Full Transparency
Our Methodology
How we collect, verify, and maintain price data — and where we still have gaps.
📊Where Our Prices Come From
Our current database is built from seed data based on publicly available menu prices, official brand websites, and historical delivery-app listings. These are estimates, not real-time verified prices.
Each estimated price shows a ±8% range (e.g., $5.03 – $5.91 instead of a flat $5.47) to reflect possible variation across exact locations, time of day, and minor menu updates.
🔨 What we're building next
- • Automated price collection from delivery-app APIs
- • Community verification through user reports
- • Weekly refresh cycles for top 20 brands
- • OCR-based menu scanning from in-store visits
🔍How We Verify Prices
Every price on RealPrice NYC carries a verification badge so you know exactly how reliable it is.
Initial price based on public data (menus, websites, delivery apps). Shown as a range to reflect uncertainty. Most of our current data falls in this category.
Confirmed by our scraper or a manual check within the last 30 days. An exact price is shown. This is the gold standard.
3 or more users reported a similar price (within ±15% of each other). The consensus price is displayed as an exact value.
Not updated in 90+ days. This price may no longer be accurate. We keep it visible but flag it so you know to double-check.
🎯Accuracy & Limitations
Target: 90%+ accuracy for verified prices. Estimated prices may vary ±8–15% from actual in-store prices.
Pricing standard: All prices are in USD and reflect the menu item price only — no tax, tip, or delivery fees unless specifically noted.
Not tracked: Promotions, happy hours, loyalty discounts, and limited-time offers are not reflected in our data.
Update frequency: We aim to refresh data weekly for top brands. Smaller brands may update less frequently.
Location variance: Even within the same neighborhood, prices can differ by a few blocks. Our data represents the typical price for a given area.
🤝Help Us Get It Right
1. Inline "Wrong price?" feature
On every brand page, hover over any price pill to see a "Wrong price?" link. Click it to confirm the price is correct (👍) or submit a correction (👎). Takes 5 seconds.
2. Report a Price form
Use our full Report a Price form to submit any price you've seen — in-store or on a delivery app. Select the brand, item, neighborhood, and enter the price. We verify all reports against other submissions.
Every report makes NYC price data more accurate for everyone. 🙏
When 3+ users report similar prices, the item is automatically upgraded to "Community Verified" status.
⚖️Disclaimer
- • Prices displayed on RealPrice NYC are for informational purposes only.
- • We do not guarantee accuracy. Prices may differ from what you find in-store or on delivery apps.
- • Always confirm prices directly with the restaurant or delivery platform before making purchasing decisions.
- • Data is sourced from public information (official menus, websites, delivery-app listings) and community reports.
- • RealPrice NYC is not affiliated with any restaurant brand, chain, or delivery platform mentioned on this site.
Questions about our data or methodology?