Indiana City Ranked Among the Best Foodie Cities for Your Wallet

Being a foodie can get expensive; however, there are several affordable culinary hotspots across the U.S. that might be closer than you realize.

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The term “foodie” can describe anyone who loves good food and isn’t limited to those who just visit classy restaurants. Whether you prefer exploring new restaurants, trying food trucks, or simply cooking at home, living the foodie life can be a lot of fun but isn’t always cheap. According to a new ranking from WalletHub, some cities are better than others when it comes to foodie culture.

The Best and Worst U.S. Cities for Foodies on a Budget

WalletHub compared over 180 U.S. cities using 28 key indicators of foodie-friendliness. The data set includes factors such as grocery costs, the affordability and accessibility of high-quality restaurants, and the number of food festivals per capita. When it came to the No. 1 foodie-friendly city in America, that honor was awarded to Miami, Florida, which scored well in all categories. Given the affordability aspect, perhaps that’s the real reason broke college students head there for spring break?

Now, the worst city to be a foodie is one I wouldn't have expected, especially since it's located in a major tourist state. The city that ranked dead last on WalletHub's list is none other than Pearl City, Hawaii, which is just 11 miles from downtown Honolulu. Given that the cost of importing goods to the island isn't cheap, I imagine that's likely what contributed to this ranking. Pearl City does, however, have a decent selection of restaurants for its size, in my opinion.

Is Indiana a Great Destination for Dining on a Budget?

Among WalletHub's list featuring a total of 182 cities, there are two Indiana destinations. The first is Indianapolis, Indiana, which ranks No. 47. While I realize that's not all that close to No. 1, it’s likely safe to place it among the more affordable cities given its overall position on this list. The other Indiana destination, Fort Wayne, is much further down the list at No. 125, making it one of the less favorable cities for foodies.

Having been to Indy plenty of times, I can say without a doubt that there are a lot of choices for foodies, although some are definitely costlier than others. Still, I’d say it’s one of the best places in the Hoosier State to try a diverse selection of options. That’s coming from someone who has also visited Fort Wayne, which I find not only costly but also lacking in food options, in my opinion. What do you think?