Key finding: a Big Mac ranged from $4.61 (Houston, TX) to $7.47 (Seattle, WA). Texas, the Mountain West and the Midwest are cheapest; California, Seattle and New York the most expensive.
McDonald's price index: all 39 cities
The index is the total cost of one Big Mac, 10 pc. Chicken McNuggets, McChicken, World Famous Fries, Coca-Cola, Egg McMuffin, Premium Roast Coffee — a realistic order covering breakfast, lunch and a drink — at the cheapest restaurant we sampled in each city.
McDonald's price index by city
| Rank | City | Basket total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $22.13 |
| 2 | Milwaukee, WI | $23.14 |
| 3 | Albuquerque, NM | $23.22 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $23.90 |
| 5 | San Antonio, TX | $24.21 |
| 6 | Indianapolis, IN | $24.40 |
| 7 | Nashville, TN | $24.40 |
| 8 | Salt Lake City, UT | $24.47 |
| 9 | Columbus, OH | $24.56 |
| 10 | Charlotte, NC | $24.99 |
| 11 | Portland, OR | $25.01 |
| 12 | Denver, CO | $25.07 |
| 13 | Oklahoma City, OK | $25.58 |
| 14 | Kansas City, MO | $26.17 |
| 15 | Detroit, MI | $26.42 |
| 16 | Birmingham, AL | $26.59 |
| 17 | Miami, FL | $26.75 |
| 18 | Pittsburgh, PA | $26.96 |
| 19 | Las Vegas, NV | $27.43 |
| 20 | Omaha, NE | $27.54 |
| 21 | New Orleans, LA | $27.79 |
| 22 | Minneapolis, MN | $28.18 |
| 23 | Louisville, KY | $28.27 |
| 24 | Philadelphia, PA | $28.41 |
| 25 | Memphis, TN | $28.44 |
| 26 | Chicago, IL | $28.69 |
| 27 | Atlanta, GA | $29.28 |
| 28 | Orlando, FL | $29.36 |
| 29 | Baltimore, MD | $29.53 |
| 30 | Jacksonville, FL | $30.03 |
| 31 | Boston, MA | $30.28 |
| 32 | Washington, DC | $30.28 |
| 33 | Phoenix, AZ | $30.54 |
| 34 | Brooklyn, NY | $31.97 |
| 35 | San Francisco, CA | $32.55 |
| 36 | Los Angeles, CA | $32.72 |
| 37 | New York (Manhattan), NY | $32.72 |
| 38 | Seattle, WA | $34.32 |
| 39 | San Diego, CA | $36.42 |
Burger and chicken prices by city
Lunch favourites by city
| City | Big Mac | Quarter Pounder with Cheese | McDouble | 10 pc. Chicken McNuggets | McChicken | McCrispy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | $5.79 | $5.29 | $3.02 | $4.61 | $2.51 | $4.36 |
| Atlanta, GA | $6.72 | $6.72 | $4.53 | $5.88 | $3.35 | $5.88 |
| Baltimore, MD | $5.88 | $6.13 | $3.94 | $5.88 | $3.61 | $5.03 |
| Birmingham, AL | $5.79 | $5.54 | $3.69 | $5.54 | $2.93 | $4.95 |
| Boston, MA | $6.63 | $6.38 | $3.35 | $6.04 | $3.02 | $5.37 |
| Brooklyn, NY | $6.97 | $6.72 | $4.03 | $6.13 | $3.77 | $6.38 |
| Charlotte, NC | $5.20 | $5.20 | $3.27 | $5.20 | $2.26 | $4.45 |
| Chicago, IL | $5.96 | $5.96 | $3.77 | $5.96 | $3.35 | $5.62 |
| Columbus, OH | $5.71 | $6.04 | $3.15 | $5.01 | $2.50 | $4.70 |
| Dallas, TX | $5.03 | $5.03 | $2.93 | $5.12 | $2.51 | $4.19 |
| Denver, CO | $5.37 | $6.30 | $4.36 | $5.37 | $3.19 | $5.54 |
| Detroit, MI | $6.46 | $6.04 | $3.77 | $5.29 | $3.10 | $4.78 |
| Houston, TX | $4.61 | $5.20 | $2.51 | $5.03 | $2.09 | $4.19 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $5.62 | $5.88 | $2.85 | $5.37 | $2.26 | $4.70 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $5.54 | $6.46 | $3.94 | $6.38 | $3.10 | $5.29 |
| Kansas City, MO | $5.79 | $6.04 | $3.69 | $5.54 | $2.77 | $4.87 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $6.38 | $6.04 | $3.69 | $5.88 | $2.43 | $4.87 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $6.97 | $6.46 | $4.03 | $7.14 | $3.61 | $5.62 |
| Louisville, KY | $6.46 | $6.46 | $3.35 | $6.21 | $3.27 | $5.37 |
| Memphis, TN | $6.04 | $6.04 | $3.77 | $6.04 | $2.93 | $5.96 |
| Miami, FL | $6.13 | $6.21 | $3.52 | $5.79 | $2.77 | $4.53 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $5.46 | $4.45 | $3.10 | $4.87 | $2.43 | $3.86 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $6.13 | $6.13 | $4.03 | $5.71 | $3.52 | $5.03 |
| Nashville, TN | $5.54 | $5.79 | $2.93 | $5.54 | $2.51 | $5.20 |
| New Orleans, LA | $6.24 | $6.24 | $2.93 | $5.87 | $2.35 | $5.46 |
| New York (Manhattan), NY | $6.72 | $6.72 | $4.03 | $7.39 | $3.27 | $6.46 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $5.79 | $6.30 | $2.68 | $5.54 | $2.68 | $6.21 |
| Omaha, NE | $5.88 | $6.30 | $4.11 | $6.33 | $2.85 | $5.03 |
| Orlando, FL | $5.79 | $6.13 | $3.10 | $6.04 | $2.77 | $5.03 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $6.38 | $6.55 | $3.32 | $6.04 | $1.59 | $5.46 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $6.97 | $6.88 | $4.19 | $6.55 | $3.27 | $5.62 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $6.21 | $5.79 | $3.04 | $5.79 | $2.64 | $4.87 |
| Portland, OR | $6.05 | $6.51 | $2.98 | $5.76 | $1.68 | $5.67 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $5.38 | $5.38 | $3.19 | $5.46 | $2.26 | $5.03 |
| San Antonio, TX | $4.95 | $5.30 | $2.98 | $5.29 | $1.89 | $4.70 |
| San Diego, CA | $7.14 | $7.14 | $4.11 | $8.31 | $4.11 | $6.21 |
| San Francisco, CA | $6.63 | $7.39 | $3.69 | $6.30 | $3.77 | $5.96 |
| Seattle, WA | $7.47 | $7.64 | $4.87 | $7.14 | $4.61 | $6.46 |
| Washington, DC | $6.97 | $6.04 | $3.10 | $6.04 | $3.02 | $5.03 |
Breakfast and coffee prices by city
Breakfast by city
| City | Egg McMuffin | Sausage McMuffin with Egg | Hash Browns | Premium Roast Coffee | Iced Coffee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | $4.36 | $4.03 | $1.92 | $1.67 | $3.10 |
| Atlanta, GA | $4.78 | $4.70 | $2.09 | $2.18 | $2.09 |
| Baltimore, MD | $5.03 | $5.29 | $2.93 | $2.85 | $2.60 |
| Birmingham, AL | $4.36 | $4.36 | $2.93 | $2.35 | $2.43 |
| Boston, MA | $5.46 | $5.03 | $3.02 | $2.35 | $3.35 |
| Brooklyn, NY | $5.37 | $4.19 | $3.10 | $2.51 | $2.93 |
| Charlotte, NC | $4.36 | $4.53 | $2.26 | $2.26 | $2.18 |
| Chicago, IL | $5.62 | $5.37 | $2.43 | $2.09 | $2.85 |
| Columbus, OH | $4.95 | $4.70 | $2.18 | $1.95 | $2.68 |
| Dallas, TX | $4.36 | $3.94 | $2.35 | $1.67 | $3.02 |
| Denver, CO | $4.53 | $4.36 | $2.77 | $1.67 | $2.85 |
| Detroit, MI | $4.19 | $4.11 | $2.18 | $2.01 | $2.77 |
| Houston, TX | $4.11 | $3.86 | $2.43 | $2.09 | $2.85 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $4.19 | $4.19 | $1.67 | $2.09 | $3.10 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $5.03 | $4.87 | $2.51 | $3.27 | $2.26 |
| Kansas City, MO | $4.87 | $4.95 | $2.93 | $1.84 | $1.84 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $5.03 | $5.03 | $2.43 | $2.09 | $2.01 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $5.37 | $5.54 | $3.19 | $3.19 | $3.10 |
| Louisville, KY | $5.03 | $5.03 | $2.35 | $1.92 | $2.26 |
| Memphis, TN | $4.87 | $4.95 | $2.85 | $2.26 | $2.18 |
| Miami, FL | $5.54 | $4.87 | $2.51 | $1.59 | $3.10 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $4.45 | $4.19 | $2.01 | $1.42 | $2.77 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $4.61 | $4.61 | $3.02 | $1.84 | $2.68 |
| Nashville, TN | $4.19 | $4.19 | $1.92 | $1.84 | $2.60 |
| New Orleans, LA | $6.56 | $6.56 | $2.10 | $2.01 | $2.01 |
| New York (Manhattan), NY | $4.87 | $4.87 | $3.27 | $2.93 | $3.19 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $4.45 | $4.19 | $2.51 | $2.09 | $2.01 |
| Omaha, NE | $5.20 | $5.03 | $2.51 | $1.84 | $3.02 |
| Orlando, FL | $5.29 | $5.03 | $2.93 | $3.10 | $2.85 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $4.95 | $4.28 | $3.19 | $2.51 | $2.77 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $5.71 | $5.46 | $2.51 | $2.01 | $1.92 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $4.53 | $4.53 | $2.18 | $2.06 | $2.09 |
| Portland, OR | $4.29 | $4.54 | $2.52 | $1.51 | $2.31 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $4.58 | $4.14 | $2.09 | $1.84 | $2.85 |
| San Antonio, TX | $4.54 | $4.54 | $2.02 | $2.51 | $2.77 |
| San Diego, CA | $5.79 | $5.88 | $3.77 | $3.61 | $4.03 |
| San Francisco, CA | $6.13 | $5.71 | $3.27 | $2.09 | $3.26 |
| Seattle, WA | $5.46 | $5.37 | $3.35 | $2.43 | $2.51 |
| Washington, DC | $5.71 | $5.88 | $3.10 | $2.51 | $2.43 |
Meals, sides and desserts by city
Meals & extras by city
| City | Big Mac Meal | World Famous Fries | 4 pc. Chicken McNuggets Happy Meal | OREO McFlurry | Filet-O-Fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | $8.40 | $2.93 | $4.70 | $4.11 | $5.03 |
| Atlanta, GA | $10.67 | $3.86 | $5.88 | $4.87 | $5.54 |
| Baltimore, MD | $10.41 | $4.36 | $5.88 | $5.54 | $5.46 |
| Birmingham, AL | $8.82 | $3.52 | $5.20 | $4.70 | $4.87 |
| Boston, MA | $11.00 | $4.11 | $6.55 | $5.12 | $6.30 |
| Brooklyn, NY | $11.00 | $4.70 | $5.88 | $4.95 | $5.46 |
| Charlotte, NC | $9.83 | $3.52 | $5.29 | $4.19 | $4.19 |
| Chicago, IL | $10.33 | $4.11 | $5.12 | $4.78 | $5.20 |
| Columbus, OH | $8.67 | $3.15 | $4.14 | $4.19 | $5.12 |
| Dallas, TX | $8.57 | $3.35 | $4.70 | — | $4.11 |
| Denver, CO | $8.73 | $3.35 | $6.30 | $4.95 | $5.03 |
| Detroit, MI | $9.57 | $3.27 | $4.95 | $4.36 | $5.71 |
| Houston, TX | $7.56 | $2.85 | $4.45 | $3.69 | $4.70 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $8.57 | $3.35 | $5.20 | $4.11 | $5.37 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $9.99 | $3.77 | $5.54 | $4.78 | $4.87 |
| Kansas City, MO | $8.82 | $3.86 | $5.54 | $4.53 | $5.03 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $9.49 | $3.94 | $6.21 | $5.37 | $6.30 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $10.25 | $4.53 | $6.30 | $4.19 | $5.71 |
| Louisville, KY | $9.83 | $3.35 | $6.38 | $5.20 | $5.71 |
| Memphis, TN | $10.08 | $4.03 | $5.88 | $4.36 | $5.54 |
| Miami, FL | $8.90 | $3.35 | $5.46 | $4.70 | $5.79 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $7.98 | $3.02 | $4.53 | $4.19 | $4.87 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $10.25 | $4.36 | $6.04 | $5.46 | $5.46 |
| Nashville, TN | $8.73 | $3.10 | $5.20 | $4.19 | $5.54 |
| New Orleans, LA | $9.83 | $3.27 | $6.77 | $3.27 | $5.88 |
| New York (Manhattan), NY | $12.01 | $4.61 | $5.54 | $5.54 | $6.38 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $9.07 | $3.35 | $5.03 | $4.19 | $5.37 |
| Omaha, NE | $9.24 | $3.94 | $5.03 | $4.78 | $6.13 |
| Orlando, FL | $9.74 | $3.86 | $5.88 | $5.20 | $5.54 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $10.41 | $4.28 | $5.79 | $4.95 | $6.04 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $10.75 | $4.19 | $6.38 | $4.36 | $5.79 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $10.16 | $3.77 | $4.87 | $3.94 | $5.29 |
| Portland, OR | $10.09 | $4.20 | $5.21 | $4.96 | $5.21 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $8.73 | $3.27 | $5.55 | $4.33 | $4.70 |
| San Antonio, TX | $8.73 | $3.19 | $5.17 | $4.24 | $4.78 |
| San Diego, CA | $12.60 | $4.95 | $8.23 | $4.87 | $5.88 |
| San Francisco, CA | $13.02 | $4.95 | $5.62 | $5.03 | $5.88 |
| Seattle, WA | $12.26 | $4.36 | $5.71 | $5.46 | $6.13 |
| Washington, DC | $10.41 | $4.36 | $6.30 | $5.03 | $6.04 |
What explains the gap?
The ranking lines up closely with local labour and property costs. Every city in the top third of our index is in a state or city with a minimum wage well above the federal level, while the cheapest group — Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Albuquerque, Indianapolis — has lower wage floors and cheaper commercial rents. A second factor is location type: the restaurants that delivery apps surface first in dense downtowns tend to be busy urban stores with higher prices than drive-thrus on the edge of town.
How we collected these prices
On October 12, 2026 we recorded the full delivery menu of two McDonald's restaurants in each of 39 cities (78 restaurants in total). City figures use the lower of the two prices. Delivery menus are usually priced above in-store and app pickup prices, so local prices at the counter are likely to be lower than shown — but the differences between cities hold. Details in our methodology.
Frequently asked questions
Which US city has the cheapest McDonald's?
In our October 2026 comparison, Houston, TX was cheapest: the seven-item basket cost $22.13.
Which US city has the most expensive McDonald's?
San Diego, CA, where the same basket cost $36.42.
Why does McDonald's cost more in some cities?
Most US McDonald's are franchised, and owners set prices based on local wages, rent and taxes. Cities with high minimum wages and expensive real estate — California, Washington State, New York — sit at the top of our index.
Does the price differ between two McDonald's in the same city?
Yes. Even within one city, airport, downtown and highway locations often charge more than suburban stores. That is why our city figures use the cheapest of the sampled stores.