I'm not sure about college since its different in every locale, but as for resturants I think its more that the menu and clientelle changes which pushes up the

I'm not sure about college since its different in every locale, but as for resturants I think its more that the menu and clientelle changes which pushes up the price. In my neighborhood, some restaurants are $20 a meal. These places have been in business for over 15 years, and serve decent quality food but only staple ingredients with spices. The newer resturants that have openned serve fresh imports from another hemisphere away, and start at $50 a plate. So there's a choice at least here---you can get $10 sushi with tilapia, or you can go get $35 sushi with blowtorch cooked kobi beef. As I've gotten older, I trend more towards the Kobi beef place myself... and I think that's how it is with most of the middle class. Cheaper choices do exist, but we consider them 'below our standards for a night out' especially considering that age+experience leads to better home cooking.