When McDonald's was first started by Richard 'Dick' and Maurice 'Mac' McDonald, all the items in the original menu were 20 cents or less. These items included burgers, fries, cold and hot drinks. Of course, so many decades later, the prices are no longer the same but it has still managed to keep up a reputation for being affordable, serving fans good value for money.
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McDonald's offered fans some mega deals on their app last Christmas including buy-one-get-free on cheeseburger, chicken sandwich, deals on fries and chicken McNuggets, but irrespective of great deals, some customers have alleged that over time, the price of menu item has become too high.
Here are some of the cheapest McDonald's menu items as well as items that provide superb price value.
Read also: McDonald's: Iran, Bermuda, North Korea...these countries have banned the fast food chain
Sneaky price raises
As reported by Eat This, Not That! McDonald's U.S. prices have increase by 10% in the third quarter of 2022. If you have not noticed it, its because companies like McDonald's raise their prices by only a couple of cents here and there ensuring that you do not realise the amount of extra money you gradually pay for the things that used to cost way lesser.
Currently the company lists the following food items in its $1 $2 $3 Dollar Menu. The list includes breakfast items, McDonald's burgers and drinks. All prices quoted below are from Fast Food Menu Prices.
- Sausage Biscuit
- Sausage McMuffin
- Sausage McGriddle
- Hash Browns
- McDouble
- McChicken 4-piece
- Chicken McNuggets
- World Famous Fries
- Cold drinks include small Dr. Pepper, Coke, Iced Coffee, Unsweetened Iced Tea and Sweet Tea. You can convert them to medium or large sized for a bit extra.
McDonald's star items such as regular Big Mac, Quarter Pounder with Cheese are way more expensive with the Big Mac burger costing $5.47 while Quarter Pounder with Cheese costs $3.79. If you want a 10-piece regular or spicy Chicken McNuggets, it costs $4.49.
Even dessert like vanilla McFlurry are not available in the dollar menu, with regular McFlurry costing $2.79 while a vanilla cone costs $1. Chocolate, vanilla or strawberry shake costs between $2.19 for small and $2.99 for large. Speciality McCafe cold and hot drinks costs between $1-$2.
Read also: McDonald's: These are the most expensive menu items in the world, including a $27 chicken sandwich
McDonald's items with most cost-value
As per Rather be Shopping, here are the McDonald's menu items which provide the best value for your money.
McDouble
A McDouble burger is double cheese burger with a slice of cheese between double patties. It costs only $2.52. If ask for the restaurant to prepare it 'like a Big Mac,' this super-value item comes with all the same ingredients as a Big Mac such as special sauce, onions, lettuce, pickles and cheese. The bun placed between the double patty in Big Mac is absent but you are still getting an almost Big Mac that costs $5.47 for only $2.52.
McChicken
For a little over $1, the McChicken is a super value item getting you a sandwich with a crispy piece of chicken patty, lettuce, and mayo. For $3, you can add extra fries and free water and get a decently priced meal. You can also get this in a hot & spicy version if you want.
Cheeseburger Value Meal
Cheeseburgers by themselves can be expensive but McDonald's Cheeseburger Value Meal priced at $7.10 is a super combo offering 2 cheeseburgers, French fries, and a soda. Share the meal with a friend and you've got yourself a super happy meal right there.
Coffee
McCafe, McDonald's breakfast food and beverage range offers great value on coffee, with any sized regular coffee (small, medium or large) being available for a little more than $1. Coffee items like hot chocolate, Caramel Latte, Caramel Waffle Latte or Toffee Latte would cost a tad more. But even getting a large designer coffee from McCafe provides more bang for your buck than any other fast-food coffee chains.
Sausage Biscuit with Egg Meal
Though McMuffin is one of most popular breakfast, one of the best value item on the breakfast menu is Sausage Biscuit with Egg Meal. It is a flaky biscuit sandwich with McDonald's folded egg and a piece of hot pork sausage patty. The meal comes with a coffee and of course hash brown potatoes and is priced at $6.78. For a bit extra you can upgrade your coffee to a large.
Southwest Chicken Salad
For $6.89, this menu item provides great value. You can choose between a crispy piece of fried chicken or grilled chicken. The grilled version is of course way healthier than the crispy one.
McDonald's UK Prices
Here is what McDonald's menu items cost in the UK
A hamburger cost only £0.89, cheeseburger £0.99, McDonald's Happy Meal costs £2.79, grilled chicken and bacon salad is priced at £3.69, while the crispy chicken version also costs the same. There are also gourmet sandwiches in the UK with prices such as Chicken Legend with BBQ sauce for £3.89.
Breakfast items cost range from £2.69 for bacon&egg McMuffin for while egg & cheese bagel costs £2.19. Vanilla sweet treat McFlurry costs £0.99.
Sources used:
Rather be Shopping: 'These 10 McDonald's Menu Prices Provide the Best Bang for your Buck'
Eat This, Not That!: ‘The Biggest Fast-Food Chains Are Increasing Prices But Hope You Don't Notice’
Fast Food Menu Prices: 'McDonalds UK Menu Prices (Updated: December 2022)'
Fast Food Menu Prices: 'McDonald’s Menu Prices'
