Fast food price insights
What the drive-thru really costs: prices from 3,500 fast food restaurants in Australia across 8 chains, checked 2026-10-02. Every figure below compares each restaurant's own pickup price from the brand's ordering app, so the numbers are what you would actually pay at the window.
Data as of . Updated daily. Prices are in Australian dollars.
Key findings
- McDonald's has the biggest price gap between locations: its priciest restaurant charges 43% more than its cheapest for the same basket. Oporto has the smallest gap, 3%.
- Melbourne, VIC is the biggest cluster of bargain fast food in Australia: 27 of its 33 restaurants rank in their brand's cheapest fifth nationally.
- New South Wales is the cheapest state for fast food overall (Drive Thru Index 99, where 100 is the national typical price) and Northern Territory the most expensive (110), averaging each brand against its own national prices.
- A McDonald's Big Mac costs anywhere from $7.30 to $10.70 across 1,080 restaurants in Australia; the typical price is $8.45.
- Victoria is the cheapest state for McDonald's and Northern Territory the priciest, comparing the same basket of 4 items at 1,080 restaurants.
- Ordering McDonald's for delivery costs 37% more than picking up the same items.
- A Hungry Jack's Whopper costs anywhere from $9.20 to $11.75 across 489 restaurants in Australia; the typical price is $9.90.
- Victoria is the cheapest state for Hungry Jack's and Northern Territory the priciest, comparing the same basket of 4 items at 489 restaurants.
- Hungry Jack's airport locations charge 10% more than the brand's typical restaurant.
- A KFC Zinger Burger costs anywhere from $7.95 to $9.45 across 851 restaurants in Australia; the typical price is $8.45.
- New South Wales is the cheapest state for KFC and Northern Territory the priciest, comparing the same basket of 3 items at 851 restaurants.
- A Red Rooster Quarter Chicken costs anywhere from $7.75 to $8.75 across 294 restaurants in Australia; the typical price is $7.75.
- Red Rooster charges about the same in every state: no state's typical basket is even 1% dearer than another's.
- A Oporto Bondi Burger costs $10.00 at every one of its 206 restaurants in Australia: the brand charges one price nationwide.
- New South Wales is the cheapest state for Oporto and Western Australia the priciest, comparing the same basket of 3 items at 198 restaurants.
- A Guzman y Gomez Chicken Burrito costs anywhere from $14.50 to $15.50 across 257 restaurants in Australia; the typical price is $14.50.
- Victoria is the cheapest state for Guzman y Gomez and Western Australia the priciest, comparing the same basket of 4 items at 252 restaurants.
- A Grill'd Simply Grill'd costs anywhere from $13.90 to $14.50 across 181 restaurants in Australia; the typical price is $14.50.
- New South Wales is the cheapest state for Grill'd and Western Australia the priciest, comparing the same basket of 4 items at 180 restaurants.
- A Nando's 1/4 Chicken costs anywhere from $11.95 to $12.95 across 142 restaurants in Australia; the typical price is $11.95.
- Nando's charges about the same in every state: no state's typical basket is even 1% dearer than another's.
- For McDonald's, Melbourne, VIC has the most bargain restaurants: 6 of 9 are in the brand's cheapest fifth nationally.
- For KFC, Melbourne, VIC has the most bargain restaurants: 6 of 6 are in the brand's cheapest fifth nationally.
- For Guzman y Gomez, Sydney, NSW has the most bargain restaurants: 7 of 7 are in the brand's cheapest fifth nationally.
- For Grill'd, Melbourne, VIC has the most bargain restaurants: 6 of 6 are in the brand's cheapest fifth nationally.
The scoop
Karratha tops three basketsKarratha, WA is the priciest stop for McDonald's at $40.95, Hungry Jack's at $39.25, and KFC at $35.05. The big counterpoint is Victoria: Baxter, VIC has the $28.60 McDonald's basket, Armstrong Creek, VIC has Hungry Jack's at $30.65, and Cheltenham, VIC has KFC at $28.35.
Macca's has the wildest swingMcDonald's shows the biggest gap, with its priciest store 43% above its cheapest across 1080 restaurants. Its Big Mac runs from $7.30 to $10.70, and the national median basket is $31.50.
Airports sit in the pricey laneTravel stops pop up among the higher baskets. Grill'd peaks at Melbourne Airport, VIC with a $30.30 basket, while Hungry Jack's airport sites in Coolangatta, QLD, Perth Airport, WA and Tullamarine Airport, VIC each show $36.15.
Nando's keeps it tightNando's is the most consistent brand on the map, with the priciest store just 3% above its cheapest. Rouse Hill, NSW sits at $28.80, Kalgoorlie, WA at $29.80, and the national median basket is $28.80.
McDonald's has the most pinsMcDonald's is the biggest footprint here, with 1080 restaurants compared. KFC follows with 851, then Hungry Jack's at 489.
Cheapest to most expensive states
Each state's Drive Thru Index score averages every brand's typical basket there against that brand's own national typical price, so 100 is the national norm, 90 is 10% cheaper and 120 is 20% pricier. Brands are never compared with each other.
| Rank | State | Index | vs national | Brands | Restaurants compared |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New South Wales | 99 | -1% | 8 | 1,035 |
| 2 | Victoria | 99 | -1% | 8 | 867 |
| 3 | Australian Capital Territory | 99 | -1% | 5 | 50 |
| 4 | Queensland | 100 | +0% | 8 | 832 |
| 5 | Tasmania | 100 | +0% | 3 | 47 |
| 6 | South Australia | 100 | +0% | 6 | 202 |
| 7 | Western Australia | 101 | +1% | 8 | 401 |
| 8 | Northern Territory | 110 | +10% | 3 | 22 |
Bargain clusters
Where cheap fast food clusters: the places with the most restaurants whose basket ranks in their own brand's cheapest fifth nationally. Each brand is judged against itself, never against another brand's prices.
| City, all brands | Bargain restaurants | Restaurants compared | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne, VIC | 27 | 33 | 82% |
| Sydney, NSW | 18 | 24 | 75% |
| Blacktown, NSW | 11 | 14 | 79% |
| Preston, VIC | 9 | 9 | 100% |
| Adelaide, SA | 8 | 8 | 100% |
| Brand | Top bargain cities | Top bargain states |
|---|---|---|
| McDonald's | Melbourne, VIC (6 of 9), Mascot, NSW (1 of 6) | VIC (141 of 275), NSW (52 of 339), WA (8 of 104) |
| Hungry Jack's | — | VIC (63 of 114), NSW (26 of 113), SA (9 of 53) |
| KFC | Melbourne, VIC (6 of 6), Sydney, NSW (5 of 5) | NSW (140 of 271), VIC (103 of 226), QLD (51 of 185) |
| Red Rooster | — | QLD (60 of 105), NSW (51 of 55), VIC (48 of 63) |
| Oporto | — | NSW (65 of 123), QLD (18 of 27), VIC (2 of 25) |
| Guzman y Gomez | Sydney, NSW (7 of 7) | NSW (82 of 82), QLD (74 of 88), VIC (49 of 49) |
| Grill'd | Melbourne, VIC (6 of 6) | VIC (59 of 60), QLD (37 of 43), NSW (36 of 37) |
| Nando's | — | VIC (55 of 55), WA (29 of 31), QLD (25 of 25) |
By brand
| Brand | Restaurants | Item | Typical price | Range | Cheapest state | Priciest state | Gap between locations | Delivery vs pickup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald's | 1,080 | Big Mac | $8.45 | $7.30 to $10.70 | VIC | NT | 43% | +37% |
| Hungry Jack's | 489 | Whopper | $9.90 | $9.20 to $11.75 | VIC | NT | 28% | — |
| KFC | 851 | Zinger Burger | $8.45 | $7.95 to $9.45 | NSW | NT | 24% | — |
| Red Rooster | 294 | Quarter Chicken | $7.75 | $7.75 to $8.75 | QLD | NSW | 10% | — |
| Oporto | 206 | Bondi Burger | $10.00 | $10.00 to $10.00 | NSW | WA | 3% | — |
| Guzman y Gomez | 257 | Chicken Burrito | $14.50 | $14.50 to $15.50 | VIC | WA | 5% | — |
| Grill'd | 181 | Simply Grill'd | $14.50 | $13.90 to $14.50 | NSW | WA | 11% | — |
| Nando's | 142 | 1/4 Chicken | $11.95 | $11.95 to $12.95 | VIC | NSW | 3% | — |
Questions people ask
- How much does a McDonald's Big Mac cost in Australia?
- As of 2026-10-02, a Big Mac costs $7.30 to $10.70 at 1,080 McDonald's restaurants, with a typical price of $8.45.
- Where is McDonald's cheapest in Australia?
- Victoria has the cheapest typical McDonald's basket and Northern Territory the most expensive (Drive Thru Index, 2026-10-02). The single cheapest restaurant is in Baxter, VIC.
- How much does a Hungry Jack's Whopper cost in Australia?
- As of 2026-10-02, a Whopper costs $9.20 to $11.75 at 489 Hungry Jack's restaurants, with a typical price of $9.90.
- Where is Hungry Jack's cheapest in Australia?
- Victoria has the cheapest typical Hungry Jack's basket and Northern Territory the most expensive (Drive Thru Index, 2026-10-02). The single cheapest restaurant is in Pascoe Vale South, VIC.
- How much does a KFC Zinger Burger cost in Australia?
- As of 2026-10-02, a Zinger Burger costs $7.95 to $9.45 at 851 KFC restaurants, with a typical price of $8.45.
- Where is KFC cheapest in Australia?
- New South Wales has the cheapest typical KFC basket and Northern Territory the most expensive (Drive Thru Index, 2026-10-02). The single cheapest restaurant is in Cheltenham, VIC.
- How much does a Red Rooster Quarter Chicken cost in Australia?
- As of 2026-10-02, a Quarter Chicken costs $7.75 to $8.75 at 294 Red Rooster restaurants, with a typical price of $7.75.
- How much does a Oporto Bondi Burger cost in Australia?
- As of 2026-10-02, a Bondi Burger costs $10.00 at all 206 Oporto restaurants.
- Where is Oporto cheapest in Australia?
- New South Wales has the cheapest typical Oporto basket and Western Australia the most expensive (Drive Thru Index, 2026-10-02). The single cheapest restaurant is in Dural, NSW.
- How much does a Guzman y Gomez Chicken Burrito cost in Australia?
- As of 2026-10-02, a Chicken Burrito costs $14.50 to $15.50 at 257 Guzman y Gomez restaurants, with a typical price of $14.50.
- Where is Guzman y Gomez cheapest in Australia?
- Victoria has the cheapest typical Guzman y Gomez basket and Western Australia the most expensive (Drive Thru Index, 2026-10-02). The single cheapest restaurant is in Fairfield, VIC.
- How much does a Grill'd Simply Grill'd cost in Australia?
- As of 2026-10-02, a Simply Grill'd costs $13.90 to $14.50 at 181 Grill'd restaurants, with a typical price of $14.50.
- Where is Grill'd cheapest in Australia?
- New South Wales has the cheapest typical Grill'd basket and Western Australia the most expensive (Drive Thru Index, 2026-10-02). The single cheapest restaurant is in North Lakes, QLD.
- How much does a Nando's 1/4 Chicken cost in Australia?
- As of 2026-10-02, a 1/4 Chicken costs $11.95 to $12.95 at 142 Nando's restaurants, with a typical price of $11.95.
How the index works
Every day we check the menu at every US restaurant of each chain, using the same ordering app its customers use, and record each item's pickup and delivery price. Restaurants are compared on a basket of items that every full-menu restaurant of that brand sells, so a comparison is never skewed by a missing item. Restaurants with a limited menu, and prices that are clearly a menu code error, are left out of comparisons. "Typical" means the median restaurant.
Browse prices for every state and city or download states.csv and cities.csv.
Citing this data: Source: Drive Thru Index (https://drivethruindex.com), prices checked 2026-10-02. Journalists are welcome to quote any figure on this page.