Main Street Finance

Hosting guests on a budget? Dinner parties are more affordable in Dayton, OH & Detroit, MI

By Kat

Hosting friends and family can be immensely fulfilling. While donating your time to entertain is free of charge, you’ll likely have to donate a substantial amount of money as well to make sure your guests are comfortable and have a great time.

Some cities, it turns out, are more affordable when hosting guests than others, particularly when it comes to food costs. According to a study on the best cities for hosting, Detroit, Michigan is home to the most affordable groceries. This past year inflation has forced many of us to uncomfortably raise our grocery budget, and in Detroit, it’s a little less painful, according to the study.

The analysis took 100 cities in America and ranked the “hosting experience” of each based on home amenities and event planning resources. Their data was gathered from Zillow, Redfin, Airbnb, and Vrbo, among other resources. To compare grocery costs, the study used the cost of living indices, which are based on a US average of 100. An amount below 100 means the city is cheaper than the US average and a cost of living index above 100 indicate the city is more expensive. Detroit received an 89. Consider this next to Honolulu, Hawaii, at 139.

If you prefer a hands-off approach in the kitchen, Dayton, Ohio has the most affordable caterers, so you can cut costs while still putting on a gourmet meal for your visitors. On average, it costs $10 per person in Dayton. Compare this to Bakersfield, CA at $82.33 per person.

Other factors that could impact your wallet? Seattle, WA was home to the most affordable utilities, which if you have lots of guests using your amenities can undoubtedly add up.

Other notable cities from the study included New York, NY with the highest internet speed; Tulsa, OK with the largest average yard size; Little Rock, AK with the most homes with guest houses; Phoenix, AZ with the most homes with 4+ parking spaces; and Scranton, PA had the most rentals that allow guests. Charleston, SC was named the best city for hosting overall.

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