Think Fast Food Is Still Affordable? These Numbers Say Otherwise

If your favorite fast food meal has been hitting your wallet a bit harder lately, you’re not alone. Rising prices at the nation’s largest chains might even force you to reluctantly reevaluate your next drive-thru visit — and now, data shows just how painful that final total could be. 

The average fast food meal now costs just over $11.50, according to a new report from the loan platform LendingTree. Residents of San Francisco, California, pay the highest prices. In this coastal city, customers spend an average of $13.88 for a combo meal. 

The analysis, which examines the cost of a typical meal at the nation’s largest chains, aims to quantify the economic impact of rising fast food prices. 

LendingTree contrasts these costs with employee wages, suggesting that many fast food workers could struggle to afford their own restaurant’s fare. Another recent survey found that 78% of all Americans now view fast food as a “luxury” — a sobering indicator of consumers’ overall financial outlook and confidence in the economy. 

“The rising cost of fast food is yet another economic challenge facing families across this country,” LendingTree chief consumer finance analyst Matt Schulz tells Food & Wine. “While not typically a healthy alternative, fast food has long been a quick, easy, and inexpensive way for people to feed their families after a long, busy day. However, high prices have made these meals a luxury for many families.”

These data points are based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2024 wage stats and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Living Wage Calculator, according to the study’s methodology. Analysts examined average wages for fast food workers across states and compared them against the cost of a fast food meal at five of the largest chains (Burger King, Chick-fil-A, McDonald’s, Taco Bell, and Wendy’s). For this study, LendingTree’s analysts considered the average price for each restaurant’s core meal, such as the Big Mac Combo. 

Let’s dig into those findings. 

The most expensive meal is on the West Coast

Metro zip codes usually come with a higher cost of living — that’s a given. Those inflated bills also impact the drive-thru: In many of the largest cities in the United States, that Big Mac meal is increasingly becoming out of reach for the 3.8 million Americans who work in the fast food industry.

The average meal is priced highest in San Jose, California — a typical meal might cost around $11.91. There, fast food workers have to work nearly 35 minutes to afford a basic combo, compared to an average of 12.3 minutes worked across all occupations. Fast food workers in the central California city earn an average of $20.83 per hour, as LendingTree highlights.

However, factors such as minimum wage and average hourly wage can impact the amount of time that employees need to work to afford that same meal. Washington, D.C., closely mirrors the objective price, yet employees may work 40.3 minutes for that $11.17 meal. In Atlanta, workers spend nearly 45 minutes for a meal that averages $10.13.

In contrast, consumers in Columbus, Ohio, pay the lowest prices for a fast food meal. However, you’ll still need to shell out around $10 — $10.01, to be exact — for your next lunchtime order, according to LendingTree.

Most fast food employees can’t afford to eat at their restaurant

While the North Carolina-based lending marketplace focuses its findings on fast food workers’ incomes, there are still takeaways for people outside of the industry. No matter where your income falls, LendingTree’s team highlights how price increases — and difficulties — can impact consumers across the economic spectrum. 

“Even if you’re making more money these days, it still stinks to pay way more than you used to for burgers and fries,” Schulz explains. “Unfortunately, however, no one should expect prices to start dropping anytime soon.”

In the report, LendingTree recommends assessing the overall food budget when considering fast food. When finances are tight, consumers might look into picking up a weekend gig (such as a rideshare or delivery platform) or researching more affordable zip codes. 

At this point, perhaps we should all cut back on impromptu burger runs.