It’s enough to make you Grimace.
Golden Arches fans beware — McDonald’s no longer offers the best bargain on burgers. That honor goes to Wendy’s and Burger King, which each serve the most affordable beef between two buns in the United States, according to a culinary site.
Both a basic cheeseburger at Burger King and the Jr. Cheeseburger at Wendy’s cost $1.99 at the time of writing, Food Republic reported.
Meanwhile, McDonald’s — the home of the “dollar menu”— upped its cheeseburger price to $2.19.
This difference may seem insignificant, but it makes a difference in a world where inflation has made eating fast food seem like fry-way robbery.
A report from last year claimed that McDonald’s has jacked up its menu prices by more than 100% over the past 10 years — more than three times the rate of U.S. inflation (read: $18 Big Mac meal). However, the popular chain countered that as inaccurate in a statement to The Post, noting, in part, that “pricing is set by individual franchisees and varies by restaurant.”
McDonald’s recently suffered its sharpest drop in same-store sales since 2020, with the burger merchant citing “heightened anxiety” among customers as President Donald Trump’s tariffs threaten to reignite inflation.
McDonald’s attempted to lure back wallet-weary customers through several promotions, including 50-cent Double Cheeseburgers in honor of National Cheeseburger Day last September.
Meanwhile, in May, the fry purveyors offered a special deal in which diners could choose from four items — either a McDouble or a McChicken sandwich, to go along with small fries, a small soft drink and a four-piece Chicken McNuggets — for just $5.
Fortunately, fast-food fans can mitigate the sting of inflation year-round by utilizing free mobile ordering apps offered by big brands like McDonald’s.
“Fast food mobile apps can be great for folks looking for deals,” Lending Tree chief credit analyst Matt Schulz previously told The Post. “Some won’t offer much more than the chance to order ahead, while others may offer in-app discounts, limited-time freebies, loyalty rewards and more.”
Depending on the day and location, the McDonald’s app might offer $5 for 20 Chicken McNuggets — which can cost almost $10 at the counter — or two-for-one breakfast sandwiches, a savings of $5 or more in some markets.
Burger King’s deals are even more generous, saving customers $5 on the decadent Bacon King, which would otherwise run them over $12 in New York.
Schulz advised customers to also keep their eyes peeled for perks like birthday comps and discounts and buy-one-get-one (BOGO) coupons.
The tradeoff for the fast food giants is they get to track customer spending habits via the app and also curry diner loyalty — which is more valuable than one might think.
“They’re perfectly happy to give you something for free if they know that doing so means you’re going to stick around longer and spend more money with them,” Shulz shared with The Post. “That free six-inch sub is a small price to pay for the acquisition of a customer who might buy a few subs a year for the next 10 years.”
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