The Most Expensive Thing You Can Order at McDonald’s and How Much It Costs

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Although McDonald’s is a uniquely American brand, you’d have to travel to France to order its most expensive item. 

According to Food Republic, the country is home to the Triple Cheddar and Double Beef burger. Priced at $15.70, the world’s priciest McDonald’s delicacy costs nearly three times what Americans pay for a Big Mac.

But what’s the most expensive menu item that stateside Mickey-D’s aficionados are likely to encounter, presuming no substitutions or upgrades? Since most locations are independently owned franchises that set their own prices, it depends on where you dine — but here’s what you can expect no matter which drive-thru you choose. 

McDonald’s Prices Have Spiked (But Less Than What We Thought)

In 2024, McDonald’s released a statement refuting widespread reporting that the world’s most recognizable fast-food chain had engaged in price gouging in the post-pandemic period of high inflation. 

McDonald’s cited reports that it raised prices so high that the average menu item outpaced the inflation rate nearly threefold between 2019 and 2024. The company gave the following examples to prove that at least some media reports had been exaggerated — but in doing so, McDonald’s also revealed that its menu prices had indeed risen sharply, nonetheless.

• Egg McMuffin: From $3.49 in 2019 to $4.29 in 2024 (23% increase). 
• Quarter Pounder With Cheese: From $4.49 in 2019 to $5.39 in 2024 (20% increase). 
• Filet-O-Fish: From $3.99 in 2019 to $4.79 in 2024 (20% increase).

44% Price Hikes Are Better Than 138%, But They’re Still Not Great

To refute claims that it had jacked up the price of Big Mac meals, 10-piece McNuggets meals and medium fries by 104%, 95.5% and 138%, respectively, McDonald’s released the following average price increase data.

• Big Mac meals: From $7.29 in 2019 to $9.29 in 2024 (27% increase).
• 10-piece McNuggets: From $7.19 in 2019 to $9.19 in 2024 (28% increase). 
• Medium fries: From $2.29 in 2019 to $3.29 in 2024 (44% increase). 

Price-Off: Battle of the Burgers

A site called mcds-menu.com, which is not affiliated with the company, provides typical prices of McDonald’s menu items by amalgamating and averaging their costs across thousands of U.S. locations, most of which are independently owned and set their own menu prices. 

Its data reveals that the McDonald’s lineup of big, heavy specialty burgers occupies the top spots in the price hierarchy.

• Double BBQ Bacon Quarter Pounder with Cheese (limited time only): $9.49
• BBQ Bacon Quarter Pounder with Cheese (limited time only): $8.49
• Double Quarter Pounder With Cheese: $8.67
• Double Big Mac (limited time only): $7.99

McNuggets — Buy in Bulk To Save

YouTube influencer HellthyJunkFood, whose channel has nearly 3 million subscribers and regularly features McDonald’s menu items, revealed that Chicken McNuggets can be among the most expensive items on the menu or the cheapest, depending on your order size. Remember, prices may vary by location.

• Four-piece: $2.79
• Six-piece: $3.99 
• 10-piece: $5.49 
• 20-piece: $7.10 

The 20-piece comes out to 63 cents per ounce. Comparatively, a four-piece is double that — $1.26 per ounce. If you bought five four-pieces instead of a 20-piece, you’d pay $14, making a four-piece Chicken McNugget among the cheapest, yet also most expensive, items on most McDonald’s menus.

Editor’s note: Pricing and availability may vary depending on location.

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