Americans are choking on surging fast-food prices. "I can't justify the expense"
Fast-food chains like McDonald’s are facing backlash as menu prices climb to the point where a basic meal can rival or exceed the cost of a higher-quality restaurant dish or home-cooked food. Commenters describe abandoning fast food and app-based delivery as poor value in the face of broader inflation in groceries, housing, and services, and debate whether wage pressures, corporate profit-seeking, or both are to blame. Some see the shift as a potential long-term positive—pushing people toward cooking at home and healthier diets—while others highlight structural issues such as low pay, time poverty, and changing attitudes toward money among younger Americans.
Fast food pricing and value
- Many commenters say fast food has lost its core value proposition: once “cheap and filling,” now often $12–15 per meal, comparable to or worse than local restaurants or higher‑quality chains.
- Some note specific items (McDouble, Junior Chicken) tripling in price over ~10 years, erasing “ultra‑cheap takeout” as a category.
- There’s disagreement about what a “good burger” costs (examples from ~$12 to $25+ depending on city), but broad agreement that fast food is no longer obviously cheaper.
- Reasons people still go: late‑night availability, drive‑through convenience, coffee habits, and McDonald’s as a comfortable public “third place.”
Delivery apps and perceived luxury
- Many view app‑based delivery (DoorDash, UberEats) as an extreme luxury, with fees turning cheap food into $20–30 “half meals.”
- Some older posters say they almost never use delivery and enjoy shopping/cooking; they see heavy delivery use as generational and habit‑driven.
- Reports of very high costs and bad service (e.g., $75 undelivered pizza) fuel accusations of “fraud” and unsustainable business models.
Groceries, home cooking, and health
- Multiple comments say groceries feel shockingly expensive (e.g., “two small bags for $200”), especially for meat, eggs, and fish; others counter that with careful shopping, costs are far lower.
- Strong consensus that home cooking is still cheaper than eating out, especially using raw ingredients and meal prep; some cite <$4/meal even at premium stores.
- Several argue that many younger people lack cooking skills and planning habits, making fast food and prepared foods more attractive despite cost.
- Health angle: rising fast‑food prices may be “good” if they push people toward healthier home‑cooked meals and reduce obesity and long‑term medical costs.
Wages, inequality, and inflation
- Debate over “living wage”: some argue higher wages inevitably raise prices; others note prices are already high while many still don’t earn enough.
- Discussion of inflation: acknowledgment that food‑at‑home inflation has cooled recently, while restaurant/fast‑food prices continue to rise faster.
- Some see corporate “greedflation”; others frame it as normal post‑shock rebalancing where over‑aggressive price hikes are now hitting demand.
Cultural and generational perspectives
- Older commenters recall fast food as a rare treat in the 70s–80s; many feel its normalization (and app delivery) has distorted expectations.
- Observations that some students and young adults appear surprisingly non‑price‑sensitive, often financed by student loans or credit, and may be unprepared for long‑term consequences.