(NEXSTAR) – Inflation is making almost everything more expensive in the U.S. right now. Homes, cars, gasoline, everything is getting more expensive. But what about America’s quickest and most convenient meal: burgers, fries and soda?
Unfortunately for frequent fast food eaters, prices have increased significantly over the past two years.
MoneyGeekPersonal finance site Food & Beverage took a deep dive into the rising cost of meals in their latest report. They looked at how much the price of a meal that includes a burger, fries, and soda changed between 2022 and 2024, All menus and Grubhub The most profitable fast food burger restaurant.
Among burger chains reported by MoneyGeek, Five Guys was ranked as the most expensive meal among high-profit burger chains. The average price of a Five Guys meal is expected to be $20.84 in 2024, up 14% from $18.33 in 2022. This year’s hot topic After a receipt for $24 for a cheeseburger, fries, and soda was sent to X.
While Five Guys is the most expensive of the companies included in the report, it wasn’t the one with the biggest menu price hikes: The chain with the biggest price increase since 2022 is actually Wendy’s, whose average price per meal increased 32% over the two-year period, from $9.41 to $12.41.
A Wendy’s spokesperson responded to the study by saying that the company offers lower-priced options for cost-conscious customers. “While we haven’t been inquired about this study or looked closely at the criteria, Wendy’s has always strived to provide our customers with high-quality food at great prices, which is why we launched our $5 Biggie Bag in 2019 and continue to offer great deals across our menu,” the spokesperson told Nexstar.
According to MoneyGeek, other chains ranked as follows:
| Chain Name | Average price of a meal in 2024 | Average price of a meal in 2022 | Increase rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Five Guys | $20.84 | $18.33 | 13.7% |
| 2. Jack in the Box | $13.75 | $10.93 | 25.8% |
| 3. Wendy’s | $12.41 | $9.41 | 31.8% |
| 4. Burger King | $10.61 | $9.44 | 12.3% |
| 5. McDonald’s | $7.57 | $6.21 | 22.0% |
Five Guys, Jack in the Box, Burger King and McDonald’s did not respond to Nexstar’s requests for comment by press time.
Why is fast food so expensive?
Not only hamburgers, but fast food in general is becoming more and more expensive every year.
the study Finance Buzz Between 2014 and 2024, average menu prices increased by 39% to 100%, outpacing the overall inflation rate of 31% over the same period. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Rising labor costs and the growing popularity of delivery apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats are two big factors driving up prices, as these apps charge fast-food chains a commission that directly impacts how much you charge. Green light I will report.
