Canadians say they are dining out at restaurants less than last year amid the heightened cost of living, according to new data from Restaurants Canada, which shows higher income households with the sharpest change.
A retail analyst and consumer expert says the report is another example of the “K-shaped” economy writ large, which sees a growing divide between top earners in Canada and lower income brackets that is also showing strain among more middle and higher income earners.
The report was released Thursday and featured details of Restaurants Canada’s survey, which was conducted by Angus Reid in May and included 1,500 Canadian participants. When questions were asked about dining out at restaurants, it included both fast food (a.k.a. “quick-service restaurants”) and full-service restaurants.
Eighty per cent of all respondents said they have been eating out less often due to the rising cost of living, up from 75 per cent a year earlier.
That sentiment was also shared by 78 per cent of households that claimed to earn a combined income of $100,000 per year or more, up from 70 per cent in 2025.
Eighty-one per cent of households that said they earn between $50,000 and $100,000 annually said they were dining out less this year, up from 76 per cent last year.
Get daily National news
Meanwhile, households that earned less than $50,000 were little changed, with 87 per cent saying they are dining out less than last year, up from 86 per cent a year earlier.
“You have this sort of divergence of consumers: You have people getting really rich — that’s the upward swing of the ‘K’ — and then you have people getting poorer, and that’s the downward swing of ‘K,'” says consumer and retail analyst Bruce Winder.
“The folks who are doing really well, they’re spending more, but it’s hiding the fact that a lot of folks are spending less on the bottom arc. This is just another sort of piece of evidence that reinforces that.”
“That income disparity, that wealth disparity has grown significantly.”
The Restaurants Canada survey also showed 61 per cent of respondents saying they would visit a table-service restaurant more often if they had more disposable income, up from 53 per cent in 2025.
“You have people who just don’t have enough disposable income to go to restaurants as often as they used to because of the price of food, the price of other things like rent and fuel,” says Winder.
“The other piece is I think people are thinking twice about just the sheer value you’re getting. You know you’re getting less and paying a lot more, and that doesn’t sit well with everyone.”
There have been multiple other examples of a widening divide in consumer spending power over the past year, reflecting that “K” shape, as households with more wealth and higher incomes see their ability to spend rise, while those with less wealth and income are finding it harder and harder to get ahead.
In April, Statistics Canada reported the wealth gap widened in 2025. The agency defines the wealth gap as “the difference in the share of disposable income between households in the top 40 per cent and the bottom 40 per cent of the income distribution.”
A report on debt levels by Equifax in March showed those with higher credit scores had much higher mortgage debt in 2025 than the year before, suggesting those with comparably better credit ratings are struggling more to make ends meet.
Another report from NerdWallet last year showed consumers planned to spend less on holiday gifts than the year before, with the numbers reflecting an increase in middle and higher income shoppers planning on cutting their holiday budgets compared to a year earlier.
Ben, you are the most out of touch, ivory tower liberal poster I have ever seen.
Restaurant business is all over then. Franchise scam should be the beginning of end. Hopefully some local spots will rise.
In China it’s so cheap to eat out I can do it for $2 and there’s no tipping. Canada sucks
I love how many trolls on here complain about global, yet everyday its the same pack of failures on here commenting, become a liberal and get a job, you obviously have to much time and free government hand out money because all you do is the same as your leader, and that’s bring nothing to the table.
Liberal drama queens are destroying our economy with their mental health disorders.
Somebody throw Ben a fish so he quits clapping
To Come to the Socialist Potato: Love the Nineteen Eighty-Four reference and Ben, is your last name Dover?
Soon the only restaurants in Canada will be owned by the Liberal Government and it will be called “The Socialist Potato”
Come to the Socialist Potato for a meal.We have one menu item.Potato.
You can have your Potato boiled or mashed.One Potato per customer.This weeks Special, One Potato $ 19.84 condiments extra.And remember, no complaining!
Stuff one of Trudeau’s socks in it Ben.
People like you are the reason this country is crumbling. Blind to the absolute failures of this Liberal Government over the last decade and brainwashed by propaganda to the point that poverty and hardship is the standard of living we must all accept.
Get a grip on reality Man ! Seriously.
Why would this be news to anyone. An average family of 4 can’t afford to eat out much anymore when the bill would be over $100 at a hamburger restaurant. Something has to be sacrificed and eating out is the loser. Next will be buying less fresh fruits and vegetables and healthy meal choices because parents have to fill bellies with what they can afford to buy. Eby has money to spend on an election that isn’t needed but no money to help the people of BC which shows how disconnected to the public our politicians are at every government level.
Anonymous
September 25, 2026 at 8:39 am
Ben you sanctimonious lefty. Shut up.
You must be the same bot. No one gets to bash the Ben bot. censorship sucks your knobs. Ive tried four times to refute Bens comment and been censored each time! But ol anonymous has the right lips I guess.
Ben you sanctimonious lefty. Shut up.
Firstly, higher income people are eating out less? Secondly, Carney is to blame for house prices, not the Provinces who have the constitutional responsibility?
I digress though. My main point would be eating out is a luxury, you aren’t entitled to it. Hate me for saying that, I don’t care.
There are people who are homeless in this country who don’t eat. Think about them, please.
Sorru but I don’t get the sense of entitlement people have. Pepole don’t have enough to EAT in a lot of areas of the world. There are many who go without food in this country.
Try to think about the lot of others as to me complaining about not being able to eat out is entitlement. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but read at the comments.
ASK CORNEY CARNEY IF HE GIVES A F/ K ???
I say this as a struggling late-30’s Canadian who was hoping to own a home, but has lost hope. Everyone from high school-age to their forties is sick of this government. We’re sick that our freedoms and rights that our great-grandparents fought for are being crushed without our input or consent, sick of being taxed to death while it’s given away overseas, and we’re sick of the lies.
Ot is under Carney’s control, and it was under Trudeau’s, too. That’s their job, that’s what they are paid for. They are the CEO of the company, per se, and the rise or fall lands on their head. If the PM’s job was just to be a talking head that collects a fat paycheque and pension, we could have picked a celebrity or a dancing seal with a ball on its nose. The fate of struggling Canadians is in his hands, and they won’t forgive him if he sinks us the way Trudeau did.
Love the anti-Carny/Trudeau types. Apparently EVERYTHING is under Carney & Trudeau’s control when the Libs are in power but when a Conservative is in power it’s always “Well, you know, there are other factors that they don’t have control over” or “The government doesn’t control the private sector so the can’t force them to change.”
Interesting, now who is in control that can fix such issues? Mmhmm i wonder, the person at the top that can dictate the direction the country is going, who could that be? I thought the trade barriers between provinces was coming down as well to help with affordability but they are still up, and the same guy that promised it is the one that can actually change it.
Oh who could it be, Jason Kenny? No that guy is a bell end and big whiner but not the leader of the country, trudeau? No he left in disgrace just like his father oh so could it be?
I refuse to spend my money on food in any restaurant now that’s probably prepared in a dirty kitchen by some filthy durka durka!
I have a problem with the idea of ordering a plate of bacon and eggs with toast and paying $25.00 per each for me an my wife. + Tip + GST. I make my own bacon which no restaurant could ever match. Other items like steaks, Pho are not worth going out for unless you are ok with being disappointed with what you get.
@ Anonymous September 24, 2026 at 6:08 pm. Why are you eating immigrant food? Don’t white trash have any cuisine?
“Delivery charge” when we pay a tip? Or why should we pay tip when there is a delivery charge… isnt that supposed to go to the driver.
I order something…then the taxes,service charges, delivery, ..plus tip. Its not worth it anymore.
As Carney give away another 100 million to Palestine. And 24.5 billion to Ukraine ..what’s wrong with is picture
I disagree with the headline.
Poor service, food quality / consistency, dirty tables / chairs etc are keeping me away.
Soon absolutely no one will be able to afford to eat out except for liberal trash cronies. We’re all broke. Canadians are broke but they tell us affordability is the best it’s been in a decade. REALLY?
It has a lot to do with the tipping culture as well. Tack 20% on top of your order. Good service or not.
We almost never eat out anymore. Not only is it more expensive than it’s ever been, but the quality is terrible. It seems like things were made much better when teenagers were working these jobs. Now we have people with the worst hygiene on the planet working these jobs, and they do not know how to cook.
A bowl of Pho is like $20 minimum now in Greater Vancouver! Pho!! Who the he*l eats out anymore.
As Liberals destroy the economy, the economy tanks.
Liberals are knuckle dragging idiots.
Unaccountable asshats that need to be run out of the country.