No wonder we can’t make ends meat.
A beefy batch of new data has revealed some charred truths about the astronomical prices we’re paying for a burger, fries and a drink across the United States these days, as rampant inflation continues to impact all aspects of American daily life.
And while New Yorkers might think they’ve got it tough, it turns out the city doesn’t even rank in the top five, according to researchers at Moneygeek.
The study investigated the cost of the combo at 189 national and local chain restaurants in the country’s 50 largest cities — unwrapping a whopper of a problem.
“The cost of a burger has gone up dramatically in the past two years, meaning that America’s favorite meal may take a toll on our wallets, as well as our waistlines,” the team wrote.
“We found that from 2022 to 2024, prices have risen 24%, on average. But there are certain cities and franchises where you’ll find yourself paying a whole lot more.”
In terms of national chains, Wendy’s had the largest percent increase, 31.8%, of their meal costs since 2022. Prices rose from $9.41 to $12.41.
McDonald’s was right behind with a 22% boost and increase from $6.21 to $7.57, Five Guys with 13.7% from $18.33 to $20.84, and then Burger King with a 12.3% increase from $9.44 to $10.61.
In terms of the worst burger towns by price, San Diego took the cake with a $20.76 average meal price. Second was Washington DC with $18.17, then San Francisco at $17.96, Seattle at $17.83, and Boston rounded out the top five with $17.63.
New York was seventh with an average cost of $16.61, while Detroit offered the most value out of anywhere else in the nation.
The most expensive cities for burger combos
| 1. San Diego, CA | $20.76 |
| 2. Washington, DC | $18.17 |
| 3. San Francisco, CA | $17.96 |
| 4. Seattle, WA | $17.83 |
| 5. Boston, MA | $17.63 |
| 6. Los Angeles, CA | $17.50 |
| 7. New York, NY | $16.61 |
| 8. Phoenix, AZ | $16.53 |
| 9. Philadelphia, PA | $16.48 |
| (Tied for 10) Baltimore, MD | $16.16 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $16.16 |
