There once was a day when you could buy a Big Mac for 89 cents. I remember watching my parents pump gas in the 80s and comparing the price of one gallon to a meal at McDonald’s. Those days are long gone, and customers are saying Mickey D’s is no longer affordable. A viral post on TikTok shows how one man’s usual order cost him nearly $20!
Videos By Rare
When the Price of a Single McDonald’s Order Gives You Financial Anxiety
Topher, who goes by @topherolive on TikTok, shared his meal receipt with his 335k followers. He’d ordered from a McDonald’s restaurant in Post Falls, Idaho. The total for a Double Smokey BLT Quarter Pounder with Cheese, a large French fry, and a Sprite came out to $16.10.
“McDonald’s. So, I get there’s a labor shortage. I get there’s wage increases and a number of other things. But, $16 for a burger, a large fry, and a drink. It’s just crazy,” said Topher.
“Five guys prices at McDonald’s?!?” said the top comment.
Investigating Post Falls, Idaho’s McDonald’s Prices
Interested in whether this was true or not, I researched what Five Guys near Post Falls actually costs. The closest location I found was Boise, Idaho. The cost of a double bacon cheeseburger with lettuce and tomatoes came out to $12.49. However, when you slapped on a large fry and a large Sprite, the total came out to $22.27. To be fair, Five Guys is still more expensive, however, the burger itself is comparable.
Next, I plugged in the cost of the very large and fancy McDonald’s burger that Topher bought. In Boise, the sandwich itself came out to $12.29. If you made that a large meal with a Sprite, it was $13.09. Not quite as expensive as Topher’s meal in Post Falls, Idaho.
So, then I checked a city in California and saw that the same sandwich alone costs over $17.00. Indeed, Topher’s McDonald’s meal does not cost the same amount no matter where you go. It seems that McDonald’s prices differ depending on the city, even within the same state.
While some of Topher’s TikTok followers called him out for ordering a trending and thus very expensive menu item, others felt bad for the guy. One person said it was about half the price for the same sandwich in Michigan. And others recommended that he use the McDonald’s app, which offers deals that can substantially decrease the cost of a meal.
The Price of Topher’s Meal in Idaho Requires 2x More Minimum Wage Labor Than in California
What makes the price of Topher’s McDonald’s meal seem even more exorbitant is the fact that Idaho hasn’t increased its minimum wage since 2008. That year, the minimum wage rose from $6.55 to $7.25. It’s plateaued at the same spot ever since.
Conversely, the minimum wage in California is $15.00 in 2022 and is about to go up to $15.50. Granted, housing is exorbitant in Cali—but you’d only have to work for an hour plus some change to earn enough for Topher’s meal.
But for an Idahoan craving a McDonald’s meal and wanting to splurge on the newest Double Smokey BLT QP w/ cheese, a large fry, and a soda, they’re going to pay more than two hours of work time at minimum wage. That’s insane.
#IStandWithTopher. McDonald’s no longer seems affordable.