viral social media video McDonald’s $25 “deal” recently sparked an online debate about California’s minimum wage hike.
A TikTok user who posts videos under the username @shannon_montipaya shared the video on March 27th.
She was in the drive-thru of a McDonald’s store in Southern California when she saw a sign for a 40-piece Chicken McNugget set that also included two large fries.
The meal bundle costs $25.39, or approximately $27 including tax.
In the video, the social media user lamented that the meal didn’t even include a drink.
“got it. 40 nuggets and two large fries costs her $25.39,” she said.
“You couldn’t even put in a sprite?”
“You couldn’t even get a medium sprite in there?” That’s bullshit. ”
This meal is designed to serve four people, but it shows how fast food chains’ prices have increased over the years.
McDonald’s prices have increased 100% since 2014, according to a recent study by FinanceBuzz.
Ten years ago, the average price for a 10-piece McNugget was $5.99; now it typically costs $10.99.
The video ultimately racked up 2 million views and drew thousands of TikTok users to the comments section. Many of them were nostalgic about McDonald’s prices of the past.
“Remember when 40 nuggets were $5 and a large drink was $1,” one comment read.
“The manager’s special menu was about $20 SMH for 40 nuggets, a gallon of tea, and LG fries,” said another.
A third commenter wrote: “Spent $48 there yesterday…my jaw was on the floor.”
Naturally, some social media users pointed to California’s recent law increasing the minimum wage for fast food workers from $16 to $20.
“Minimum wage 20…welcome to the new normal,” one person said.
“Welcome to California,” someone else chimed in.
Other users shared their local McDonald’s prices, but few came close to as high as McDonald’s in California.
“50 nuggets is 15 here.” [dollars]” said one Florida resident.
“In Dallas it’s $6.19 for 20 pieces and 2 large fries,” the Texan wrote.
Some viewers thought the video was an overreaction and were unfazed by the price of the meal.
“12.50 per person isn’t that crazy,” the user wrote.
“You have a good deal and you’re complaining,” said another.
The wage increase took effect on April 1, four days after the TikTok video was posted, but fast-food companies in the Golden State had been preparing for the increase for months.
MOD Pizza recently closed at least five stores in California ahead of the minimum wage hike starting April 1st.
The Wall Street Journal reported last month that several fast-food restaurants in California, particularly pizza chains, have laid off employees in recent months, including Pizza Hut and Round Table Pizza. is also included.
A former employee of MOD Pizza in Clovis told FOX 26 Fresno, “It seemed like the right time, two weeks before all the fast food restaurants in California closed.”
Fox Business has reached out to McDonald’s for comment.
