Is DoorDash too expensive now?

Yes — for many people, DoorDash is now expensive enough that it should be treated as a convenience splurge, not a default way to eat.

The main reason is stacking costs: menu prices can be higher than in-store, then you may pay delivery fees, service fees, small-order fees, local regulatory fees in some markets, and a tip. Even if each line looks modest, the final total can be far above pickup or ordering directly from the restaurant.

A practical rule: if DoorDash adds more than about 25–35% versus pickup, it is probably “too expensive” unless the time saved is genuinely worth it. It can still make sense when you are sick, busy, without transportation, feeding a group, using a real promo, or ordering from a restaurant with low/no fees.

To keep it reasonable: compare against pickup before checking out, use DashPass only if you order often enough to offset the subscription, avoid small orders, watch for inflated menu prices, and tip based on distance/effort rather than letting the app’s total normalize a huge bill.