In The 1950s You Could Buy McDonald's Entire Menu For Under $2

How much would it cost to buy McDonald's modern menu?

In 1949, those fortunate enough to have a $5 bill could buy McDonald's entire menu four times over, with some change left for a few extra items. Alongside $0.15 hamburgers, $0.20 milkshakes, and $0.10 coffee, you could also grab a cheeseburger for $0.19, and french fries, milk, root beer, orangeade, or Coca-Cola for just $0.10 each. The total for these nine items came to $1.14. When adjusted for inflation, that amounts to approximately $15 in August 2024. However, purchasing nine equivalent items from McDonald's 2024 menu would set you back a little over $20.00, which is about $6.00 more than the inflation-adjusted figure.

Fast forward nearly eight decades, and McDonald's menu has grown to include over 50 items, featuring all nine items from the 1949 menu or their modern counterparts. For example, orangeade has been replaced by Fanta Orange, and McDonald's now offers chocolate milk in addition to regular milk. The menu has also expanded to include cappuccinos and other espresso-based coffee drinks alongside the classic cup of coffee. The prices have evolved as well — if you were to buy one of each item on the current McDonald's menu, the total would be just under $600.

McDonald's classic menu items — when did they appear, and what did they cost?

Other iconic items at McDonald's, like the Big Mac, Egg McMuffin, and Happy Meal, were introduced much later. The Big Mac made its debut in 1968, priced at just $0.49, which is roughly equivalent to $4.43 today; however, as of August 2024, it costs about $7. Seven years later, in 1975, the Egg McMuffin was launched as McDonald's first breakfast item, originally priced at $0.63, or around $4 in today's currency.

In 1979, McDonald's transformed the menu for families with the introduction of the Happy Meal, which included a hamburger, fries, a soft drink, cookies, and a small toy, all for just $1.10. Nowadays, kids can opt for a hamburger Happy Meal or choose between four and six-piece Chicken McNuggets. These contemporary meals also offer healthier choices like apple slices and beverages such as milk, juice, or water instead of soda.

While the original price of $1.10 is approximately $5 in today's dollars, a Happy Meal in 2024 ranges from $6.99 to $8.29. It appears that customers have adapted to these price changes over time, as McDonald's continues to sell more than 70 burgers every second from various locations worldwide.