For many parents, packing a lunch for their children is part of the daily back-to-school routine. But a new survey suggests it may not always be the cheaper option.
According to Deloitte’s 2026 Back-to-School Survey, the average cost of a packed school lunch is now about $6.33.
That compares with a national average of roughly $3 to $3.25 for a school cafeteria lunch, about half the cost of a lunch packed at home.
The survey comes as millions of children across the country qualify for free or reduced-price school meals based on their family’s income.
KPRC 2 spoke with 15 Houston-area parents about how they feed their children during the school year.
All 15 said they pack lunches at home rather than having their children buy lunch at school.
For some parents, the decision comes down to more than cost.
One mother said she packs her daughter’s lunch because she is a picky eater and would not eat the school lunch.
Another parent said packing lunch is a better option because their children don’t like the food served at school.
Other parents said they believe packing lunch at home is cheaper and gives them more control over what their children eat.
What does school lunch cost in Houston?
The price varies depending on the school district and whether a campus participates in the Community Eligibility Provision, or CEP.
At Houston ISD, lunch at non-CEP campuses costs $4 per meal. Families may qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on their income.
In Katy ISD, lunch at elementary schools at non-CEP campuses costs $2.75 per meal. Students may also qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on household income.
At $2.75 per lunch, buying school lunch five days a week would cost a family about $13.75 per child before any free or reduced-price meal benefits.
At $4 per lunch, the weekly cost would be about $20 per child.
What does it cost to pack lunch?
To see how much it can cost to make lunches at home, KPRC 2’s Bill Spencer went grocery shopping and purchased enough food to make one week’s worth of school lunches.
He chose store-brand products and looked for the least expensive options available.
The total came to $65.47 for the groceries.
Of course, that grocery haul includes items that can be used for multiple lunches and meals, so the cost of an individual packed lunch can vary widely depending on what a family buys and how much food is used for each meal.
Still, Deloitte’s national estimate shows just how much the cost of individual ingredients can add up.
Is school lunch really cheaper?
On a national level, the answer appears to be yes, at least based on Deloitte’s estimates.
But for Houston families, the calculation depends on the school district, whether a child qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, what parents purchase for packed lunches and how much of those groceries are used beyond one week’s worth of lunches.
For many Houston parents, however, the decision isn’t simply about price.
Taste, picky eaters, nutrition and what their children will actually eat can all play a role.
And for families who qualify, free or reduced-price school meals can make buying lunch at school significantly less expensive.
As the new school year gets underway, parents are once again faced with the same question nearly every morning: pack it or buy it?