Kevin Roberts remembers when he could get a bacon cheeseburger, fries and a drink from Five Guys for $10. But that was years ago. When the Virginia high school teacher recently visited the fast-food chain, the food alone without a beverage cost double that amount.

Roberts, 38, now only gets fast food “as a rare treat,” he told CBS MoneyWatch. “Nothing has made me cook at home more than fast-food prices.”

Roberts is hardly alone. Many consumers are expressing frustration at the surge in fast-food prices, which are starting to scare off budget-conscious customers.

A January poll by consulting firm Revenue Management Solutions found that about 25% of people who make under $50,000 were cutting back on fast food, pointing to cost as a concern.

  • trslim@pawb.social
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    6 months ago

    I can get a full, wellmade calzone and drink for 8.15 at a nearby pizza place. I got two small cheeseburges and a small fry for 10.00 at McDonald’s. Ridiculous

    • KroninJ@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      I don’t eat fast food often but on occasion I’ll get a craving. It’s been a few years but I had an urge to get McDonald’s. I got a mcchicken, double cheese burger, and medium fries. $13! W. T. F.

    • PalmTreeIsBestTree@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      I can get a full size large frozen pizza at Aldi for about that price too. I can also even get a large 5 topping pizza from dominos using coupons on their app for about 10 which isn’t bad, but grocery store is still cheaper.

      • dependencyinjection@discuss.tchncs.de
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        6 months ago

        Comparing takeaway to a supermarket is comparing apples to oranges.

        You have to factor in convenience and why people are going there anyway.

        Dominoes example is aight.

      • Kit@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        6 months ago

        Dominos is the last stronghold of affordable fast food imo. I constantly get emails from them for free pizza. Easily only $15 plus delivery tip for a meal for two. Granted I only get it once a month at best.

        • Dkarma@lemmy.world
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          6 months ago

          I fucking hate dominoes and even I respect them for being a cheap food option that has stayed pretty cheap. Little Caesars too I guess. $5-$6 pizza is a life saver for some… LITERALLY

    • A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      I can hit up a Little Ceasers for a whole ass pizza for less than what McDonalds wants for a Big Mac and Fries.

      Hell I can feed two people off that little ceasers pizza, and have left overs for lunch the next day.

    • s_s@lemm.ee
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      6 months ago

      Bread is cheaper than beef.

      IDK how much beef is in a McDonalds burger these days, but still.

      • Kit@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        6 months ago

        In 2020 I always waited for the $1.99 ground beef specials because I wasn’t willing to pay $2.99/lb. Now everywhere is $6/lb. Hell even ground turkey, which used to be cheap, is the same price. Make it make sense.