# Is a UT meal plan worth it?

**$106** a week is what the plan costs

Spend less than $106 a week on your own food and skipping the plan wins.

- Meal plan and extras, whole semester**$1,690**
- Meal plan, per day**$15How it’s calculated**

The plan’s price, plus any other food you’d still buy, is divided by the weeks it covers. That weekly cost is the most your own food can cost before the plan becomes the cheaper choice.

**Sources 3 sources**

- [UT Housing and Dining: commuter meal plans](https://housing.utexas.edu/dining/meal-plans/commuter-meal-plans)
- [UT Housing and Dining: meal plans for dorm residents](https://housing.utexas.edu/dining/meal-plans/residence-hall-meal-plans)
- [Registrar: 2026–27 academic calendar](https://registrar.utexas.edu/calendars/26-27)

[Every UT meal plan and price](https://utaustin.guide/ut/meal-plans)[Dining hall hours](https://utaustin.guide/ut/dining-hours)[Build a semester budget](https://utaustin.guide/tools/semester-budget)

By [Sulayman Bowles](https://sulayman-bowles.dev/about) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

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Source: https://utaustin.guide/tools/meal-plan-or-groceries · Checked 2026-11-12 · Field Guide: UT Austin