Drive Thru
Index

Fast food prices in North Carolina

North Carolina ranks 7th cheapest of 51 states for fast food on the Drive Thru Index (score 95, 5% below the national typical price).

1,576 restaurants, prices as of . See North Carolina on the map

Key findings

The scoop

Popeyes swings widest in NC

Popeyes has the biggest in-state spread: its priciest store is 60% above its cheapest. Cameron, NC has the low basket at $19.36, while Forest City, NC tops out at $30.97.

Chick-fil-A is nearly cheapest nationally

North Carolina ranks 2 of 47 states for Chick-fil-A, with 1 = cheapest. Its median basket is $26.56, which sits 5% below the national typical price.

McDonald's brings bargain-map energy

McDonald's ranks 6 of 51 states, with 1 = cheapest, and its median basket is $22.16. Dallas, NC has the cheapest store at $20.46, while Raleigh, NC has the priciest at $24.16.

KFC sits well below typical

KFC’s North Carolina median basket is $55.96, or 7% below the national typical price. New Bern, NC has the cheapest store at $50.46, while Kings Mountain, NC reaches $63.16.

McDonald's dominates the pin count

McDonald's has the most restaurants on this map with 455 stores compared. Taco Bell follows with 266, then Burger King with 212.

Every brand in North Carolina

BrandRestaurantsTypical priceRangeIndexCheapest restaurant
McDonald's477Big Mac: $5.49$4.79 to $6.29943117 Dallas Hgh Shls Hwy, Dallas
Burger King212Whopper: $5.99$5.29 to $7.89985011 Highway 264 West, Wilson
Wendy's244Dave's Single: $5.89$5.19 to $7.69911500 West Lee Street, Greensboro
Taco Bell266Crunchwrap Supreme: $6.59$5.49 to $6.9999BLDG 4472 Woodside Drive, Cherry Point
KFC132Chicken Sandwich: $5.19$4.99 to $5.59931512 Highway 70 East, New Bern
Popeyes67Classic Chicken Sandwich: $5.49$4.99 to $6.999511756 US-70 Bus, Clayton
Chick-fil-A178Chicken Sandwich: $4.99$4.95 to $10.50953000 M L King Jr Blvd, New Bern

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.

BrandItemToday7 days ago30 days ago1 year agoTrend
McDonald'sBig Mac$5.49———
Burger KingWhopper$5.99———
Wendy'sDave's Single$5.89———
Taco BellCrunchwrap Supreme$6.59———
KFCChicken Sandwich$5.19———
PopeyesClassic Chicken Sandwich$5.49———
Chick-fil-AChicken Sandwich$4.99———

Cities in North Carolina

Rank is within the state, 1st being the cheapest, on each brand's own index.

CityRestaurantsIndexCheapest rank
Charlotte1139631st
Raleigh769741st
Greensboro629526th
Fayetteville61922nd
Durham449843rd
Winston Salem379742nd
Wilmington36937th
Asheville299527th
Greenville249411th
Concord239632nd
Jacksonville22923rd
Cary219844th
High Point209633rd
Gastonia199412th
Burlington199528th
Goldsboro199413th
Hickory179414th
Wilson15938th
Salisbury149415th
Statesville13939th
Mooresville139416th
Lumberton139310th
Rocky Mount129417th
Hendersonville129634th
Elizabeth City1210249th
Garner129635th
Lexington119418th
Wake Forest119947th
Kernersville119636th
New Bern11924th
Kinston119419th
Sanford109420th
Kannapolis109421st
Asheboro109637th
Henderson109422nd
Mount Airy99948th
Roanoke Rapids99638th
Indian Trail9925th
Monroe99529th
Shelby99639th
Chapel Hill8926th
Morganton89423rd
Marion89845th
Forest City8——
Denver89424th
Clayton89640th
Apex89846th
Havelock7——
Leland7——
Franklin7——
Huntersville7——
Mebane7——
Clemmons7——
Albemarle7——
Laurinburg7——
Knightdale7——
Whiteville79530th
Clinton6——
Morehead City6——
Canton6——
Reidsville6——
Boone6——
Lenoir6——
Benson610350th
Lincolnton6——
Shallotte6——
Hope Mills6——
Belmont6——
Roxboro6——
King6——
Cameron6——
Aberdeen6——
Rockingham6——
Wilkesboro6——
Conover5901st
Elkin5——
Raeford5——
Matthews59425th
Tarboro5——
Oxford5——
Dunn5——
Winterville5——
Weaverville5——
Nashville5——
Eden5——
Mocksville5——
Holly Springs5——
Selma5——
Kings Mountain5——
Waynesville5——
Murphy5——
Wadesboro5——
Morrisville5——
Thomasville5——
Washington5——
Fuquay Varina5——

Questions people ask

Is fast food expensive in North Carolina?
North Carolina ranks 7th cheapest of 51 states for fast food on the Drive Thru Index (score 95, 5% below the national typical price).
How much is a McDonald's Big Mac in North Carolina?
As of 2026-09-30, a Big Mac costs $4.79 to $6.29 at 477 McDonald's restaurants in North Carolina, typically $5.49.
Where is the cheapest McDonald's in North Carolina?
The cheapest McDonald's in North Carolina is at 3117 Dallas Hgh Shls Hwy, Dallas, comparing the same basket at 477 restaurants (Drive Thru Index, 2026-09-30).
How much is a Burger King Whopper in North Carolina?
As of 2026-09-30, a Whopper costs $5.29 to $7.89 at 212 Burger King restaurants in North Carolina, typically $5.99.
Where is the cheapest Burger King in North Carolina?
The cheapest Burger King in North Carolina is at 5011 Highway 264 West, Wilson, comparing the same basket at 212 restaurants (Drive Thru Index, 2026-09-30).
How much is a Wendy's Dave's Single in North Carolina?
As of 2026-09-30, a Dave's Single costs $5.19 to $7.69 at 244 Wendy's restaurants in North Carolina, typically $5.89.
Where is the cheapest Wendy's in North Carolina?
The cheapest Wendy's in North Carolina is at 1500 West Lee Street, Greensboro, comparing the same basket at 244 restaurants (Drive Thru Index, 2026-09-30).
How much is a Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme in North Carolina?
As of 2026-09-30, a Crunchwrap Supreme costs $5.49 to $6.99 at 266 Taco Bell restaurants in North Carolina, typically $6.59.
Where is the cheapest Taco Bell in North Carolina?
The cheapest Taco Bell in North Carolina is at BLDG 4472 Woodside Drive, Cherry Point, comparing the same basket at 266 restaurants (Drive Thru Index, 2026-09-30).
How much is a KFC Chicken Sandwich in North Carolina?
As of 2026-09-30, a Chicken Sandwich costs $4.99 to $5.59 at 132 KFC restaurants in North Carolina, typically $5.19.
Where is the cheapest KFC in North Carolina?
The cheapest KFC in North Carolina is at 1512 Highway 70 East, New Bern, comparing the same basket at 132 restaurants (Drive Thru Index, 2026-09-30).
How much is a Popeyes Classic Chicken Sandwich in North Carolina?
As of 2026-09-30, a Classic Chicken Sandwich costs $4.99 to $6.99 at 67 Popeyes restaurants in North Carolina, typically $5.49.
Where is the cheapest Popeyes in North Carolina?
The cheapest Popeyes in North Carolina is at 11756 US-70 Bus, Clayton, comparing the same basket at 67 restaurants (Drive Thru Index, 2026-09-30).
How much is a Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich in North Carolina?
As of 2026-09-30, a Chicken Sandwich costs $4.95 to $10.50 at 178 Chick-fil-A restaurants in North Carolina, typically $4.99.
Where is the cheapest Chick-fil-A in North Carolina?
The cheapest Chick-fil-A in North Carolina is at 3000 M L King Jr Blvd, New Bern, comparing the same basket at 177 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/north-carolina), prices checked 2026-09-30. You are welcome to quote any figure on this page.