McDonald’s customers appear to be fans of the new Big Arch burger — but depending on where they live, they may not be lovin’ the price.
The half pound, double-patty behemoth (which includes white cheddar cheese, crispy onions, a sesame- and poppy seed-covered premium bun and a special Big Arch sauce) varies widely in cost across the US, starting at $7.46 in Columbia, South Carolina and ballooning up to $12.99 in Lewiston, Maine, according to research by Neomam Studios, who surveyed over 450 McDonald’s locations nationwide, as reported by Time Out.
The gap between the very cheapest and most expensive locales adds up to $5.53, a whopping 74% difference.
Variables such as regional cost differences, transportation, labor and local pricing strategies are all factors that contribute to the wide price margin. Prices remain lowest in Oklahoma on average (coming to around $8.05 statewide), with Alaska averaging out to the highest prices overall at $10.32 at McDonald’s locations across the state.
Washington and Hawaii are similarly on the expensive end (sitting around $10), while cities like Milwaukee, Lexington and Fort Worth can go for less than $7.70.
“We’d seen a lot of speculation about the price of the burger online, with fast food fans using the burger price in Canada, France, and the UK (where the burger was tested previously) as a reference point,” NeoMam research and outreach specialist Taylor Tomita told Food & Wine.
When it comes down to it, if you’re in the mood for the fast food chain’s premium new burger — take into account where the city and state you’re chowing it down in, as the price will vary across the country.
The Post’s newsroom recently put the controversial Big Arch to the test earlier this month, pitting it against Burger King’s new and improved Whopper, which was released around the same time. The Big Arch lost the battle of the burgers, three to five — though one reporter lauded the meal for surpassing her so-so expectations of the fast food find.
“I went into this with low expectations, because it is a fast food burger — I know I’m not going to a New York City restaurant ordering a $20 burger,” she said. “But the sauce tastes similar to Big Mac sauce, and I like the crispy onions. I had to peel some of the bun off since it was a bit too much bread for me, but it was good.”
The new burger caused quite the stir, as soon as it was released, when McDonald’s CEO and Chairman Chris Kempczinski went viral for an Instagram video where he gingerly bit into the burger.
“Why does he look like he’s scared to bite it?” said one commenter.
“Man’s aura screams kale salad,” said another.
