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5 Fast Food Joints That Cost More Than Ever

5 Fast Food Joints That Cost More Than Ever. Hey, have you noticed that grabbing a quick burger or some crispy chicken isn’t as cheap as it once was? Sure,…

fast food Big Mac

Bucharest, Romania – 01.28.2023: closeup of sloppy assembled or cooked Bigmac burger taken away from McDonalds restaurant.

5 Fast Food Joints That Cost More Than Ever.

Hey, have you noticed that grabbing a quick burger or some crispy chicken isn’t as cheap as it once was? Sure, you can blame it on inflation. Or corporate greed.

Fast food prices have been creeping up, hitting us where it hurts – our wallets and are stomachs. But some chains have been hit harder than others.

I've definitely noticed the price hike at the drive through. I can't get a burger and fries for less than $9 these days. (Maybe this is a good thing. I mean, burgers and fries aren't the best thing to eat, right?)

Let’s fast food talk numbers.

Recently, personal finance outlet FinanceBuzz collected and compared several major fast food chain’s prices over the past decade — to find which fast food restaurants raised prices the most.

Price increases were also compared against the overall inflation of the same time period, which was a 31% rise in the cost of goods since 2014.

Check out these top five fast food joints that have jacked up their prices the most in the past decade:

  1. McDonald’s: They’re sitting at a whopping 100% increase! Double the price for the same old Big Mac. Ouch.
  2. Popeyes: With an 86% hike, that spicy chicken sandwich might be burning a hole in your pocket too.
  3. Taco Bell: Crunchwrap Supreme lovers, brace yourselves. Taco Bell has seen an 81% inflation rate. Say it ain’t so!
  4. Chipotle: Guac might still be extra, but so is everything else. Chipotle’s prices have shot up by 75%. Burrito bowl budgeting just got tougher.
  5. Jimmy John’s: Need a quick sub? Better dig deeper into your pockets because Jimmy John’s prices have gone up by 62%. Fast, but not so cheap anymore.

Fast food fail?

For decades, fast food has been the go-to for families on a budget, hungry students, and cash-strapped teens. It was the holy grail of cheap, fast meals. But now, with prices skyrocketing, that dollar menu isn’t looking so appealing anymore.

Sure, inflation plays a big role. But maybe it’s time we rethink our fast food fixations. Are those golden arches or that spicy crunch really worth the extra cash? Food for thought.

Lauren Beckham Falcone is the co-host of Bob & LBF in the Morning. Formerly an award-winning reporter and columnist for the Boston Herald, she credits her current success as a pop culture commentator to watching too much TV as a kid and scouring the internet too much as an adult. LBF is a regular contributor to NECN and is an honorary board member at the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress. Lauren lives in Canton with her husband Dave and her daughter Lucy. Lauren writes about trending topics, New England destinations, and seasonal DIY.