Fast food prices have risen by 3.2% over the past year, outpacing inflation and making quick meals increasingly expensive. To highlight where these purchases take the biggest bite out of Americans' wallets, the personal-finance company WalletHub released its report on the Cities Where People Spend the Most & Least on Fast Food.
To determine where consumers spend the most and least relative to their earnings, WalletHub analyzed the average prices of burgers, pizza and fried chicken sandwiches in 100 of the largest U.S. cities, then compared those costs with each city's median household income.
| Highest % of Income Spent | Lowest % of Income Spent | |
| 1. Detroit, MI (0.73%) | 91. Henderson, NV (0.27%) | |
| 2. Cleveland, OH (0.70%) | 92. Durham, NC (0.27%) | |
| 3. Buffalo, NY (0.60%) | 93. San Jose, CA (0.27%) | |
| 4. Hialeah, FL (0.58%) | 94. Scottsdale, AZ (0.27%) | |
| 5. Toledo, OH (0.57%) | 95. San Francisco, CA (0.27%) | |
| 6. Birmingham, AL (0.57%) | 96. Irvine, CA (0.26%) | |
| 7. Newark, NJ (0.54%) | 97. Austin, TX (0.25%) | |
| 8. Milwaukee, WI (0.54%) | 98. Gilbert, AZ (0.24%) | |
| 9. Baltimore, MD (0.54%) | 99. Plano, TX (0.24%) | |
| 10. Memphis, TN (0.53%) | 100. Fremont, CA (0.21%) | |
To view the full report and your city’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/
“Fast food has grown more and more expensive in recent years, outpacing inflation. As a result, it’s worthwhile for consumers to think critically about whether the convenience of fast food really justifies the cost – and about how much room they have in their budgets for this luxury. The city in which you live can have a big impact on how much fast food costs, too. People in the most expensive cities shell out over three times more than residents of the least expensive cities, relative to the median income.”
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“Detroit has the most costly food relative to residents' earnings, with a small pizza, a burger and a fried chicken sandwich totaling 0.73% of the median monthly household income. That may not be all that much on its own, but since it only represents three meals out of an entire month, it can really add up depending on people’s eating habits.”
- Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst
Expert Commentary
What tips do you have to help people avoid overspending on fast food?
“Parcel out your at-home meals each week. A trip to the supermarket can save a lot of money that you might spend at fast food locations. The healthier you eat, the less likely you will be to go to fast food restaurants, which typically have higher calorie, higher fat, higher sugar, and higher carb meals. If you must go to a fast food establishment, get smaller portions.”
Daniel E. Goldberg, Ed.D. – Associate Professor of Instruction, Temple University
How important is budgeting when it comes to spending money on fast food?
“Budgeting is extremely important. Remember what you're buying and how it impacts your health. Smaller portions and fewer sugary drinks will help mitigate your spending.”
Daniel E. Goldberg, Ed.D. – Associate Professor of Instruction, Temple University
How is the current social and economic environment influencing household spending on fast food?
“When people are tight for time, they tend to get fast food meals. There are also the advertisements that entice people with special values. And while it saves prep time and cleanup, it may create health problems long-term. The economic environment also creates the impression that people will save money at fast food places. Before you frequent them, do an analysis of your grocery costs versus how much you spend on fast food. Keep your receipts!”
Daniel E. Goldberg, Ed.D. – Associate Professor of Instruction, Temple University
More From WalletHub
- States Where People Spend the Most & Least on Fast Food
- States Where People Spend the Most & Least on Groceries
- States Where People Spend the Most & Least on Health Care
- Most Overweight & Obese States in America
- Best & Worst Places to Raise a Family
- States With the Best & Worst Budgeters
- States Where People Have the Highest Income
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