It's no secret that eating at a fast-food joint in 2024 isn't nearly as affordable as it used to be. A plethora of major chains, from Chipotle to Shake Shack, have implemented price hikes over the past few years due to factors like rising costs and higher worker wages.
However, newly published data is giving fresh insight into how significantly prices have gone up for a staple menu item at the world's preeminent fast-food chain: McDonald's.
Back in March 2021, the food service industry publication Restaurant Business Magazine looked at prices for McDonald's Big Macs and classic cheeseburgers in all 50 U.S. states to gauge how much the menu items cost in various markets.
In a new report published on March 29, Restaurant Business Magazine revealed that McDonald's average cheeseburger prices have jumped from $1.55 in 2021 to $2.40 in 2024.
Big Mac prices have also risen since 2021—though not quite as significantly as the cheeseburger prices. Restaurant Business Magazine found that the burger is 16.4% more expensive on average now than it was in 2021.
It's important to note that prices for any McDonald's item can vary by store, so customers in some parts of the country may be paying less for their cheeseburgers than others.
Eating at McDonald's has gotten significantly more expensive in recent years thanks to a series of price increases, including about a 10% hike in 2023 alone.
Some consumers are even changing their fast-food habits in response to McDonald's higher prices.