Gone are the days of the dollar menu.
At this point, steady price increases are downright noticeableand even shocking.
Consider the recent backlash over an advertised$25 meal deal at McDonald’s.
Photo: Shutterstock
Just how much have fast-food prices gone up?
Another recent study showed that McDonald’s has actuallydoubled its pricesin the last decade.
Historically, fast-food restaurants increased prices by about 2% annually.
Photo: Patcharaporn Puttipon4289 / Shutterstock
But since 2022, fast-food joints have been hiking up prices by double digits yearly.
Price-weary customers are carefully considering how they spend their dollars, and burger chains are taking note.
Over the past couple of years, customers have largely gone along with the incremental price increases.
Photo: John K. / Yelp
Without that, some burger chains are simply overpriced.
McDonald’s
Five years ago, a classic cheeseburger at McDonald’s cost just a buck.
Today, it’ll cost you at least twice that, if not more.
Photo: Deutschlandreform / Shutterstock
In south Texas, for example, that same burger is now $3.15, according to theVictoria Advocate.
That wasn’t the last time McDonald’s menu boards sparked discussion online, either.
“It’s official.
Deutschlandreform / Shutterstock
Many posters say they are done dining there.
Back in March, a customer on Xposteda photo of a Five Guys receipt sourced from Reddit.
“Five Guys prices are out of control.
Carl’s Jr.
$24 for one person,” they wrote.
The tweet got more than 25 million views, and sparked larger discussions about fast-food prices in general.
“5 guys is the most overpriced burger in the market.
Photo: Shutterstock
“It’s just not worth it at full price.”
Some Reddit users say Five Guys is simply too pricey for what it is.
“Good lord these prices are out of control,” one userwrote.
“Used to go to 5 Guys all the time, once a week or so.
Hands down my favorite burger place.”
The customer would order a cheeseburger and a little cajun for about $14.
But on their last visit about nine months ago, the same order ran them $18.
“That’s sit-down-damn-good-restaurant prices,” they wrote.
“A $4 increase at some point over the last 8 months is absolutely wild.”
With tax it was $27 for two people,” one Reddit userwrote.
“We don’t eat fast food, and that was the last time in the last 18 months.
I wanted to ask, where’s the candle light and [Champagne]?
But I would have been told ‘sir, this is a Wendy’s.'”
“I like fast food sometimes,” one Redditorwrote.
A recentposton Reddit compared Burger King coupons from 2021 and 2024, and the results were somewhat shocking.
Now, that same meal runs for $6.99, though it does come with large sides instead.
Family meal deals saw a big increase, too.
Now, it’s clocking in at $19.99, though you’d get a medium-sized fries.
And that’s with a coupon.
“These aren’t even deals anymore, that’s the price it should be!!”
One analysisfoundBurger King prices have gone up a whopping 85.7% on average based on five popular menu items.
A Whopper in December 2019, for example, cost $4.19.
Today, it’s $7.79, on average.
“This place is a ripoff now.
One Redditor replied, “Famous stars used to be 99 cents back in my day.”
Another Redditor posted a Carl’s Jr. receipt totaling nearly $18 for a burger and fries.
“Almost 20 dollars for a fast food meal?
Just go to a taco truck man,“a commentersuggested.
Just this week, Carl’s Jr. was called out again for a new two-for-$12.99 burger deal.
The half-pound cheeseburger at Carl’s Jr. goes for around $5.49,accordingto the blog Fast Food Menus.
One Redditor complained that theypaid$26 for two burgers and two drinks.
Another Redditor claimed to have found Shake Shack menu prices from 2019.
“The cheese fries was 3.79 and a double shake burger was 7.99.
Now for both items it’s $16.”
“The prices are also ridiculous,” one Redditorclaimedin a review.
“I paid $12 for a double Smokeshack burger… and nothing else.
They don’t do combos here.
Fries would have cost another $4.00 and even the drinks were $3.95.
Paying $20 for just one meal at a fast food chain is ridiculous.”
“We have no current plans to further increase price this year,” she said.
