Shake Shack’s ShackBurger: The $8 Burger That Leaves Your Wallet Empty
What used to be the promise of fast food has completely flipped on its head when it comes to Shake Shack. According to Preply’s study, Shake Shack received the most complaints of any national chain about its food being overly expensive. The chain’s signature ShackBurger now costs between $6.99 and $7.99, depending on where you live.
Here’s where it gets really painful for your budget: An order will run you around $4.49, bringing your grand total to at least $11.48, and that’s not including one of its namesake shakes or other beverage. This comes after two price hikes in 2024, making what was once a premium but reasonable burger into something that feels more like fine dining prices.
McDonald’s Big Mac: From $2.24 to Nearly $6
Remember when McDonald’s was the affordable option? Those days are long gone. For instance, in the last 25 years, the price of a simple Big Mac has increased by over 158%. In 2000, a Big Mac averaged about $2.24, but in 2025 the average price of a Big Mac in the U.S., according to The Economist’s Big Mac index, is now $5.79.
What makes this particularly shocking is the recent acceleration in price increases. According to a fact sheet that McDonald’s released in 2024, the price of Big Macs increased 21% between 2019 and 2024, jumping from $4.39 to $5.29. With that said, between the end of 2024 and March 2025’s $5.79 price tag, the price of a Big Mac has already increased by over 9%. One Connecticut customer even spotted an $18 Big Mac meal, causing outrage across social media.
Chipotle’s Guacamole: The $3 Green Gold
You’ve heard the joke about millennials and avocado toast, but Chipotle’s guacamole makes that seem reasonable. Guacamole comes in as one of the worst fiscal offenders you can indulge in at Chipotle. According to Priceonomics, a serving of guacamole on a burrito costs 52 cents, but retails around $2 on menus. This equates to a 285% markup, making this a very poor add-on if you need to keep to the financial straight-and-narrow.
The price has gotten even worse recently. Back in 2014, a simple “Add Guac” request was a no-brainer at just $1.80. But today, you’re dishing out $2.95—almost $3.00 for a side of guacamole! That means you’re paying nearly three dollars for what amounts to a few spoonfuls of mashed avocado and seasoning.
Taco Bell’s Cheesy Gordita Crunch: Doubling Down on Price
Taco Bell used to be the go-to spot for cheap late-night munchies, but those days are rapidly disappearing. A Doritos Locos Taco went from an average price of $1.39 in 2014 to $2.59 in 2024 (+86%), while a Cheesy Gordita Crunch has doubled in price from $2.49 in 2014 to $4.99 today.
The Beefy 5-Layer Burrito tells an even more shocking story. The Beefy 5-Layer Burrito, which went from an average cost of $1.59 in 2014 to a present-day price of $3.69. That’s a 132% increase. When your “value” menu items cost more than five dollars, you’re no longer in the value business.
Chipotle’s Barbacoa Burrito: The $12 Mexican Food Experience
Chipotle’s entire operation has become a masterclass in overpricing, but their Barbacoa Burrito takes the cake. Back in 2014, Chipotle’s Barbacoa Burrito was a favorite among hungry diners at $6.65. But as of 2024, the price has risen to $12.40, marking a $5.75 increase.
What makes this particularly frustrating is that you’re paying restaurant prices for assembly-line food. Another Redditor shared a record of price increases at their local Austin, Texas, restaurant, noting that a standard bowl from Chipotle that cost $6.44 in 2010 now costs $10.01 in 2023. At these prices, you could eat at many sit-down restaurants and get better quality and service.
Subway’s Footlong Subs: The Death of the $5 Deal
Subway built its empire on the promise of the $5 footlong, but that promise is now nothing but a distant memory. Gone are the days of a $5 Footlong at Subway. What used to be a reliably inexpensive sandwich chain is now considered by many to be out of reach when looking for a cheap lunch.
The price increases have been absolutely brutal for customers. Another customer shared a recent eye-popping experience at Subway on Reddit, saying, “I ended up spending almost 29 dollars for two footlongs at Subway today. No drinks or sides. Felt like whiplash when they said the total.” When two sandwiches cost nearly thirty dollars, you’ve completely abandoned any pretense of being affordable fast food.
Five Guys Burgers: Premium Prices for Fast Food
Five Guys has always positioned itself as a premium burger chain, but their prices have reached levels that make you question if you’re dining at a steakhouse. Five Guys and Carl’s Jr. rounded out the top three spots for most overpriced fast-food chains. At Five Guys, burgers with two beef patties cost between roughly $9 and $13, depending on where in the country you dine—and that’s before you add the famous Five Guys fries.
What’s particularly galling about Five Guys is that while they use higher-quality ingredients, you’re still essentially getting fast food service and atmosphere. The disconnect between what you pay and what you get in terms of experience has customers feeling ripped off. Five Guys, whose prices have been decried as “out of control,” and Sugar Factory followed Shake Shack as the chains with the second and third most overpriced food complaints.
The fast food industry has fundamentally changed from what it once promised to be. According to a 2024 survey conducted by LendingTree, 78% of consumers now consider fast food a “luxury” purchase due to its increasing cost. When the majority of Americans view McDonald’s and Taco Bell as luxury dining, something has gone seriously wrong with the economics of quick service restaurants. The question isn’t whether these prices will continue to rise – it’s whether customers will finally say enough is enough.
