Fast food prices in California
California ranks 49th cheapest of 51 states for fast food on the Drive Thru Index (score 115, 15% above the national typical price).
3,650 restaurants, prices as of . See California on the map
Key findings
- A McDonald's Big Mac typically costs $6.89 in California ($5.39 to $8.99 across 1,236 restaurants). McDonald's here is 14% above its US typical price.
- A Burger King Whopper typically costs $7.89 in California ($3.99 to $9.99 across 449 restaurants). Burger King here is 23% above its US typical price.
- A Wendy's Dave's Single typically costs $7.29 in California ($6.59 to $8.79 across 292 restaurants). Wendy's here is 14% above its US typical price.
- A Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme typically costs $6.99 in California ($4.39 to $8.99 across 842 restaurants). Taco Bell here is 1% above its US typical price.
- A KFC Chicken Sandwich typically costs $6.19 in California ($5.29 to $12.99 across 344 restaurants). KFC here is 13% above its US typical price.
- A Popeyes Classic Chicken Sandwich typically costs $5.99 in California ($5.49 to $7.99 across 270 restaurants). Popeyes here is 19% above its US typical price.
- A Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich typically costs $6.49 in California ($5.79 to $6.99 across 217 restaurants). Chick-fil-A here is 24% above its US typical price.
The scoop
Taco Bell swings wildly hereTaco Bell has the biggest in-state spread: the priciest store is 177% above its cheapest. The low is Ontario, CA at $12.90, while Universal City, CA hits $35.76 at a travel plaza site.
California ranks pricey for several basketsBurger King lands at 48 of 50 states, with a median basket of $22.36 that is 22% above national. KFC ranks 47 of 50 at $67.76, and Chick-fil-A ranks 46 of 47 at $34.68.
Wendy's barely budgesWendy's is the most consistent brand in this view, with the priciest store just 2% above its cheapest. Visalia, CA is $30.46, Hanford, CA is $31.06, and Dave's Single stays $7.69 to $7.69.
McDonald's has the most pinsMcDonald's leads the restaurant count with 1115 stores compared. Its basket runs from $23.86 in Orcutt, CA to $35.06 in El Centro, CA, a 47% spread.
Travel stops bring the sizzleKFC's priciest store is a travel plaza site in Universal City, CA at $90.96. It also lists an airport site in South San Francisco, CA at $73.66 among its priciest spots.
Every brand in California
| Brand | Restaurants | Typical price | Range | Index | Cheapest restaurant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald's | 1,236 | Big Mac: $6.89 | $5.39 to $8.99 | 114 | 4505 E Cesar Chavez Blvd, Fresno |
| Burger King | 449 | Whopper: $7.89 | $3.99 to $9.99 | 123 | 11900 Yosemite Boulevard, Waterford |
| Wendy's | 292 | Dave's Single: $7.29 | $6.59 to $8.79 | 114 | 35229 Newark Boulevard, Newark |
| Taco Bell | 842 | Crunchwrap Supreme: $6.99 | $4.39 to $8.99 | 101 | Taco Bell Restaurant Support Center 1 Glen Bell Way, Irvine |
| KFC | 344 | Chicken Sandwich: $6.19 | $5.29 to $12.99 | 113 | 10865 Sepulveda Blvd., Mission Hills |
| Popeyes | 270 | Classic Chicken Sandwich: $5.99 | $5.49 to $7.99 | 119 | 12622 Long Beach Blvd, Lynwood |
| Chick-fil-A | 217 | Chicken Sandwich: $6.49 | $5.79 to $6.99 | 124 | 310 Oro Dam Boulevard East, Oroville |
Price history
Drive Thru Index has recorded these prices every day since 30 September 2026. Each figure is the typical (median) price across the brand's restaurants here on that day. Comparisons with earlier dates appear here as the daily record builds up.
| Brand | Item | Today | 7 days ago | 30 days ago | 1 year ago | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald's | Big Mac | $6.89 | — | — | — | |
| Burger King | Whopper | $7.89 | — | — | — | |
| Wendy's | Dave's Single | $7.29 | — | — | — | |
| Taco Bell | Crunchwrap Supreme | $6.99 | — | — | — | |
| KFC | Chicken Sandwich | $6.19 | — | — | — | |
| Popeyes | Classic Chicken Sandwich | $5.99 | — | — | — | |
| Chick-fil-A | Chicken Sandwich | $6.49 | — | — | — |
Cities in California
Rank is within the state, 1st being the cheapest, on each brand's own index.
Questions people ask
- Is fast food expensive in California?
- California ranks 49th cheapest of 51 states for fast food on the Drive Thru Index (score 115, 15% above the national typical price).
- How much is a McDonald's Big Mac in California?
- As of 2026-09-30, a Big Mac costs $5.39 to $8.99 at 1,236 McDonald's restaurants in California, typically $6.89.
- Where is the cheapest McDonald's in California?
- The cheapest McDonald's in California is at 4505 E Cesar Chavez Blvd, Fresno, comparing the same basket at 1,236 restaurants (Drive Thru Index, 2026-09-30).
- How much is a Burger King Whopper in California?
- As of 2026-09-30, a Whopper costs $3.99 to $9.99 at 449 Burger King restaurants in California, typically $7.89.
- Where is the cheapest Burger King in California?
- The cheapest Burger King in California is at 11900 Yosemite Boulevard, Waterford, comparing the same basket at 441 restaurants (Drive Thru Index, 2026-09-30).
- How much is a Wendy's Dave's Single in California?
- As of 2026-09-30, a Dave's Single costs $6.59 to $8.79 at 292 Wendy's restaurants in California, typically $7.29.
- Where is the cheapest Wendy's in California?
- The cheapest Wendy's in California is at 35229 Newark Boulevard, Newark, comparing the same basket at 292 restaurants (Drive Thru Index, 2026-09-30).
- How much is a Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme in California?
- As of 2026-09-30, a Crunchwrap Supreme costs $4.39 to $8.99 at 842 Taco Bell restaurants in California, typically $6.99.
- Where is the cheapest Taco Bell in California?
- The cheapest Taco Bell in California is at Taco Bell Restaurant Support Center 1 Glen Bell Way, Irvine, comparing the same basket at 841 restaurants (Drive Thru Index, 2026-09-30).
- How much is a KFC Chicken Sandwich in California?
- As of 2026-09-30, a Chicken Sandwich costs $5.29 to $12.99 at 344 KFC restaurants in California, typically $6.19.
- Where is the cheapest KFC in California?
- The cheapest KFC in California is at 10865 Sepulveda Blvd., Mission Hills, comparing the same basket at 344 restaurants (Drive Thru Index, 2026-09-30).
- How much is a Popeyes Classic Chicken Sandwich in California?
- As of 2026-09-30, a Classic Chicken Sandwich costs $5.49 to $7.99 at 270 Popeyes restaurants in California, typically $5.99.
- Where is the cheapest Popeyes in California?
- The cheapest Popeyes in California is at 12622 Long Beach Blvd, Lynwood, comparing the same basket at 269 restaurants (Drive Thru Index, 2026-09-30).
- How much is a Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich in California?
- As of 2026-09-30, a Chicken Sandwich costs $5.79 to $6.99 at 217 Chick-fil-A restaurants in California, typically $6.49.
- Where is the cheapest Chick-fil-A in California?
- The cheapest Chick-fil-A in California is at 310 Oro Dam Boulevard East, Oroville, comparing the same basket at 215 restaurants (Drive Thru Index, 2026-09-30).
How these prices are measured
Every day we check the menu at every US restaurant of each chain, through the same ordering app its customers use, and record each item's pickup price. Restaurants are compared on a basket of items every full-menu restaurant of that brand sells. An index of 100 is the brand's typical (median) US restaurant, so 95 means 5% cheaper and 110 means 10% pricier. Brands are only ever compared with themselves, never with each other.
Citing this data: Source: Drive Thru Index (https://drivethruindex.com/prices/california), prices checked 2026-09-30. You are welcome to quote any figure on this page.