delivery-app single-serving orders.
Shipping transparency
Ground shipping is free to 23 eastern states, which covers most of XOOM's primary market. For orders outside the free-shipping zone, a flat $14.95 air-shipping fee applies per box. Divided across 12 servings, that is $1.25 per serving — bringing the air-shipped per-serving cost to $13.75.
At $13.75 versus a typical $28–34 delivery-app order, air-shipped XOOM is still approximately 56% less per serving. We publish this number because it is the honest picture, and because customers in air-shipped states deserve to know the real comparison before they order.
Delivery-app pricing varies by market, restaurant, and time of day. The figures above represent documented averages from independent published research as of 2025. XOOM's comparison is to restaurant-food delivery apps only — not to in-store dining or home cooking. Prices subject to change. XOOM's own pricing is current as published at checkout.
Same restaurant food. Shipped to your door. 50% less than delivery.
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