Inflation has caused fast-food prices to rise across the nation, with annual inflation in the sector reaching 4.8% according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices in limited-service restaurants have increased by 47% since 2014, impacting families who rely on fast food as a convenient meal option. A 2018 CDC study found that 36.6% of adults consume fast food on a given day, with 65% eating it once a week according to a 2023 report by Drive Research.
A team of USA TODAY reporters surveyed combo meal prices from five major hamburger chains across 18 markets in the country to compare prices. They found that Carls Jr./Hardees and Wendy’s experienced significant price increases between 2014 and 2024. The most affordable Big Mac combo was in Houston, Texas at $7.89, while Seattle residents would pay close to $15 for the same meal. Wendy’s was one of the more affordable options, with a Dave’s cheeseburger meal priced at $9.29 in downtown Columbus, Ohio.
Looking at 2014 prices, Carls Jr./Hardees had the cheapest signature meal with the quarter pound thick burger combo priced at $5.29. However, the most expensive combo meal was from Five Guys in Chicago. The average cost of each fast food restaurant’s signature meal varied across different cities, with prices fluctuating over the past decade due to inflation.
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