Introduction
Fast food has become a staple in many people’s diets, and it’s no surprise that prices have gone up over the years. While some fast-food deals have stayed the same, others have become more expensive. In this article, we’ll take a look at seven iconic fast-food deals that have gotten more expensive. We’ll discuss why the prices have gone up and what you can do to save money on these deals. We’ll also provide some tips on how to make the most of these deals and still get a great meal. So, let’s get started!
7 Iconic Fast-Food Deals That Have Gotten More Expensive
Fast-food restaurants have long been known for their cheap and delicious meals. But over the years, some of the most iconic fast-food deals have gotten more expensive. Here are seven of the most iconic fast-food deals that have gotten pricier.
1. McDonald’s Big Mac
The Big Mac is one of the most iconic fast-food sandwiches of all time. But over the years, the price of the Big Mac has steadily increased. In the US, the price of a Big Mac has gone up from $2.39 in 1998 to $5.99 in 2020.
2. Burger King Whopper
The Whopper is Burger King’s signature sandwich. It has also gotten more expensive over the years. In the US, the price of a Whopper has gone up from $2.19 in 1998 to $5.99 in 2020.
3. Wendy’s Baconator
The Baconator is Wendy’s signature sandwich. It has also gotten more expensive over the years. In the US, the price of a Baconator has gone up from $3.99 in 1998 to $7.99 in 2020.
4. Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme
The Crunchwrap Supreme is one of Taco Bell’s most popular menu items. It has also gotten more expensive over the years. In the US, the price of a Crunchwrap Supreme has gone up from $1.99 in 1998 to $3.99 in 2020.
5. KFC Original Recipe Chicken
KFC’s Original Recipe Chicken is one of the most iconic fast-food meals of all time. But over the years, the price of the Original Recipe Chicken has gone up. In the US, the price of a 8-piece Original Recipe Chicken has gone up from $7.99 in 1998 to $14.99 in 2020.
6. Arby’s Roast Beef Sandwich
The Roast Beef Sandwich is one of Arby’s signature sandwiches. It has also gotten more expensive over the years. In the US, the price of a Roast Beef Sandwich has gone up from $2.99 in 1998 to $5.99 in 2020.
7. Subway Footlong Sub
The Footlong Sub is one of Subway’s most popular menu items. It has also gotten more expensive over the years. In the US, the price of a Footlong Sub has gone up from $4.99 in 1998 to $8.99 in 2020.
As you can see, some of the most iconic fast-food deals have gotten more expensive over the years. But despite the price increases, these deals are still some of the most popular items on fast-food menus.
There was a time when a lot of your favorite fast-food restaurants had some truly great deals on many beloved menu items. For the most part, that time is known as the past. Today, fast-food menu prices are up all across the board, and many of the great deals from the past have gotten a lot less great. Many once-popular fast-food deals are now notably more expensive, while others have simply been eliminated.
Here we’re taking a look at a few once-popular fast-food deals that are still around but are shadows of their former selves. Will they still save you a buck or two? Sure, but the real winners are still the companies, not the customers because these 7 fast-food deals have all gone up in price.
When it was first launched in 2002, the McDonald’s Dollar Menu was a genuinely great deal for diners. You could order a burger or a chicken sandwich or fries or several other items for a buck, cobbling together a large meal for $4 or $5. The Dollar Menu went through several changes before eventually settling into the $1 $2 $3 Dollar Menu that it is today.
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Nearly two decades back, Domino’s rolled out a deal that fed countless hungry college students across the nation: it was the 5-5-5 deal wherein you could get three medium one-topping pizzas for $5 each. Now Domino’s offers a $6.99 “Mix & Match Deal” where you can get certain salads, pizzas, pastas, or sandwiches, and a carry-out, online order-only deal where any one-topping pizza is $7.99. Those aren’t bad, but they aren’t $5.
To be clear, the Big Box Deal at Popeye’s is a good deal. You can get two pieces of fried chicken, two sides, and a biscuit all for $6. The thing is, you have to order ahead via the app to get that price; when Popeye’s brought the Big Bix Deal back a couple of months ago, they had slyly raised the in-store purchase price to $7.
For years—decades, in fact—you could walk into a Little Caesar’s, pay five bucks, and, mere seconds later, walk out with a fresh cheese or pepperoni pizza. The grab-and-go pizzas are still hot and ready for you, but that pizza will now cost you $6.
If you take a quick look at Burger King’s Value Menu right now, you might think that the prices actually haven’t gone up this year. And technically speaking, that’s true. But, per CNBC, what you won’t see on there anymore is the Whopper. And the nuggets on offer have been reduced from a 10-piece size to eight pieces, so in real terms, the value of that Value Menu is worse.
For a while back in the late 2000s and into the early 2010s, you could get a pretty amazing deal at Subway, a footlong sandwich for just five bucks. It was a great deal for customers and initially helped profits at Subway, but more for the corporation than for franchisees. The deal was phased out quietly, and today the best deal you’ll get is 50% off a second sandwich when you pay full price for a first footlong.
Launched in 2015, KFC’s $5 Fill Up was a great deal. It consisted of two pieces of chicken, mashed potatoes, a biscuit, a cookie, and a drink. Not bad at all, right? Well, apparently it was bad for KFC because the chain phased out the $5 Fill Up and today offers a “Famous Bowl” for $5 instead. Instead of all those eats listed before, the bowl consists of: mashed potatoes, corn, and chunks of crispy fried chicken layered, drizzled with gravy, and topped with shredded cheese.