A Big Mac costs $6.05 in the U.S. as of September 2026. In 1968 it cost $0.49, or $4.82 in today’s dollars. Adjusted for inflation, a Big Mac costs 26% more today than in 1968.
Price at the time In September 2026 dollars
U.S. sandwich only; sold nationally since 1968. ≈ marks estimates between data points.
| Year | Price | In today’s dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | ≈$0.50 | ≈$4.83 |
| 1969 | ≈$0.53 | ≈$4.80 |
| 1970 | $0.55 | $4.75 |
| 1971 | ≈$0.57 | ≈$4.71 |
| 1972 | ≈$0.59 | ≈$4.72 |
| 1973 | ≈$0.61 | ≈$4.59 |
| 1974 | ≈$0.63 | ≈$4.28 |
| 1975 | $0.65 | $4.05 |
| 1976 | ≈$0.72 | ≈$4.26 |
| 1977 | ≈$0.80 | ≈$4.44 |
| 1978 | ≈$0.89 | ≈$4.58 |
| 1979 | ≈$0.99 | ≈$4.57 |
| 1980 | $1.10 | $4.48 |
| 1981 | ≈$1.19 | ≈$4.40 |
| 1982 | ≈$1.29 | ≈$4.49 |
| 1983 | $1.40 | $4.71 |
| 1984 | ≈$1.46 | ≈$4.72 |
| 1985 | ≈$1.53 | ≈$4.77 |
| 1986 | $1.60 | $4.89 |
| 1987 | ≈$1.73 | ≈$5.11 |
| 1988 | ≈$1.88 | ≈$5.32 |
| 1989 | ≈$2.03 | ≈$5.49 |
| 1990 | $2.20 | $5.64 |
| 1991 | ≈$2.22 | ≈$5.47 |
| 1992 | ≈$2.25 | ≈$5.37 |
| 1993 | ≈$2.27 | ≈$5.27 |
| 1994 | ≈$2.30 | ≈$5.19 |
| 1995 | $2.32 | $5.10 |
| 1996 | ≈$2.36 | ≈$5.04 |
| 1997 | ≈$2.39 | ≈$5.00 |
| 1998 | ≈$2.43 | ≈$5.00 |
| 1999 | ≈$2.47 | ≈$4.97 |
| 2000 | $2.51 | $4.89 |
| 2001 | ≈$2.57 | ≈$4.88 |
| 2002 | ≈$2.64 | ≈$4.92 |
| 2003 | $2.71 | $4.94 |
| 2004 | ≈$2.88 | ≈$5.11 |
| 2005 | $3.06 | $5.25 |
| 2006 | ≈$3.22 | ≈$5.36 |
| 2007 | ≈$3.39 | ≈$5.49 |
| 2008 | $3.57 | $5.56 |
| 2009 | ≈$3.65 | ≈$5.70 |
| 2010 | $3.73 | $5.73 |
| 2011 | ≈$3.96 | ≈$5.90 |
| 2012 | $4.20 | $6.13 |
| 2013 | ≈$4.39 | ≈$6.31 |
| 2014 | ≈$4.58 | ≈$6.49 |
| 2015 | $4.79 | $6.78 |
| 2016 | ≈$5.04 | ≈$7.04 |
| 2017 | $5.30 | $7.25 |
| 2018 | ≈$5.52 | ≈$7.37 |
| 2019 | $5.74 | $7.53 |
| 2020 | $5.71 | $7.40 |
| 2021 | $5.65 | $6.95 |
| 2022 | $5.15 | $5.83 |
| 2023 | $5.58 | $6.13 |
| 2024 | $5.69 | $6.07 |
| 2025 | $5.93 | $6.16 |
| Sep 2026 (latest) | $6.05 | $6.05 |
Among the 2,314 U.S. places with at least 20,000 people, as of September 2026. Partly scaled by the Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities for the metro area, or the rural part of the state outside metros.
| Kiryas Joel, NY | $6.35 |
| Poughkeepsie, NY | $6.35 |
| Middletown, NY | $6.35 |
| Newburgh, NY | $6.35 |
| New York, NY | $6.34 |
| North Liberty, IA | $5.80 |
| Altoona, IA | $5.80 |
| Coralville, IA | $5.80 |
| Muscatine, IA | $5.80 |
| Burlington, IA | $5.80 |
The Economist’s Big Mac Index, U.S. price (since 1986). Earlier years are estimates.
For cities: Partly scaled by the Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities for the metro area, or the rural part of the state outside metros.
Each year shows the U.S. figure at midyear. Years marked ≈ fall between this series’ data points and are estimated by smooth interpolation between them. Today’s dollars use the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). How it works.
Price of a dozen eggs by yearPrice of a gallon of milk by yearCost of Thanksgiving dinner by yearPrice of sandwich groceries by year
What everything cost in 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000, 2010, 2020. All prices.