Fast-food chains like McDonald’s have long been synonymous with quick, affordable meals. However, in recent times, the landscape of fast food has shifted dramatically, with inflation hitting record highs and prices skyrocketing across the board. McDonald’s, as one of the largest and most recognizable brands in the industry, has found itself under scrutiny as consumers navigate a world where the dollar menu of yesteryear seems increasingly like a relic of the past.
In a viral TikTok video by user @amandajo000, she recounts her shock when she pulled up to a McDonald’s drive-thru enticed by a sign advertising a 99 cent hamburger deal and discovered a staggering upcharge for a simple slice of cheese. Find all of the details below.
@amandajo000 Before you blame it on labor costs—McD’s posted 37% increase of NET income from 2022 to 2023. #corporategreed #capitalism #mcdonalds original sound – Amanda
TikToker outraged over price of McDonald’s cheeseburger
Inflation rates have soared, impacting everything from groceries to gas prices, and fast food is no exception. As one TikToker recently discovered, even a simple slice of cheese can add $2 to your meal at McDonalds.
“I was driving by and their sign said 99 cent hamburger. I was like oh dang, that’s a deal. I was gonna stop and get a coffee anyway,” Amanda begins in her video. As she proceeded to order, her attention turned to the pricing of a cheeseburger, a variation that simply adds a slice of cheese to the basic hamburger.
“It was $3.39,” she exclaims incredulously in the video. “They’re trying to charge over $2 for a piece of processed American cheese.”
Her frustration is palpable as she continues, "So I got my coffee I probably won’t be going back there anymore just because it is so blatantly ridiculous. Their pricing is just out of control these days."
"Before you blame it on labor costs—McD’s posted 37% increase of NET income from 2022 to 2023," she captioned the video.
The comments on her TikTok echoed her sentiments, with users expressing their own disbelief and disappointment at McDonald's pricing strategies. One commenter lamented, "I just ordered a double cheeseburger.. $3.99. It used to be on the dang dollar menu," highlighting the stark contrast in affordability from previous years.
Another user humorously suggested a practical solution, "That’s why you should always carry some cheddar cheese fresh in your car no matter what—you just pull a slice out and put it on that."
Many users say they stopped going to McDonald's long ago for this very reason. Reflecting on the evolution of McDonald's menu pricing, another commenter remarked, "I don't really eat at McDonalds but they used to have all kinds of things for cheap. I couldn't believe the current prices of most of their items today."
All in all, Amanda's TikTok underscores a larger issue facing the fast-food industry amid soaring inflation. As prices rise across the board, consumers are increasingly sensitive to added costs. Maybe we will start carrying cheese around, after all.
READ MORE: McDonald’s Ends AI Ordering After Viral Video Of Customer Receiving Bacon On His Ice Cream: ‘Fail’
