A man from Coimbatore sparked questions after noticing that ordering food via Swiggy was nearly 81% more expensive than buying the same dishes directly from a restaurant just two kilometres away. He shared
a detailed comparison of both bills on X (formerly Twitter), tagging Swiggy and asking why the same meal cost him Rs 1,473 through the app, while it was only Rs 810 in person.
He said, “Hey @Swiggy, please explain. Why does ordering food in the app, 81% expensive than buying the same food from the same outlet, just 2kms away. Is this the real cost of convenience? The extra that I have to pay to get the food delivered is INR 663.”
The post quickly attracted attention, getting over 2.7 million views. Many people joined the discussion, expressing opinions about the price difference.
Hey @Swiggy, please explain. Why does ordering food in the app, 81% expensive than buying the same food from the same outlet, just 2kms away. Is this the real cost of convenience ? The extra that I have to pay to get the food delivered is INR 663. pic.twitter.com/rvLghtJJ3H
— Sunder (@SunderjiJB) September 7, 2025
Users Question Swiggy’s Steep Price Hikes
Many social media users noted that such price differences on food delivery apps are not uncommon. “Every time it happened, but people don’t care, that’s why they are charging too much,” a person commented.
Another added, “Swiggy and Zomato both do this. Their prices are higher compared to the shop. Still, they claim losses… with such high rates and no reflection on the bottom line, it’s assumed they have high operational costs.”
While some agreed that a 20 to 30 per cent extra charge makes sense as the cost of convenience, many thought an 80 per cent increase was too much. Others defended the practice, saying people pay for the service and ease of ordering.
“You want the safety of the app, the delivery on time, the customer service, the variety on your fingertips… either pay the premium or go and get it yourself,” a person wrote.
Another group pointed out that restaurants themselves may be setting higher online prices. “I may be wrong, but I think the restaurant sets the prices online. Swiggy may add fees on top, but menu item prices are likely adjusted by the owner,” a user explained.
Platform Fees on the Rise Ahead of Festive Season
This complaint comes as Swiggy and Zomato have once again increased their platform fees to keep up with festive demand.
Bengaluru-based Swiggy has raised its platform fee three times in the past three weeks and now charges Rs 15 per order, including GST. Gurgaon-based Zomato increased its fee by 20%, bringing it to Rs 12 per order (excluding GST).
Swiggy handles around 20 lakh orders daily, earning nearly Rs 3 crore every day just from platform fees. Zomato earns a similar amount from its 23–25 lakh daily orders.
Delivery Companies Are Facing Financial Challenges
Despite rapid growth, both Swiggy and Zomato are facing significant cost pressures, particularly from their quick commerce services. Swiggy’s Instamart and Zomato’s Blinkit are resource-intensive and continue to weigh on their profits.
A platform fee is an extra charge shown separately on the bill. It is added on top of the item prices, delivery charges, packaging, restaurant fees, surges, and GST. This fee helps cover delivery costs, manage operations, improve profits, and compensate for losses from quick commerce services. With the festive season in full swing, this fee has become a key way for these companies to boost their income.
