McDonald's on a budget: what £5 and £10 buy
- Under £3: a Cheeseburger or Mayo Chicken (£2.26), a Hash Brown (£2.09) or a Snack Wrap (£2.61) — the core of any budget order.
- Around £5: a Double Cheeseburger and a Cheeseburger (£5.39), or a Happy Meal (£4.44) with fries, a drink and a toy.
- Around £10: any medium meal — the McChicken Sandwich Meal is £6.93 and the Big Mac Meal £7.24 — with room for a McFlurry (£2.17).
- For a group on a budget: the 20 McNuggets Sharebox (£7.32) works out at £0.37 a nugget.
Breakfast is the cheapest time to eat: a Sausage & Egg McMuffin Meal is £5.93, and the Breakfast Saver Menu starts lower still. The budget items themselves are listed on the Saver Menu page, and the whole menu ranked by protein and kcal per pound on McDonald's value menu.
Most filling orders by budget
The combinations below give you the most protein — the best guide to how full you will be — for each budget, using up to three items.
Most protein for your money
| Budget | Order | Price | Protein | Kcal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £5 | Double Sausage & Egg McMuffin | £4.70 | 36 g | 552 |
| £10 | Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese + Double Cheeseburger | £9.93 | 77 g | 1,201 |
| £15 | Cheeseburger + Double Cheeseburger + 9 Chicken Selects Sharebox | £14.20 | 113 g | 1,763 |
| £20 | Cheeseburger + 9 Chicken Selects Sharebox + 9 Chicken Selects Sharebox | £19.88 | 156 g | 2,319 |
Most food (kcal) by budget
Most kcal for your money
| Budget | Order | Price | Kcal | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £5 | Cheeseburger + Medium Fries | £4.78 | 640 | 19 g |
| £10 | Pancakes & Sausage with Syrup + Medium Fries + Vanilla Milkshake (medium) | £9.92 | 1,295 | 33 g |
| £15 | Big Arch + Double Cheeseburger + Double Cheeseburger | £14.98 | 1,961 | 111 g |
| £20 | Big Arch + Big Arch + Medium Fries | £19.96 | 2,451 | 117 g |
Feeding a family of four
Two adults and two children, everyone with a main, a side and a drink. The cheapest way we found costs about £22.48.
Family order: 2 adults + 2 kids
| Order | Typical total |
|---|---|
| 2 × Filet-O-Fish Meal (medium) + 2 × 4 Chicken McNuggets Happy Meal | £22.48 |
| 2 × Big Mac Meal (medium) + 2 × 4 Chicken McNuggets Happy Meal | £23.36 |
| 20 Chicken McNuggets Sharebox + 2 × Medium Fries + 2 × Coca-Cola Classic (medium) + 2 × 4 Chicken McNuggets Happy Meal | £26.02 |
How the finder works
We take the typical in-restaurant price of every item (the median of 77 restaurants, with the delivery markup removed) and test every combination of up to three items that fits your budget. "A proper meal" picks one main, one side and one drink — or the official meal deal when it is cheaper. Prices in your restaurant can differ by a few pence.
Paid a different price? Tell us
Two taps, no account, no email. We check every report and update the prices ourselves.
Frequently asked questions
What can I get at McDonald's for £5?
Two Saver burgers — a Double Cheeseburger and a Cheeseburger come to £5.39 — or a Happy Meal at £4.44. The finder above shows the most filling combination for exactly £5.
What can I get at McDonald's for £10?
A medium meal plus a dessert: for example the Big Mac Meal (£7.24) and an Oreo McFlurry (£2.17), £9.41 in total.
What is the cheapest meal at McDonald's UK?
The Happy Meal at £4.44; among the medium meals, the McChicken Sandwich Meal (£6.93).
What is the best budget breakfast at McDonald's?
A Hash Brown and a white coffee (£4.09), or the Sausage & Egg McMuffin Meal (£5.93) if you want a full breakfast.
Are these the prices on Uber Eats?
No — the finder uses estimated in-restaurant prices. Delivery menus are about 15% dearer, before delivery and service fees, so a £10 budget buys less on the apps.
How can I make my McDonald's budget go further?
Order in the app to collect MyMcDonald's Rewards points (1 point per 1p), check the in-app deals, and use the Saver Menu for small items.