Fast food price insights
What the drive-thru really costs: prices from 41,308 US fast food restaurants across 7 chains, checked 2026-09-30. 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.
Key findings
- Popeyes has the biggest price gap between locations: its priciest restaurant charges 136% more than its cheapest for the same basket. Taco Bell has the smallest gap, 52%.
- Houston, TX is the biggest cluster of bargain fast food in the US: 238 of its 378 restaurants rank in their brand's cheapest fifth nationally.
- Oklahoma is the cheapest state for fast food overall (Drive Thru Index 94, where 100 is the national typical price) and Alaska the most expensive (130), averaging each brand against its own national prices.
- A McDonald's Big Mac costs anywhere from $3.99 to $9.50 across 13,662 US restaurants; the typical price is $5.99.
- Texas is the cheapest state for McDonald's and Alaska the priciest, comparing the same basket of 4 items at 13,659 restaurants.
- Ordering McDonald's for delivery costs 28% more than picking up the same items.
- McDonald's airport locations charge 9% more than the brand's typical US restaurant.
- McDonald's in Alaska is 42% pricier than on the mainland.
- McDonald's in Hawaii is 22% pricier than on the mainland.
- A Burger King Whopper costs anywhere from $3.99 to $10.19 across 6,211 US restaurants; the typical price is $6.19.
- Oklahoma is the cheapest state for Burger King and Hawaii the priciest, comparing the same basket of 4 items at 6,180 restaurants.
- Ordering Burger King for delivery costs 28% more than picking up the same items.
- Burger King in Hawaii is 54% pricier than on the mainland.
- A Wendy's Dave's Single costs anywhere from $3.99 to $8.79 across 4,381 US restaurants; the typical price is $5.99.
- New Mexico is the cheapest state for Wendy's and Alaska the priciest, comparing the same basket of 4 items at 4,381 restaurants.
- Wendy's airport locations charge 9% more than the brand's typical US restaurant.
- Wendy's in Alaska is 24% pricier than on the mainland.
- Wendy's in Hawaii is 21% pricier than on the mainland.
- A Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme costs anywhere from $3.99 to $9.59 across 7,719 US restaurants; the typical price is $6.69.
- Kansas is the cheapest state for Taco Bell and Alaska the priciest, comparing the same basket of 4 items at 7,716 restaurants.
- Taco Bell in Alaska is 14% pricier than on the mainland.
- A KFC Chicken Sandwich costs anywhere from $3.99 to $12.99 across 3,232 US restaurants; the typical price is $5.39.
- Nevada is the cheapest state for KFC and Alaska the priciest, comparing the same basket of 4 items at 3,231 restaurants.
- Ordering KFC for delivery costs 0% more than picking up the same items.
- KFC in Alaska is 39% pricier than on the mainland.
- KFC in Hawaii is 16% pricier than on the mainland.
- A Popeyes Classic Chicken Sandwich costs anywhere from $4.49 to $9.99 across 3,050 US restaurants; the typical price is $5.79.
- Arkansas is the cheapest state for Popeyes and Washington the priciest, comparing the same basket of 4 items at 3,042 restaurants.
- Popeyes in Hawaii is 16% pricier than on the mainland.
- A Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich costs anywhere from $1.00 to $11.99 across 3,053 US restaurants; the typical price is $5.25.
- Texas is the cheapest state for Chick-fil-A and Hawaii the priciest, comparing the same basket of 4 items at 3,025 restaurants.
- Chick-fil-A in Hawaii is 27% pricier than on the mainland.
- For McDonald's, Houston, TX has the most bargain restaurants: 122 of 128 are in the brand's cheapest fifth nationally.
- For Burger King, Houston, TX has the most bargain restaurants: 81 of 83 are in the brand's cheapest fifth nationally.
- For Wendy's, San Antonio, TX has the most bargain restaurants: 20 of 20 are in the brand's cheapest fifth nationally.
- For Taco Bell, Indianapolis, IN has the most bargain restaurants: 21 of 38 are in the brand's cheapest fifth nationally.
- For KFC, Las Vegas, NV has the most bargain restaurants: 14 of 14 are in the brand's cheapest fifth nationally.
- For Popeyes, San Antonio, TX has the most bargain restaurants: 23 of 24 are in the brand's cheapest fifth nationally.
- For Chick-fil-A, Houston, TX has the most bargain restaurants: 22 of 46 are in the brand's cheapest fifth nationally.
The scoop
Taco Bell has the wildest swingTaco Bell’s priciest store is 177% above its cheapest, the biggest spread on the map. The basket runs from $12.90 in Ontario, CA to $35.76 in Universal City, CA.
Wendy’s barely budges in CaliforniaWendy’s is the most consistent here, with its priciest store just 2% above its cheapest. The basket is $30.46 in Visalia, CA and $31.06 in Hanford, CA.
McDonald’s fills the mapMcDonald’s has the most restaurants compared, with 12716 stores. Its basket stretches from $19.06 in Hazlehurst, GA to $40.20 in Anchorage, AK.
Travel stops bring spicy sticker shockSome pricier spots sit where travelers are already captive. KFC shows an airport site in South San Francisco, CA at $73.66, while Popeyes has an airport site in Arden, NC at $30.97.
Hawaii and Alaska pop up highSeveral priciest-state lists lean island or far north. McDonald’s has AK at $33.55, KFC has AK at $83.40, and Chick-fil-A has HI at $35.32.
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 | Oklahoma | 94 | -6% | 7 | 566 |
| 2 | Mississippi | 94 | -6% | 7 | 504 |
| 3 | Kentucky | 95 | -5% | 7 | 804 |
| 4 | Texas | 95 | -5% | 7 | 3,965 |
| 5 | West Virginia | 95 | -5% | 6 | 351 |
| 6 | North Carolina | 95 | -5% | 7 | 1,534 |
| 7 | Tennessee | 95 | -5% | 7 | 1,172 |
| 8 | Alabama | 95 | -5% | 7 | 828 |
| 9 | Georgia | 96 | -4% | 7 | 1,665 |
| 10 | Arkansas | 96 | -4% | 7 | 534 |
| 11 | Louisiana | 96 | -4% | 7 | 814 |
| 12 | Wyoming | 96 | -4% | 5 | 66 |
| 13 | South Carolina | 97 | -3% | 7 | 796 |
| 14 | Ohio | 97 | -3% | 7 | 1,945 |
| 15 | Indiana | 98 | -2% | 7 | 1,127 |
| 16 | New Mexico | 98 | -2% | 7 | 297 |
| 17 | North Dakota | 98 | -2% | 6 | 76 |
| 18 | Florida | 99 | -1% | 7 | 2,831 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | 99 | -1% | 7 | 680 |
| 20 | Kansas | 99 | -1% | 7 | 422 |
| 21 | Nevada | 99 | -1% | 7 | 404 |
| 22 | Minnesota | 100 | +0% | 7 | 535 |
| 23 | Michigan | 100 | +0% | 7 | 1,454 |
| 24 | Idaho | 100 | +0% | 7 | 192 |
| 25 | Utah | 100 | +0% | 7 | 384 |
| 26 | Nebraska | 100 | +0% | 7 | 240 |
| 27 | South Dakota | 100 | +0% | 5 | 86 |
| 28 | Missouri | 101 | +1% | 7 | 894 |
| 29 | Arizona | 101 | +1% | 7 | 894 |
| 30 | Iowa | 102 | +2% | 6 | 344 |
| 31 | Virginia | 103 | +3% | 7 | 1,235 |
| 32 | Maryland | 103 | +3% | 7 | 775 |
| 33 | Pennsylvania | 103 | +3% | 7 | 1,428 |
| 34 | Illinois | 103 | +3% | 7 | 1,639 |
| 35 | Maine | 104 | +4% | 5 | 115 |
| 36 | Colorado | 105 | +5% | 7 | 704 |
| 37 | Delaware | 106 | +6% | 7 | 117 |
| 38 | New Jersey | 107 | +7% | 7 | 771 |
| 39 | Massachusetts | 107 | +7% | 7 | 576 |
| 40 | Rhode Island | 107 | +7% | 6 | 107 |
| 41 | New Hampshire | 108 | +8% | 6 | 127 |
| 42 | Montana | 108 | +8% | 5 | 113 |
| 43 | District of Columbia | 108 | +8% | 4 | 48 |
| 44 | Vermont | 109 | +9% | 3 | 37 |
| 45 | New York | 110 | +10% | 7 | 1,677 |
| 46 | Oregon | 112 | +12% | 7 | 477 |
| 47 | Connecticut | 113 | +13% | 7 | 360 |
| 48 | Washington | 114 | +14% | 7 | 709 |
| 49 | California | 115 | +15% | 7 | 3,559 |
| 50 | Hawaii | 123 | +23% | 7 | 158 |
| 51 | Alaska | 130 | +30% | 4 | 51 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston, TX | 238 | 378 | 63% |
| San Antonio, TX | 96 | 191 | 50% |
| Dallas, TX | 92 | 151 | 61% |
| Fort Worth, TX | 83 | 97 | 86% |
| Columbus, OH | 76 | 126 | 60% |
| Brand | Top bargain cities | Top bargain states |
|---|---|---|
| McDonald's | Houston, TX (122 of 128), Dallas, TX (42 of 60), Fort Worth, TX (37 of 39) | TX (950 of 1273), NC (215 of 477), OH (198 of 605) |
| Burger King | Houston, TX (81 of 83), Dallas, TX (24 of 24), El Paso, TX (19 of 19) | TX (396 of 526), AL (110 of 120), WI (100 of 105) |
| Wendy's | San Antonio, TX (20 of 20), Columbus, OH (19 of 28), Louisville, KY (16 of 16) | NC (137 of 203), TX (111 of 351), SC (94 of 108) |
| Taco Bell | Indianapolis, IN (21 of 38), Fort Worth, TX (20 of 22), Omaha, NE (18 of 18) | TX (387 of 709), AL (141 of 162), IN (115 of 260) |
| KFC | Las Vegas, NV (14 of 14), Columbus, OH (10 of 10), Phoenix, AZ (9 of 9) | SC (61 of 94), NC (57 of 132), GA (55 of 132) |
| Popeyes | San Antonio, TX (23 of 24), Memphis, TN (12 of 13), Chicago, IL (12 of 35) | TX (88 of 427), GA (76 of 141), MS (65 of 65) |
| Chick-fil-A | Houston, TX (22 of 46), San Antonio, TX (20 of 31), Fort Worth, TX (14 of 17) | TX (256 of 470), GA (201 of 247), NC (132 of 177) |
By brand
| Brand | Restaurants | Item | Typical price | Range | Cheapest state | Priciest state | Gap between locations | Delivery vs pickup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald's | 13,662 | Big Mac | $5.99 | $3.99 to $9.50 | TX | AK | 111% | +28% |
| Burger King | 6,211 | Whopper | $6.19 | $3.99 to $10.19 | OK | HI | 109% | +28% |
| Wendy's | 4,381 | Dave's Single | $5.99 | $3.99 to $8.79 | NM | AK | 100% | — |
| Taco Bell | 7,719 | Crunchwrap Supreme | $6.69 | $3.99 to $9.59 | KS | AK | 52% | — |
| KFC | 3,232 | Chicken Sandwich | $5.39 | $3.99 to $12.99 | NV | AK | 112% | +0% |
| Popeyes | 3,050 | Classic Chicken Sandwich | $5.79 | $4.49 to $9.99 | AR | WA | 136% | — |
| Chick-fil-A | 3,053 | Chicken Sandwich | $5.25 | $1.00 to $11.99 | TX | HI | 67% | — |
Questions people ask
- How much does a McDonald's Big Mac cost in the US?
- As of 2026-09-30, a Big Mac costs $3.99 to $9.50 at 13,662 McDonald's restaurants, with a typical price of $5.99.
- Where is McDonald's cheapest in the US?
- Texas has the cheapest typical McDonald's basket and Alaska the most expensive (Drive Thru Index, 2026-09-30). The single cheapest restaurant is in Swainsboro, GA.
- How much does a Burger King Whopper cost in the US?
- As of 2026-09-30, a Whopper costs $3.99 to $10.19 at 6,211 Burger King restaurants, with a typical price of $6.19.
- Where is Burger King cheapest in the US?
- Oklahoma has the cheapest typical Burger King basket and Hawaii the most expensive (Drive Thru Index, 2026-09-30). The single cheapest restaurant is in Newnan, GA.
- How much does a Wendy's Dave's Single cost in the US?
- As of 2026-09-30, a Dave's Single costs $3.99 to $8.79 at 4,381 Wendy's restaurants, with a typical price of $5.99.
- Where is Wendy's cheapest in the US?
- New Mexico has the cheapest typical Wendy's basket and Alaska the most expensive (Drive Thru Index, 2026-09-30). The single cheapest restaurant is in Morehead, KY.
- How much does a Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme cost in the US?
- As of 2026-09-30, a Crunchwrap Supreme costs $3.99 to $9.59 at 7,719 Taco Bell restaurants, with a typical price of $6.69.
- Where is Taco Bell cheapest in the US?
- Kansas has the cheapest typical Taco Bell basket and Alaska the most expensive (Drive Thru Index, 2026-09-30). The single cheapest restaurant is in Lubbock, TX.
- How much does a KFC Chicken Sandwich cost in the US?
- As of 2026-09-30, a Chicken Sandwich costs $3.99 to $12.99 at 3,232 KFC restaurants, with a typical price of $5.39.
- Where is KFC cheapest in the US?
- Nevada has the cheapest typical KFC basket and Alaska the most expensive (Drive Thru Index, 2026-09-30). The single cheapest restaurant is in Las Vegas, NV.
- How much does a Popeyes Classic Chicken Sandwich cost in the US?
- As of 2026-09-30, a Classic Chicken Sandwich costs $4.49 to $9.99 at 3,050 Popeyes restaurants, with a typical price of $5.79.
- Where is Popeyes cheapest in the US?
- Arkansas has the cheapest typical Popeyes basket and Washington the most expensive (Drive Thru Index, 2026-09-30). The single cheapest restaurant is in Stuart, FL.
- How much does a Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich cost in the US?
- As of 2026-09-30, a Chicken Sandwich costs $1.00 to $11.99 at 3,053 Chick-fil-A restaurants, with a typical price of $5.25.
- Where is Chick-fil-A cheapest in the US?
- Texas has the cheapest typical Chick-fil-A basket and Hawaii the most expensive (Drive Thru Index, 2026-09-30). The single cheapest restaurant is in Covington, GA.
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 2026-09-30. Journalists are welcome to quote any figure on this page.