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How Much to Save for Food Traveling in Los Angeles

By Akshara Elara

Los Angeles is a dream destination for travelers who love food as much as sunshine, beaches, and movie magic. From street tacos to luxury dining, LA’s food scene is huge, diverse, and famously delicious—but it can also be surprisingly pricey if you don’t plan ahead. Knowing how much to save for food traveling in Los Angeles helps you avoid overspending while still enjoying the best meals the city has to offer.

This guide breaks down daily food costs, average meal prices, budget ranges, and practical money-saving hacks to help you create the perfect LA food budget.


Average Food Prices in Los Angeles

To understand how much to save for food in Los Angeles, start with the typical price of meals across different categories. LA has a wide gap between affordable local eats and upscale restaurants, so travelers can adjust based on preference and budget.

Breakfast (USD 6–25 per person)

  • Budget options such as pastries, bagels, or fast-casual breakfast: $6–10
  • Sit-down breakfast or brunch: $15–25

Breakfast tends to be the cheapest meal of the day unless you choose LA-style brunch, which can quickly get expensive.

Lunch (USD 10–30 per person)

  • Food trucks or street food: $10–15
  • Fast-casual restaurants: $12–20
  • Standard sit-down lunch: $20–30

Los Angeles is famous for incredible food trucks, especially Mexican, Korean, and fusion cuisines. They provide great value for travelers.

Dinner (USD 15–60+ per person)

  • Affordable meals (no tipping required places): $15–20
  • Mid-range restaurants: $25–40
  • Higher-end restaurants, seafood, Michelin-rated spots: $50–60+

Dinner is where most of your food budget will go, especially if you enjoy cocktails, rooftop dining, or trendy restaurants in Hollywood, Santa Monica, or Beverly Hills.

Snacks, drinks & extras (USD 5–20 per day)

  • Coffee: $4–7
  • Boba tea: $5–8
  • Desserts: $5–10
  • Bottled water, convenience store snacks: $2–5

Since LA has a strong coffee and dessert culture, these small purchases can add up quickly.


How much to save for food traveling in Los Angeles depends on your travel style. Here are three budget levels to help you choose the right plan.

1. Budget Traveler: $35–50 per day

Suitable if you:

  • Eat at food trucks or fast-casual chains
  • Don’t plan to dine in sit-down restaurants often
  • Limit alcohol or specialty drinks
  • Buy basic snacks from supermarkets

Sample breakdown:

  • Breakfast: $7
  • Lunch: $12–15
  • Dinner: $15–20
  • Snacks: $3–5

Budget travelers can still enjoy amazing LA eats, especially taco stands, Thai Town restaurants, Koreatown spots, and affordable food trucks.

2. Mid-Range Traveler: $60–100 per day

Suitable if you:

  • Want a mix of casual and sit-down dining
  • Enjoy occasional dessert, coffee, or drinks
  • Prefer variety across neighborhoods

Sample breakdown:

  • Breakfast: $10–15
  • Lunch: $15–20
  • Dinner: $25–50
  • Snacks: $5–10

This is the most common range for travelers who want quality and comfort without splurging.

3. Luxury Traveler: $120–200+ per day

Suitable if you:

  • Prefer premium restaurants
  • Want to try Michelin-starred or celebrity-chef spots
  • Drink cocktails or wine with dinner
  • Enjoy tasting menus or high-end seafood

Sample breakdown:

  • Breakfast: $15–25
  • Lunch: $20–40
  • Dinner: $60–120+
  • Snacks: $10–15

Los Angeles is full of upscale dining such as Nobu Malibu, Bestia, Providence, and BOA Steakhouse—great experiences but costly.


Factors That Influence Your LA Food Budget

When calculating how much to save for food traveling in Los Angeles, several factors can change your total significantly.

Dining location

Tourist areas like Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and West Hollywood have higher prices. Meanwhile, neighborhoods like Koreatown, Little Tokyo, Thai Town, and East LA offer delicious meals at lower prices.

Tipping culture

In Los Angeles, tipping is expected at most sit-down restaurants. Standard tip: 18%–20%.

This will increase your meal cost, especially for dinner.

Beverages and alcohol

Cocktails in LA often cost $12–18, and wine $10–15 per glass, which can double your dinner spending.

Specialty diets

Vegan, gluten-free, and organic restaurants—very common in Los Angeles—often cost slightly more.

Food experiences

Special food activities such as farmers markets, rooftop bars, or exclusive pop-ups may impact your budget.


Where to Eat in Los Angeles Based on Budget

To help estimate how much you should save for food, here are some ideas across three budget levels.

Budget-Friendly Options

  • Street taco stands across Boyle Heights and East LA
  • Food trucks (Korean BBQ, fusion, Mediterranean, burgers)
  • Chinatown quick-service restaurants
  • Thai Town for affordable and flavorful meals
  • Supermarkets like Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods hot bar

Average meal cost: $8–15

Mid-Range Options

  • Koreatown BBQ (shared meals, great value)
  • Little Tokyo ramen and sushi shops
  • Santa Monica fast-casual seafood spots
  • Venice Beach casual cafés and brunch places

Average meal cost: $15–35

Luxury Options

  • Malibu ocean-view fine dining
  • Steakhouse dinners in Beverly Hills
  • Michelin-starred restaurants
  • Stylish rooftop restaurants in Downtown LA

Average meal cost: $60–150+


Tips to Save Money on Food When Traveling in LA

Even though Los Angeles can be expensive, there are many ways to save money without missing out on amazing meals.

Eat at food trucks

LA has one of the best food truck scenes in the world, offering great value.

Choose ethnic neighborhoods

Koreatown, Thai Town, Little Ethiopia, and East LA have high-quality food for lower prices.

Go for weekday lunch specials

Many restaurants offer cheaper lunch menus compared to dinner.

Avoid overpriced tourist traps

Restaurants near major attractions usually charge more for lower quality.

Try grocery-store meals

Hot bars, ready-made meals, and snacks help you control spending.

Share meals

Portions in LA are large—sharing reduces cost while letting you try more dishes.

Stay hydrated with refillable bottles

Tap water is safe to drink, so avoid constantly buying bottled water.


How Much Should You Save for a 3–7 Day Food Trip in Los Angeles?

Here’s a quick overview to help you calculate your total food savings.

3-day trip

  • Budget traveler: $120–150
  • Mid-range traveler: $180–300
  • Luxury traveler: $360–600+

5-day trip

  • Budget traveler: $175–250
  • Mid-range traveler: $300–500
  • Luxury traveler: $600–1,000+

7-day trip

  • Budget traveler: $250–350
  • Mid-range traveler: $420–700
  • Luxury traveler: $900–1,500+


Final Thoughts: How Much to Save for Food Traveling in Los Angeles

So, how much should you save for food when visiting Los Angeles? The answer depends mostly on your dining style, but most travelers spend between $60 and $100 per day to enjoy a good balance of affordable eats, local favorites, and a few memorable dinners.

LA’s food scene is diverse, exciting, and worth planning for. With the right budget—whether budget, mid-range, or luxury—you can enjoy the best flavors of the city without surprise expenses.