Opinion: McDonald's Is Basically Luxury Food Now

Photo byGado Images

I'm old enough to remember when McDonald's items cost $1. And a $1 McDonald's burger was big and juicy.

Not any more!

Here in California where I live, a McDonald's Big Mac meal now costs $10.89. With taxes, that means your classic McDonald's burger combo is about $12.

Add a McFlurry and some chicken nuggets (because, who wouldn't) and a single person eating at McDonald's could easily spend $20 on their food.

Photo byBay Area Telegraph

If you take your kids, all bets are off. I took my son to McDonald's recently, and we got burgers, fries, sodas and McFlurrys to dessert. The bill for two people (one of them being a child) was over $35.

The Dollar Menu, folks, is long gone!

At those prices, McDonald's is essentially serving luxury food now. Eating out at a McDonald's with a big family could run you $50 or more.

Yes, food prices have gone up. But it's not like every burger in the world needs to cost $10. Purdue says that even in pricey California, a typical burger made at home runs about $3.62.

Eating at home, I can get an 18-pack of Costco burgers for around $30. Pair those with a bun, and you're still spending about $2 per burger.

Head to McDonald's, and you can basically multiply that by 600%.

Now, I eat at plenty of true luxury places. Their food can be pricey. But it's not that much pricier, all things considered.

I might spend $30 for an entree at a really nice restaurant. Feels like a lot. Until you consider that it's only about twice the cost of a McDonald's Big Mac combo.

So, will I stop eating at McDonald's? Heck no! I'm an American. Of course I will keep eating there.

Still, I miss the days when McDonald's felt like a cheap choice. Maybe I'll bring my lobster bib and monocle on my next visit.