“You should be ashamed”: From $9 to $19.60?! McDonald’s price hike sparks outrage
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If you’ve recently opened your McDonald’s app, eyed your favorite combo meal, and nearly dropped your phone at the final price, you’re not alone.
Across the country, Americans are experiencing sticker shock as their go-to fast food orders balloon from “cheap treat” to “budget buster.” And it’s not just customers feeling the pinch—employees are speaking out, too!
Let’s dig into what’s really going on behind those golden arches, why your $9 meal now costs nearly $20 with delivery, and what it means for the future of fast food.
From $9 to $19.60: The Anatomy of a Price Surge
It all started with a frustrated McDonald’s fan who took to social media after a routine mobile order turned into a wallet-busting surprise.
“S*** like this is ridiculous!!!" the longtime McDonald's fan wrote in a post. “@McDonald's and @DoorDash should be ashamed of this!!”
The customer's post also included a screenshot of the DoorDash order they were making to be delivered by their local McDonald's.
Their order was a Double Cheeseburger Meal with a large Hi-C Orange and fries—classic comfort food. The base price: $9.39. Not exactly a steal, but still within the realm of fast food expectations.
But then came the add-ons, which raised the bill by a shocking amount:
- Delivery fee: $2.49
- Taxes and “service” fees: $4.22
- Tip for the Dasher: $2.50
Total: $19.60. (A $1 DoorDash perk brought it down to $18.60, but still—ouch.)
That’s more than double the cost of the meal itself, just to have it delivered.
And while McDonald’s and DoorDash have yet to respond to the viral complaint, the outrage has already spread—both among customers and the very workers delivering your fries.
Why Are Fast Food Prices So High?
Complaints about fast food pricing—particularly at major chains like McDonald's—have been ongoing since 2023.
That year, customers reported seeing combo meals priced at $18 for a Big Mac in Connecticut. By early 2024, outrage spread online over a 40-piece Chicken McNuggets Bundle selling for $25.39.
Also read: This weird name change trick could get you extra food at Chipotle—Here’s how fans are doing it!
Responding to these concerns, McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski said during an earnings call that the company planned to take meaningful action to make their offerings more accessible to the "low-income consumer."
"What you're going to see is more attention to affordability," he said.
His message was reinforced by Ian Borden, the company’s global chief financial officer. "We'll continue to be consumer-led in our pricing decisions and, knowing the environment will continue to be competitive," Borden stated.
In response, McDonald’s rolled out offerings like the McValue Menu and limited-time deals such as the $5 Meal Deal. Yet, as recently as July, many customers were still voicing concerns over the chain’s prices.
In an open letter, McDonald's USA President Joe Erlinger addressed customers directly, explaining that price increases are largely driven by the operational costs franchisees face.
Erlinger pointed to inflation and broader economic pressures, stating that McDonald's menu prices have risen approximately 40% over the past five years.
That figure is still well below the 199% increase cited in a FinanceBuzz study. However, McDonald's challenged the report, telling The US Sun that the data was inaccurate and failed to reflect the pricing differences between various locations.
Employees Are Feeling the Squeeze, Too
It’s not just customers who are frustrated. Some DoorDash drivers and fast food workers chimed in on social media, pointing out that while prices are up, their paychecks aren’t keeping pace.
Also read: Is this the secret to skipping the fast food line? This food chain’s new tech could cut your wait time in half
In some cases, employees say they can’t even afford to eat at the restaurants where they work.
Are There Still Any Deals Out There?
With prices climbing, fast food chains are scrambling to win back budget-conscious diners. Here’s a quick look at some of the “value” deals currently on offer:
Read next: Fast food giants battle it out in a delivery “deal war”—here’s how to score freebies and big discounts
Have you noticed your favorite fast food order creeping up in price? Have you found any clever ways to save, or are you cutting back altogether? Share your stories, tips, and opinions in the comments below!
Across the country, Americans are experiencing sticker shock as their go-to fast food orders balloon from “cheap treat” to “budget buster.” And it’s not just customers feeling the pinch—employees are speaking out, too!
Let’s dig into what’s really going on behind those golden arches, why your $9 meal now costs nearly $20 with delivery, and what it means for the future of fast food.
From $9 to $19.60: The Anatomy of a Price Surge
It all started with a frustrated McDonald’s fan who took to social media after a routine mobile order turned into a wallet-busting surprise.
“S*** like this is ridiculous!!!" the longtime McDonald's fan wrote in a post. “@McDonald's and @DoorDash should be ashamed of this!!”
The customer's post also included a screenshot of the DoorDash order they were making to be delivered by their local McDonald's.
Their order was a Double Cheeseburger Meal with a large Hi-C Orange and fries—classic comfort food. The base price: $9.39. Not exactly a steal, but still within the realm of fast food expectations.
Fast food giants like McDonald’s have faced ongoing complaints about affordability, with the company’s CEO pledging to focus on better value for low-income customers. Image source: Visual Karsa / Unsplash.
But then came the add-ons, which raised the bill by a shocking amount:
- Delivery fee: $2.49
- Taxes and “service” fees: $4.22
- Tip for the Dasher: $2.50
Total: $19.60. (A $1 DoorDash perk brought it down to $18.60, but still—ouch.)
A McDonald’s customer was shocked to find their $9 Double Cheeseburger Meal cost $19.60 when ordered via DoorDash, once delivery fees, taxes and tips were added. Image source: @youngforever704 / X.
That’s more than double the cost of the meal itself, just to have it delivered.
And while McDonald’s and DoorDash have yet to respond to the viral complaint, the outrage has already spread—both among customers and the very workers delivering your fries.
Why Are Fast Food Prices So High?
Complaints about fast food pricing—particularly at major chains like McDonald's—have been ongoing since 2023.
That year, customers reported seeing combo meals priced at $18 for a Big Mac in Connecticut. By early 2024, outrage spread online over a 40-piece Chicken McNuggets Bundle selling for $25.39.
Also read: This weird name change trick could get you extra food at Chipotle—Here’s how fans are doing it!
Responding to these concerns, McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski said during an earnings call that the company planned to take meaningful action to make their offerings more accessible to the "low-income consumer."
"What you're going to see is more attention to affordability," he said.
His message was reinforced by Ian Borden, the company’s global chief financial officer. "We'll continue to be consumer-led in our pricing decisions and, knowing the environment will continue to be competitive," Borden stated.
In response, McDonald’s rolled out offerings like the McValue Menu and limited-time deals such as the $5 Meal Deal. Yet, as recently as July, many customers were still voicing concerns over the chain’s prices.
In an open letter, McDonald's USA President Joe Erlinger addressed customers directly, explaining that price increases are largely driven by the operational costs franchisees face.
Erlinger pointed to inflation and broader economic pressures, stating that McDonald's menu prices have risen approximately 40% over the past five years.
That figure is still well below the 199% increase cited in a FinanceBuzz study. However, McDonald's challenged the report, telling The US Sun that the data was inaccurate and failed to reflect the pricing differences between various locations.
Employees Are Feeling the Squeeze, Too
It’s not just customers who are frustrated. Some DoorDash drivers and fast food workers chimed in on social media, pointing out that while prices are up, their paychecks aren’t keeping pace.
Also read: Is this the secret to skipping the fast food line? This food chain’s new tech could cut your wait time in half
In some cases, employees say they can’t even afford to eat at the restaurants where they work.
Are There Still Any Deals Out There?
With prices climbing, fast food chains are scrambling to win back budget-conscious diners. Here’s a quick look at some of the “value” deals currently on offer:
- McDonald’s $5 Meal Deal: McDouble or McChicken, 4-piece nuggets, small fries, and a small drink.
- Taco Bell’s $7 Luxe Cravings Box: Chalupa Supreme, Beefy Five-Layer Burrito, Double Stacked Taco, chips with nacho cheese, and a medium drink.
- Wendy’s $5 Biggie Bag: Junior Bacon Cheeseburger or Crispy Chicken Sandwich, 4-piece nuggets, junior fries, and a small drink.
- Burger King’s $5 Your Way Meal: Whopper Junior, Chicken Junior, or Bacon Cheeseburger, fries, 4-piece nuggets, and a drink.
Read next: Fast food giants battle it out in a delivery “deal war”—here’s how to score freebies and big discounts
Have you noticed your favorite fast food order creeping up in price? Have you found any clever ways to save, or are you cutting back altogether? Share your stories, tips, and opinions in the comments below!
