McDonald’s Menu Prices 2026: Complete Price List with Calories
9 min read
If you have bought a Big Mac lately and felt a small shock at the register, you are not imagining things. Mcdonalds menu prices kept climbing through 2025 and into 2026, and the days of the truly cheap Dollar Menu feel far away. But the chain still sells millions of meals a day for a reason: the core menu is familiar, the food is consistent, and if you know where to look, there are still genuinely cheap ways to eat there.
This guide is an independent, unofficial price list. We are not affiliated with McDonald’s. All prices below are estimates in ranges gathered from public menu listings and customer reports across US restaurants, and prices are estimates and vary by location — franchise owners set their own prices, so your local restaurant may charge more or less. Always check the chain’s official menu and nutrition information for the most accurate numbers. Calorie figures are also estimates and can vary with preparation.
How Mcdonalds Menu Prices Changed in 2025-2026
McDonald’s raised prices several times across 2024 and 2025, citing higher labor, food, and operating costs. By 2026 the increases have slowed but not stopped. Here is what actually changed for customers:
- Core burgers moved up roughly 5-8% year over year. A Big Mac that cost around $5 in 2023 now commonly runs $5.29 to $6.19 at many US locations, and airport or downtown locations can charge even more.
- The famous $1 any-size drink deal was scaled back. Many markets ended the flat $1 soft drink promotion, pushing small drinks toward $1.79 or more in 2026.
- Value menus shrank in real terms. The $1 $2 $3 Dollar Menu still exists in many areas, but several items crept above their old price tiers, and some locations trimmed the lineup.
- Breakfast stayed the best value daypart. Breakfast sandwiches and the Egg McMuffin saw smaller increases than lunch and dinner items, which keeps morning visits relatively cheap.
- App pricing undercuts the counter. The McDonald’s app regularly offers prices and bundles below menu-board pricing, widening the gap between walk-in and app orders.
The bottom line: a solo meal of a burger, medium fries, and a medium drink now commonly lands between $11 and $14 before tax in 2026, up from roughly $9 to $11 a few years ago. Combos are still cheaper than buying items separately, but only barely in some cases.
Burgers and Sandwiches: 2026 Prices and Calories
Burgers are the heart of the McDonald’s menu, and the price ladder is steep: each step up in beef costs roughly a dollar. The table below shows estimated prices and calories for the standard lineup.
| Item | Est. Price | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Big Mac | $5.29 – $6.19 | 590 |
| Quarter Pounder with Cheese | $5.49 – $6.49 | 520 |
| Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese | $6.99 – $8.49 | 740 |
| McDouble | $3.49 – $4.29 | 400 |
| Cheeseburger | $2.79 – $3.49 | 300 |
| Hamburger | $2.49 – $2.99 | 250 |
| Filet-O-Fish | $5.19 – $6.09 | 390 |
| Double Cheeseburger | $3.99 – $4.79 | 450 |
The McDouble remains one of the best value items on the whole menu: two beef patties and a slice of cheese for well under $4.50 in most markets. The Quarter Pounder with Cheese gets fresh, never-frozen beef cooked to order, which is the main reason it commands a premium over the Big Mac in some locations. The Filet-O-Fish is the priciest fish option and tends to jump in price around Lent, when demand spikes.
Chicken: McCrispy, McChicken, and McNuggets
Chicken has become McDonald’s fastest-growing category, and the 2026 menu gives it real space. The McCrispy line competes directly with the premium chicken sandwiches from rivals.
| Item | Est. Price | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| McCrispy | $5.29 – $6.19 | 470 |
| Deluxe McCrispy | $5.79 – $6.69 | 530 |
| Spicy McCrispy | $5.49 – $6.39 | 530 |
| McChicken | $3.29 – $4.09 | 400 |
| Chicken McNuggets (6 pc) | $3.79 – $4.59 | 250 |
| Chicken McNuggets (10 pc) | $5.29 – $6.29 | 410 |
| Chicken McNuggets (20 pc) | $8.99 – $10.49 | 830 |
| Chicken McNuggets (40 pc) | $15.49 – $17.99 | 1,650 |
Two notes on nuggets. First, the 20-piece box is the value sweet spot: it usually costs less per nugget than two 10-pieces. Second, the 40-piece share box only makes sense for groups — at over 1,600 calories, it is a party item, not a solo lunch. Sauces are typically free with nugget orders, though some locations now charge for extra dipping sauces.
Breakfast Menu: Prices and Calories
McDonald’s breakfast runs until 10:30 or 11:00 a.m. at most locations, and it remains one of the cheapest morning options in fast food. The Egg McMuffin is the icon, but the sausage biscuit is the budget play.
| Item | Est. Price | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Egg McMuffin | $4.49 – $5.29 | 310 |
| Sausage McMuffin | $3.99 – $4.79 | 400 |
| Sausage McMuffin with Egg | $4.79 – $5.59 | 480 |
| Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit | $4.29 – $5.09 | 460 |
| Hotcakes | $4.49 – $5.29 | 580 |
| Hotcakes and Sausage | $5.29 – $6.19 | 770 |
| Sausage Burrito | $2.49 – $2.99 | 310 |
| Hash Browns | $2.49 – $2.99 | 140 |
| Fruit & Maple Oatmeal | $3.49 – $4.19 | 320 |
The Sausage Burrito is quietly one of the cheapest breakfast items on the menu — two of them plus hash browns makes a filling breakfast for under $8 in most markets. The Egg McMuffin uses a real cracked egg, which is why McDonald’s fans consider it the best quality-for-price breakfast sandwich in fast food.
Fries and Sides
World Famous Fries got noticeably more expensive in 2026, and the jump is most visible on large sizes. Fries are also one of the highest-margin items on the menu, so they are rarely discounted.
| Item | Est. Price | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| World Famous Fries (Small) | $2.79 – $3.49 | 220 |
| World Famous Fries (Medium) | $3.49 – $4.29 | 320 |
| World Famous Fries (Large) | $4.19 – $4.99 | 480 |
| Apple Slices | $1.79 – $2.29 | 15 |
| Side Salad | $3.99 – $4.79 | 20 |
Drinks and Desserts
Dessert pricing varies more by location than almost anything else on the menu, because McCafe and McFlurry machines are franchise-operated. The McFlurry price swing of nearly a dollar between cities is normal.
| Item | Est. Price | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Soft Drink (Small) | $1.79 – $2.29 | 150 |
| Soft Drink (Medium) | $2.29 – $2.79 | 210 |
| Soft Drink (Large) | $2.59 – $3.09 | 290 |
| Sweet Tea (Large) | $2.29 – $2.79 | 160 |
| Iced Coffee (Medium) | $2.79 – $3.49 | 140 |
| McFlurry (Oreo or M&M’s) | $4.29 – $5.19 | 510 |
| Hot Fudge Sundae | $2.99 – $3.79 | 330 |
| Baked Apple Pie | $1.99 – $2.49 | 230 |
| Chocolate Chip Cookie | $1.49 – $1.99 | 170 |
Value Menu, Happy Meal, and Combos
The $1 $2 $3 Dollar Menu survives in most US markets, though the items inside the tiers keep shifting. Typical value-tier items in 2026 include:
- Around $1: McChicken (select markets), any-size soft drink promotions where still offered, baked apple pie in some regions.
- Around $2: Sausage biscuit, hash browns in some markets, small fries promotions.
- Around $3: McDouble, 6-piece McNuggets, classic cheeseburger double-ups.
| Item | Est. Price | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Happy Meal (Hamburger) | $4.49 – $5.49 | 475 |
| Happy Meal (4 pc McNuggets) | $4.99 – $5.99 | 410 |
| Big Mac Combo (Medium) | $9.49 – $10.99 | 1,080 |
| Quarter Pounder Combo (Medium) | $9.79 – $11.29 | 1,050 |
| 10 pc McNuggets Combo (Medium) | $9.29 – $10.79 | 940 |
Combos generally save $1.50 to $2.50 versus buying the sandwich, fries, and drink separately — but check the math at your location, because in some markets the combo discount has shrunk to under a dollar.
How to Save Money at McDonald’s in 2026
- Use the app for every order. The McDonald’s app is the single biggest price lever: weekly deals like $1 large fries, free fries with a $1 purchase, and 20% off orders are routine. App-exclusive bundles often beat menu-board prices by 15-30%.
- Order the McDouble instead of the Quarter Pounder. Two McDoubles cost less than one Double Quarter Pounder in most markets and deliver a similar amount of beef.
- Build your own value meal. A McDouble ($3.49-$4.29) plus a small fries ($2.79-$3.49) plus a water cup often totals under $7, beating most combo prices.
- Go for breakfast. Breakfast sandwiches are cheaper than lunch burgers with similar calorie counts, and morning app deals are common.
- Watch for BOGO and free-fry Fridays. The app runs buy-one-get-one sandwich deals and periodic free fries offers that cut a family order dramatically.
- Skip delivery markups. Third-party delivery apps can add 20-40% in fees and inflated menu prices. Pickup through the McDonald’s app is usually the cheapest way to get the food home.
McDonald’s vs. Competitors: 2026 Price Comparison
How does McDonald’s stack up against its main rivals on a classic flagship meal? Prices are estimates and vary by location, but the pattern is consistent:
| Meal (flagship burger + medium fries + medium drink) | Est. Price |
|---|---|
| McDonald’s (Big Mac meal) | $9.49 – $10.99 |
| Burger King (Whopper meal) | $9.99 – $11.49 |
| Wendy’s (Dave’s Single meal) | $10.49 – $11.99 |
| Five Guys (comparable meal) | $16.00 – $19.00 |
McDonald’s remains the cheapest of the big three burger chains on flagship meals, usually by about a dollar. Wendy’s runs slightly higher but includes fresher positioning; Five Guys is in a different price league entirely. Where McDonald’s loses ground is against value specialists: a Taco Bell $5 box or a Little Caesars pizza feeds one person for less than a McDonald’s combo.
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FAQs
How much is a Big Mac in 2026?
A Big Mac costs an estimated $5.29 to $6.19 at most US McDonald’s locations in 2026, with about 590 calories. Prices vary by location, and airport, downtown, or highway restaurants often charge more.
What is the cheapest meal at McDonald’s in 2026?
The cheapest filling meal is usually a McDouble ($3.49-$4.29) paired with a small fries ($2.79-$3.49), totaling roughly $6.30 to $7.80 before tax. App deals can push that even lower.
Does McDonald’s still have a Dollar Menu in 2026?
Yes, the $1 $2 $3 Dollar Menu still exists in most US markets, but the items and prices inside each tier have shifted. Some locations have trimmed the lineup or moved popular items into higher tiers, so check your local menu.
How many calories are in a McDonald’s medium fries?
A medium order of World Famous Fries has an estimated 320 calories. A small has about 220 calories and a large has about 480 calories, though actual counts vary with preparation.
Are McDonald’s app deals worth it?
Yes. The McDonald’s app regularly offers deals like $1 large fries, free fries with purchase, and percentage-off orders that beat menu-board prices by 15-30%. It also includes a rewards program where points earn free food.
