Washington State restaurants charge more, on average, than those in any other state in the lower 48 states. A new study by the Washington Hospitality Association shows a cost of 13.6% more than average. In Seattle the cost is even higher at more than 17% above average, putting it at about the same at New York. Prices in the Evergreen State could be going up. Washington is already the state with the highest minimum wage at $16.66/hr. Next year it will rise to $17.13/hr.
The group studied the prices for the nation’s largest restaurant chains. Kansas and Oklahoma were the lowest at 5.9% below average. California was second-highest at 13.3% and Oregon took third-most-expensive at 9.1%. Idaho was in the bottom third at 3% below average.
