From Burger King to McDonald’s: Fast-Food Prices Surge Dramatically in Recent Years

Fast-food prices have surged dramatically in recent years, outpacing inflation by a wide margin, according to a recent study. From Burger King to McDonald’s, consumers are feeling the pinch as their favorite meals become increasingly expensive.

A recent study reveals fast-food prices have surged past inflation rates, driven by consumer demand and rising costs

According to recent research by The Street Personal Finance, fast-food pricing increases have far outperformed average inflation even though overall costs have climbed by approximately 21.5% since the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic struck.

While some price increases have been in line with rising wages and supply costs, many businesses, particularly those in the fast-food industry, have raised prices at record rates, outpacing inflation by a wide margin. According to SILive, this trend is not just a statistic, but a reflection of the choices made by consumers like you. Your demand for fast food is shaping these economic trends.

Your choices as a consumer can also influence the quality of the products you enjoy. Some restaurant businesses, notably McDonald's, have recently announced product quality adjustments. McDonald's just announced that it is expanding its menu with larger burgers. This change is a direct response to consumer demand, showing the power of your choices in shaping the fast-food industry.

Most of the study's end-of-2019 costs were sourced from archived pages of fastfoodmenuprices.com, an independent company. Prices for 2024 were gathered directly from restaurant web menus, and a Los Angeles location was chosen for those requiring a specific restaurant to examine costs. New York City prices were primarily equal to Los Angeles, where the fast-food minimum wage was recently raised to $20.

Study shows fast-food prices at McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Chick-fil-A, and Burger King have surged significantly since 2019

According to The Street's analysis, the three menu items with the highest price increases at four major fast-food restaurants in the New York metropolitan area from the end of 2019 to mid-2024 are as follows:

MCDONALD’S

Cheeseburger

2019: $1

2024: $3.15

Increase: 215%

McChicken

2019: $1.29

2024: $3.89

Increase: 201%

Medium French Fries

2019: $1.79

2024: $4.19

Increase: 134%

TACO BELL

Beefy 5-Layer Burrito

2019: $1.69

2024: $3.69

Increase: 118.3%

Nachos Bellgrande

2019: $3.29

2024: $5.89

Increase: 79%

Crunchwrap Supreme

2019: $3.49

2024: $5.29

Increase: 51.6%

CHICK-FIL-A

8 Chick-fil-A Nuggets

2019: $3.05

2024: $5.99

Increase: 96.4%

Medium Waffle Fries

2019: $1.65

2024: $2.99

Increase: $91.2%

Deluxe Chicken Sandwich

2019: $3.65

2024: $6.55

Increase: 79.5%

BURGER KING

Bacon Double Cheeseburger

2019: $2.29

2024: $4.99

Increase: 117.9%

Whopper

2019: $4.19

2024: $7.79

Increase: 85.9%

Original Chicken Sandwich

2019: $4.09

2024: $7.59

Increase: 85.6%

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