There was a time when food prices didn’t feel like daylight robbery.
Once a haven for affordable meals, fast food is now turning into something people treat themselves to only on special occasions.
McDonald’s is facing criticism for offering Big Mac combos priced at $18 in Connecticut. Meanwhile, Danny Meyer’s high-end burger restaurant, Shake Shack, has garnered attention for charging $50 for two sandwiches and beverages—about what you’d pay for a meal at many casual dining places.
The Consumer Price Index reveals that fast food prices surged approximately 38% from the pandemic in 2020 to 2025, significantly outpacing general inflation, which rose by about 56% during the same timeframe.
“The pace of price increases since 2020 has been remarkably faster than what we’ve seen historically,” remarked Jason Miller, a supply chain management expert at Michigan State University.
In states like New York, where a new $17 minimum wage was introduced, businesses have raised prices to offset climbing costs in food, supplies, and labor amid inflation.
You don’t have to be an economist to notice that fast food has begun to feel less like a routine meal and more like a luxury. Gone are the days of genuine $1 menus and family-friendly discounts.
Here’s a little comparison that highlights how tremendously prices have escalated.
Please put it on the arch
Ah, the 1970s—a golden era for McDonald’s. A look at a 1970 menu reveals that all items were under $1; the iconic Big Mac was just 49 cents.
Sure, prices in the Big Apple always tend to rise. By 1974, that Big Mac would cost 85 cents—still a bargain compared to today’s menu, where it sits at around $7.29 (with a combo exceeding $10) at a location on East 47th Street.
And it’s not just nostalgia from five decades ago; back in 2009, a six-piece chicken nugget Happy Meal was a mere $4.39. Fast forward to now, and that same meal costs $7.19.
Other examples of “McFlation” include small fries jumping from $1 to $2.49, and McFlurries from $2.39 to $4.39. Even apple pies that used to be $1 for two in 2009 are now priced at $3.39 for the same two in Midtown.
Even McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski remarked that dining there has become a luxury beyond the means of many, stating that “eating at home is more affordable and food choices are challenging for lower-income families.”
Full-fledged shakedown
Shake Shack has never claimed to offer bargain meals. They focus on premium Angus beef and flipped the traditional burger model on its head by emerging from New York City.
When Chair Danny Meyer’s first kiosk opened in 2004, prices like $5.95 for a Double Shack burger seemed reasonable. Now, those same burgers cost $10.99, with cheese fries rising from $2.45 to $5.99.
Shake Shack has recently been noted as the most expensive fast-food chain in the U.S. after a 3% price hike.
About taco discounts
It seems the notion of affordability has all but disappeared for certain demographics. Remember when you could grab four Soft Taco Supremes for just 99 cents? Today, you’d be lucky to find one priced at $3.99.
Currently, Taco Bell’s cheapest item is a Cheesy Roll Up at $1.29, which feels like a rip-off compared to what you’d have gotten for that price in the ’90s.
While minimum wages have risen significantly since then, they still don’t match the drastic price increases seen in fast food. Items like Nachos Bellgrande have skyrocketed from $2.49 to $7.99 since the 1990s.
In 2012, a TikTok user shared a receipt showing she paid just $2.59 for two five-layer burritos. Now that same order is priced at $4.99.
The irony isn’t lost—she wondered if she could still find an item for that old price. “Of course, but you have your limits,” she noted.
When affordability was king
Back in 1982, Burger King was all about value, spending $20 million on commercials featuring future “Buffy” star Sarah Michelle Gellar to promote its “meatier” Whopper, then priced at just $1.39. Nowadays, you’ll fork over about $6.99 for that same Whopper, marking a staggering increase.
In 2024, Burger King witnessed declining sales as inflation pushed customers to cut back on dining out, making fast food feel less accessible.
Square is not the hip
Until about 2005, Wendy’s was unwittingly prepping fast-food lovers for hard times with its reasonable prices, with classic meals priced at $2.19 and spicy chicken sandwiches at $3.19. Today, those very items cost around $6.99.
A Facebook commenter noted the the early 2000s as the peak of Wendy’s, lamenting the downfall of quality under late founder Dave Thomas. While some agreed, others argued we might never see the return to those once-great days.
