The Cost of a Big Mac the Decade You Were Born

Since its creation in 1967, the Big Mac has been synonymous with McDonald's menu. The double patties, special sauce, and sesame seed bun are famous at this point. But as fast-food prices have changed, so has the price of the Big Mac itself.

Curious what the price of such a popular item was when you were born? Here's what a Big Mac cost every decade.

Average price:45 cents

Adjusted for inflation:$4.16

Michael Delligatti opened his McDonald's in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, and created the Big Mac along with it. It was 45 cents apiece. What a time to be alive.

Average price: 65 cents

Adjusted for inflation: $5.17

According to a McDonald's menu photo from the '70s, Big Macs were still under a dollar. 

Average price: $1.60

Adjusted for inflation: $4.50

In one commercial from 1985, a Big Mac meal (with fries and a Coke) was only $2.59.

Average price: $2.45

Adjusted for inflation: $5.78

A photo of a McDonald's menu in the '90s lists a Big Mac combo for just $2.99.

Average price: $2.39

Adjusted for inflation: $4.10

Thanks to a photo of a McDonald's menu from 2002, we can see there was a time when a Big Mac cost $2.39, which is cheaper than the average '90s price. Not sure what happened there.

Average price: $4.19

Adjusted for inflation: $5.55

Everything changed for fast food in the 2010s. In 2013, Big Macs were already all the way up to $4.19.

By 2020, the average price of a Big Mac was $4.89, and between the pandemic and now, it's risen. My local Mickey D's has 'em for five bucks, and almost nine if you want the combo.

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