How much does a caterer cost per guest in the New York area?
Caterers in the New York area who publish a price per guest start at a median of $35 per guest, with half between $21 and $60 (98 vendors' own published prices, November 2026).
Per-guest prices are how most catering is quoted; the total depends on the menu, service style and guest count, and many caterers set a minimum. These are prices vendors publish on their own websites, not quotes. Each row links to the page the price came from.
| Vendor | Price | What the site says | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle Corn NYC | $4 per guest | total rate for 500 or more guests | kettlecornnyc.com/pages/f-a-q | 2026-11-13 |
| Livingston Caterers | $5 per guest | Livingston Bagel Platter, 12 person minimum | livingstonbagel.com/shiva-menu/ | 2026-11-13 |
| Lindsay's Confections | $8 per guest | dessert trailer create-your-own chocolate trays, per adult; $6 per child age 12 and under; full menu $13 per adult | lindsaysconfections.com/whatweoffer | 2026-11-13 |
| Cornel's | $12 per guest | continental breakfast: bagels with cream cheese, assorted muffins, croissants, danishes, fruit platter, coffee, tea, ora | cornelscatering.com/our-menu.html | 2026-11-13 |
| Chiarello's Hamilton Food Market | $12 per guest | lowest catering package (Cold or Pasta), minimum 20 people | chiarellos.com/packages_catering.php | 2026-11-13 |
| Cubano X-Press | $12 per guest | $12 Package, two tapas or appetizers per person; $14 Package is one main item per person (graduation party catering pack | cubanoxpress.com/post/graduation-party-cateri | 2026-11-13 |
| Delicious Moments Caterers | $13 per guest | hot buffet breakfast, standard presentation, 10 person minimum; other buffets priced higher per person | icater4u.com/FORPRINTINGnewmenu2017dec-27.pdf | 2026-11-13 |
| Creative Catering | $15 per guest | Hot Buffet corporate lunch package, 10 person minimum, includes disposable tableware, racks & sternos | cateringnj.com/corporate-catering/lunch-packa | 2026-11-13 |
| AAA Royal Catering | $15 per guest | Cold Breakfast Buffet, 15 guests minimum | aaaroyalcatering.com/menus/products/c1-breakf | 2026-11-13 |
| Westfield Caterers | $15 per guest | The Gourmet Sandwich Luncheon corporate lunch special, starting at; BBQ Buffet starting at $23.95 per person | westfieldcaterers.com/catering-menu.html | 2026-11-13 |
| Tulip Caterers | $16 per guest | Gourmet Hot Buffet Package, 20-50 guests; $14.95 per person for 55 guests and over | tulipcaterers.com/catering-menu | 2026-11-13 |
| Pizza Luca | $16 per guest | pizza, four Neapolitan styles; $8 half portion; 6 and under half price | pizzaluca.com/pizza-luca-catering-menu/ | 2026-11-13 |
| Kitchen Catering Corporation | $17 per guest | No Reservations Buffet Package; Crowd Pleaser is $18.95 and Chef's Table $39.95 per person | kitchencatering.com/no-reservations-buffet-pa | 2026-11-13 |
| City Catering & Cafe | $18 per guest | Downtown Lunch: sandwiches and wraps with one side salad, 6 guest minimum | CityCateringCafe.com/ShowMenu.tpl | 2026-11-13 |
| Big Pinks BBQ | $18 per guest | lowest per person buffet package (The Piglet); up to $30 per person | bigpinksbbq.com/catering-menu | 2026-11-13 |
| Empanada Papa | $18 per guest | Finger Foods Option 1 | empanadapapanyc.com | 2026-11-13 |
| Graze Delights NJ | $18 per guest | starting price for styled grazing tables, minimum 25 guests | grazedelightnj.com/weddings-bridal-showers | 2026-11-13 |
| Shortrounds Catering | $19 per guest | hot buffet or hot and cold buffet; includes rolls/butter, condiments, serving utensils and chafing dish setup | shortroundscatering.com/_files/ugd/5e52aa_66b | 2026-11-13 |
| Perfect Picnic NYC | $19 per guest | lunch catering packages, starting price | perfectpicnicnyc.com/all-picnic-services/picn | 2026-11-13 |
| Catered Affair and Sandwich Station | $20 per guest | Gourmet Cold Buffet Feast, minimum 10 people | cateredaffair.net/menu/Catered_Affair_Caterin | 2026-11-13 |
| Custodi Caterers | $20 per guest | Classic Buffet, minimum of 20 people, paper products included | custodicaterers.com/menu-item/classic-buffet/ | 2026-11-13 |
| Mama Dude's | $20 per guest | Food Truck Catering; add-ons Joe Tea or cold brew +$4, chips +$3 | mamadudes.com/s/Food-Truck-Packages.pdf | 2026-11-13 |
| Jacques Caterers At Jackson-crossing | $21 per guest | International Buffet drop-off menu, 20 to 70 guests; $20.45 pp for 75+ guests | jacquescatering.com/_files/ugd/4f0fc4_32ecea0 | 2026-11-13 |
| Not Jus Southern Caterers | $21 per guest | lowest package (Gold); packages range to $36.95pp | notjussouthern.com/southern-menu | 2026-11-13 |
| The Garage | $21 per guest | hot buffet with salad and dinner rolls | thegarageeatery.com/catering-menu | 2026-11-13 |
| Mansi Caterers | $21 per guest | full catering menu, minimum 50 people | mansicaterers.com/menus.html | 2026-11-13 |
| Vlada Catering | $21 per guest | Classic Barbecue Package, choice of 2 entrees and 2 sides per person; passed hors d'oeuvres from $25 per person | vvscatering.com/menu10.html | 2026-11-13 |
| Michelle's Kitchen | $22 per guest | Epicurean Delights cocktail party package | michelleskitchen.com/menu.html | 2026-11-13 |
| The Barbeque King | $22 per guest | corporate on-site BBQ package, weekdays, minimum 50 people, plus $150 per chef and $150 per server, plus tax and gratuit | thebarbequeking.com/corporate-bbq | 2026-11-13 |
| Jersey Rollz | $23 per guest | Backyard BBQ package for 50 - 74 guests; lower per-guest rates for larger groups | jerseyrollz.com/jersey-rollz-catering/bbq-pac | 2026-11-13 |
| Whistling Onion | $23 per guest | cocktail party prices begin at; approximately eight items | whistlingonion.com/menus/ | 2026-11-13 |
| Emily’s Cafe | $24 per guest | Corporate Luncheon Menu One, 10 person minimum | emilyscafeandcatering.com/events_pdf/Corporat | 2026-11-13 |
| Mangia 57th | $24 per guest | hors d'oeuvres, choice of six, one piece per person per selection | mangia.nyc/menus/catering-menu/ | 2026-11-13 |
| Party Connections | $24 per guest | Dinner buffet sample menu | partyconnectionscreativecatering.com/pdfs/sam | 2026-11-13 |
| Bubbas Backyard Bbq | $25 per guest | BBQ package, 40-60 guests, plus sales tax and 20% service charge | bubbasbackyard.com/ | 2026-11-13 |
| Mangia Buono Caterers | $25 per guest | Friends & Family Special: pasta, main, vegetables, salad, bread, with racks, sternos and serving utensils; pickup or del | mangiabuonocaterers.com/catering-menus-nj-ny- | 2026-11-13 |
| Gaelos | $25 per guest | Live Taco Bar, from $25 per person | gaeloscatering.com/catering | 2026-11-13 |
| Zoe Deleu Catering | $25 per guest | corporate buffet station lunch, sandwiches option, starting price; full lunch option starts at $38 per guest; wedding fo | zoedeleu.com/corporate | 2026-11-13 |
| Big Belly Bbq | $26 per guest | Big Belly, most popular package, 40-59 guests; sales tax, staff and preparation fee not included | biggbellybbq.com/bbq-catering-menu/ | 2026-11-13 |
| Giuliano's Catering Service | $27 per guest | corporate hot buffet, three hot dishes | giulianoscatering.com/corporate-hot-buffets.p | 2026-11-13 |
| Spaziani Catering & Food Design | $28 per guest | Kid's Party: snacks, 5 buffet items and dessert, 15 person minimum; $35.00 per adult | spazianicateringandfooddesign.com/menus | 2026-11-13 |
| DR Catering | $28 per guest | South American hot lunch buffet, lowest hot lunch buffet on the 2023 catering menu; includes paper products, dinner roll | drcatering.com/stat/cache/files/2023_d_r_cate | 2026-11-13 |
| Chef's Orchid Catering | $30 per guest | BBQ catering, 100 person minimum, plus 25% gratuity | chefsorchid.net/bbq-catering-menu.html | 2026-11-13 |
| Florentinos | $32 per guest | Deluxe Hot Buffet Package, minimum 25 people | florentinos.com/upload/menu/17713358052026_pr | 2026-11-13 |
| Vegan Catering Nyc | $32 per guest | breakfast menu, choose 3 menu items | vegancateringnyc.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/ | 2026-11-13 |
| Gotham Catering And Events | $33 per guest | Latin themed lunch buffet, lowest of the themed lunch buffets ($32.95 to $37.49 per guest); minimum 10 guests, 24 hours | gothamcateringnyc.com/themed-lunch-menus/ | 2026-11-13 |
| Taylored Menus Catering and Cafe | $34 per guest | corporate Buffet Meal package, parties of 10 or more | tayloredmenus.com/corporate-events | 2026-11-13 |
| Ridgewood Catering | $35 per guest | complete buffet dinner, adult; staffing, service fee, tax and rentals not included | ridgewoodcatering.com/wp-content/uploads/site | 2026-11-13 |
| Foodini's | $35 per guest | lowest event package (BBQ Package 1), 40 people minimum | foodinis.com/event-catering-menu | 2026-11-13 |
| Fusion Fare NYC | $35 per guest | hors d'oeuvres, choose 6 items, for 20 to 50 guests | fusionfarenyc.com/menus/ | 2026-11-13 |
| Pies-on Wheels | $35 per guest | wedding package starting price | piesonwheels.com/lets-have-a-party | 2026-11-13 |
| Bishop's Barn Catering | $37 per guest | Farm House Package, off-site full service, plus NYS tax & gratuity | bishopsbarncatering.com/out-of-the-barn | 2026-11-13 |
| Elite Caterers | $38 per guest | Cuban themed buffet, lowest themed buffet price; 12 guests minimum, 24 hours notice | elitecaterersny.com/menu | 2026-11-13 |
| F&b Fine Catering | $40 per guest | Special Occasion Upscale Menu dinner buffet | fbfinecatering.com/special-occasion-menu | 2026-11-13 |
| Hoboken Catering | $40 per guest | Complete Buffet Dinner per adult, $24.95 kids 12 and under; staffing, service fee, tax and rentals not included | hobokencatering.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/ | 2026-11-13 |
| Chez Alice Catering | $40 per guest | corporate Day Meeting Package base price for the day, plus staff fees and taxes, minimum 20 people | chezalicecatering.com/corporate-catering | 2026-11-13 |
| Food Trends | $40 per guest | backyard BBQ catering, starting price; staffing and an administrative fee billed separately | foodtrends.com/backyard-bbq-catering-westches | 2026-11-13 |
| Urban Affairs Catering | $40 per guest | Urban's Brunch menu, 15 guest minimum | urbanaffairsnyc.com/menus/brunch-catering/ | 2026-11-13 |
| Ronnie's Catering and BBQ | $45 per guest | Ronnie's Pig Roast, starting at; does not include full service, tax or gratuity | ronniescateringbbq.com/bbq-packages/ronnies-p | 2026-11-13 |
| Bolands Caterers | $45 per guest | starting price for full catering packages, all inclusive | bolandscaterers.com/ | 2026-11-13 |
Showing the 60 lowest of 98.
All caterers, with whole-event prices and how to book: the caterers list. All figures: the NYC Event Price Index. How we collect prices.