10 Cheapest States in the US for Fast Food

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Prices on fast food can vary a lot depending on where you live, and they’re not always budget-friendly. To find out where fast food is the best value, World Population Review found the average cost of popular menu items like Big Macs, Chick-fil-A chicken sandwiches and Taco Bell combo meals in every state.

GOBankingRates used that data to calculate the average price of those same five items in each state, then ranked the 10 states where fast food is cheapest overall.

Nebraska

• Average fast food item cost: $5.59
• Domino’s medium cheese pizza: $11.99
• McDonald’s Happy Meal: $2.85
• McDonald’s Big Mac: $4.07
• Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich: $3.11
• Taco Bell combo meal: $5.91

Nebraska comes in first for overall value and also has the cheapest pizza of any state on the list.

Kentucky

• Average fast food item cost: $5.71
• Domino’s medium cheese pizza: $12.79
• McDonald’s Happy Meal: $2.82
• McDonald’s Big Mac: $4.03
• Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich: $3.08
• Taco Bell combo meal: $5.85

Kentucky is tied with West Virginia for the cheapest Taco Bell combo, and snags the spot for second-cheapest state for fast food across the nation.

South Dakota

• Average fast food item cost: $5.76
• Domino’s medium cheese pizza: $12.99
• McDonald’s Happy Meal: $2.79
• McDonald’s Big Mac: $3.99
• Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich: $3.05
• Taco Bell combo meal: $5.96

South Dakota has the cheapest Happy Meal, Big Mac and Chick-fil-A sandwich out of all 10 states. Even though the average price of pizza is on the higher side, it’s in line with six other states on this list.

Idaho

• Average fast food item cost: $5.78
• Domino’s medium cheese pizza: $12.35
• McDonald’s Happy Meal: $2.96
• McDonald’s Big Mac: $4.23
• Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich: $3.23
• Taco Bell combo meal: $6.14

None of Idaho’s average prices for fast food items beat those of other states. However, Idaho’s pizza price is cheaper than the majority of states on this list, which helps bring down its overall average fast food item cost. 

Oklahoma

• Average fast food item cost: $5.79
• Domino’s medium cheese pizza: $12.99
• McDonald’s Happy Meal: $2.85
• McDonald’s Big Mac: $4.07
• Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich: $3.11
• Taco Bell combo meal: $5.91

Oklahoma matches Nebraska on the price of three items: the McDonald’s Happy Meal and Big Mac and the Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich. Even so, the pizza is more expensive here, but it’s still a strong value overall.

West Virginia

• Average fast food item cost: $5.88
• Domino’s medium cheese pizza: $12.99
• McDonald’s Happy Meal: $2.82
• McDonald’s Big Mac: $4.67
• Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich: $3.08
• Taco Bell combo meal: $5.85

West Virginia ties with Kentucky for the cheapest Taco Bell combo. However, the Big Mac is the most expensive on this list, which pushes the state’s average fast food cost a bit higher.

Tennessee

• Average fast food item cost: $5.90
• Domino’s medium cheese pizza: $12.99
• McDonald’s Happy Meal: $2.87
• McDonald’s Big Mac: $4.11
• Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich: $3.14
• Taco Bell combo meal: $6.37

Tennessee’s Taco Bell combo meal price is higher than most states on this list, but the prices of the Happy Meal and Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich help bring down its average.

Pennsylvania

• Average fast food item cost: $6.10
• Domino’s medium cheese pizza: $12.99
• McDonald’s Happy Meal: $3.12
• McDonald’s Big Mac: $4.47
• Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich: $3.42
• Taco Bell combo meal: $6.48

Pennsylvania prices are a bit higher on average than the majority of states on this list. However, it still offers some of the cheapest fast food you’ll find across the country.

Rhode Island

• Average fast food item cost: $6.10
• Domino’s medium cheese pizza: $12.99
• McDonald’s Happy Meal: $3.12
• McDonald’s Big Mac: $4.47
• Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich: $3.42
• Taco Bell combo meal: $6.48

Rhode Island matches Pennsylvania in every category — from average fast food cost to the price of the Taco Bell combo meal.

Vermont

• Average fast food item cost: $6.19
• Domino’s medium cheese pizza: $12.99
• McDonald’s Happy Meal: $3.21
• McDonald’s Big Mac: $4.59
• Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich: $3.51
• Taco Bell combo meal: $6.66

Vermont is the most expensive of the 10 when it comes to best value. Additionally, the price of every item — except for the Big Mac, which is more expensive on average in West Virginia — is above average compared to the rest of this list. Even so, the state still ranks as being the No. 10 most affordable when it comes to fast food.

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