Gone are the days of McDonald’s beloved Dollar Menu and All-Day Breakfast offer. As the Dollar Menu has turned over to the $1, $2, and $3 Dollar Menu, debates over McDonald’s price inflation have taken over social media. Reports of $18 Big Mac meal are just one of many claims of egregious pricing at the popular fast-food chain.
A new investigation from TheStreet examined which McDonald’s items have increased in cost the most in the last five years.
These items are among the worst:
Average McDonald’s Price Increase Over Five Years
The investigation found that McDonald’s prices overall have increased by 141.4% on average since 2019. The publication used historical data from fastfoodmenuprices.com to compare current prices at a McDonald’s location in Los Angeles in 2024.
1. Medium French Fries
Price increase: 134.1%
In 2019, medium French fries cost $1.79. In 2024, medium French fries are $4.19.
2. Cheeseburger
Price increase: 215%
The basic cheeseburger at McDonald’s used to be a Dollar Menu favorite. Today, the cheeseburger has increased from $1 to $3.15.
3. McChicken
Price increase: 201.6%
Rising from $1.29 in 2019, a McChicken will run you $3.89 in 2024.
4. Big Mac
Price increase: 87.7%
Five years ago, a Big Mac cost $3.99. In 2024, a Big Mac is $7.49.
5. 10-Piece McNuggets
Price increase: 68.8%
Your lunch from McDonald’s could easily cost over $10 if you’re ordering a 10-piece McNuggets. Once just $4.49, a 10-piece McNuggets is now $7.58.
Are McDonald’s price increases on par with inflation?
McDonald’s cites inflation as the reason why prices need to increase year over year, but a report from FinanceBuzz suggests that may not be true. While inflation has risen 31% from 2014 to 2024, McDonald’s prices have jumped by 39% to over 100%.
In TheStreet‘s analysis, prices rose 141.4% from 2019 to 2024, far outpacing the 21.5% increase reported by The Bureau of Labor Statistics for the same period.
McDonald’s Response to Criticism
After social media, TheStreet, FinanceBuzz, and other publications turned up the heat on McDonald’s price increases, the company finally issued a response.
In a blog post, Joe Erlinger, president of McDonald’s USA, defended the chain’s price hikes, accusing reports of being “poorly sourced” and explaining, “Inflationary pressures have affected all sectors of the economy, including ours. Our franchisees (who own and operate more than 95% of all restaurants in the U.S.) set menu prices for their restaurants, which account for the increased costs of running their businesses. In doing so, they work hard to minimize the impact of price increases on our fans. This includes the everyday prices on our restaurant menu boards to special limited-time offers.”
How much does McDonald’s believe their prices have risen?
Erlinger did not provide an average rate of price increases overall, instead saying “Prices for many of our menu items have risen less than the rate of inflation – and remain well within the range of other quick service restaurants.” It’s also why more than 90% of U.S. franchisees are offering meal bundles for $4 or less.”
He then went on to state a few specific price increases for items in the range of 20 to 44%. Although Erlinger’s numbers aren’t as high as those in some studies, a Big Mac Meal for $9.29 and a 10-piece McNuggets Meal for $9.19 still aren’t exactly affordable, especially when compared to prices at higher-end burger chains like Shake Shack and Five Guys.
McDonald’s Price Increases Compared to Competitors
“McDonald’s menu prices have doubled (100% increase) since 2014 across popular items — the highest of any chain we analyzed,” states FinanceBuzz.
Following McDonald’s is Popeye’s at an 86% increase, and Taco Bell at an 81% jump.
Ways to Save Money on Your Next McDonald’s Order
The McDonald’s app is famous for offering customers huge discounts, from free food to dollars off their total orders. Signing up will get you a free large fry with your first order over $1.
Enrolling in MyMcDonald’s Rewards also means you’ll earn $1 for every 100 points you accrue, which can be redeemed for free food. Of course, there’s a catch—points expire each month.
McDonald’s Plans for Affordability
To win back price-conscious customers, McDonald’s plans to release a $5 value meal by the end of June. The deal will be limited to including four items: a four-piece nugget, a McChicken or McDouble, small fries, and a small drink.
These fast food chains aren’t worth the hype anymore
McDonald’s customers aren’t the only ones noticing negative changes to fast food prices and qualities. According to diners, chains like Panera Bread and Subway have totally fallen off in recent years.
9 Worst Fast Food Chains in America Not Worth Going to Anymore
Save money on dinner
One of the easiest ways to dine on a budget is to avoid dining out altogether. When money is tight, these cheap meals will leave you feeling satisfied.
12 Money-Saving Meals to Eat When You’re Broke
Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
