CT Fast Food Prices Are Surging—See How They Compare

CONNECTICUT — The cost of a fast food meal being in the single digits may be a thing of the past. A new study from Lending Tree comparing prices in major cities around the country found that the cheapest meal was still $10.01 in Columbus, Ohio.

Connecticut is more expensive than the national average. The average fast food meal in Hartford is $12.52, compared to $11.56 across the country.

The most expensive city was San Francisco at $13.88.

"As inflation drives up food costs, 16 percent of Americans are turning to fast food and other 'cheaper options' to save money," Lending Tree wrote. "But rising fast food prices undermine this strategy, making a once-affordable American staple an expensive treat. Almost 80 percent of Americans now consider fast food a luxury, and the majority say they’ve recently been shocked at the price of a fast food bill."

The study found that the 3.8 million people working at fast food restaurants can no longer afford the food they're serving.

The workers "need to clock in for twice as long as people earning an average wage to buy a flagship fast food meal," Lending Tree found.

The price of "cheap" dining options increasing is an ongoing issue. A FinanceBuzz analysis found that average menu prices at fast food outlets have increased between 39 and 100 percent from 2014 to 2024. This represents increases that outpace inflation in the same period, which was 31 percent.

McDonald's prices increased the most at 100 percent, according to FinanceBuzz. Popeyes follows with an 86 percent increase, and Taco Bell was at 81 percent.

Read more at Lending Tree and FinanceBuzz.

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