You've seen the outraged social media posts. They show McDonald's locations selling Big Macs for over $10 and Big Mac combo meals for around $15.
Many of the posts blame President Joe Biden to make a political point about inflation and rising prices. People on the other side of the aisle take a different approach. They use these shockingly high prices to make comments on corporate greed.
Related: Burger King menu adds sandwiches McDonald's, Wendy's can't make
A $15 Big Mac meal is somewhat outrageous and, if that was what McDonald's (MCD) -) charges for its signature sandwich, people would have the right to be outraged.
The problem is that these prices aren't typical. They're real, but they're outliers — prices from franchisees in expensive locations or in markets where labor has pushed prices higher at all chains. In many ways, showing these prices on social media is like putting up a picture of one random gas station in rural California where prices are triple the national average.
The average price of the Big Mac in the United States is $5.35, according to an extensive study by Cash Net USA.
"The United States has the 19th most expensive Big Mac in the world ($5.35)," according to the website. "Liechtenstein and Switzerland share the world’s most expensive Big Mac ($7.75)."
So, while the $15 Big Mac is mostly an effort at political posturing, that does not mean a U.S. fast food chain does not have a high-priced burger and burger combo. Wendy's has just added a new menu item that has become the priciest burger on its menu.
Image source: Cate Gillon/Getty Images
Wendy's has lacked a signature sandwich
For decades, Wendy's (WEN) -) never really had an answer for McDonald's Big Mac or Burger King's Whopper. Instead, the company's marketing strategy revolved around the idea that its basic burger was actually a signature, premium experience.
The chain touted its "fresh, never frozen" beef as the reason it's better than McDonald's, Burger King, and other fast-food burger chains.
"Wendy’s hamburgers look different because they are different. Our founder, Dave Thomas, set out to create the best hamburger, with quality at the center of everything we do. Since the first Wendy’s opened in 1969, our fresh, never-frozen beef* has reshaped the game with the square patty as a symbol of our commitment to provide only the best for our fans," the chain shares on its website.
Wendy's has a new take on its signature sandwich
In 2007, however, Wendy's added the Baconator to its menu. This sandwich, which offers two quarter-pound beef patties, two slices of American cheese, and a whopping six pieces of bacon, has essentially become its answer to the Big Mac.
Wendy's has followed McDonald's and Burger King's lead and offered a number of variants on the Baconator. The chain has offered the smaller "Son of Baconator," and has a morning menu version of the sandwich, the Breakfast Baconator, on its breakfast menu.
Now, Wendy's has added a new take on the sandwich, the Pretzel Baconator, to its menu (it's a Baconator sandwich with a pretzel bun) and that has pushed the signature sandwich's price even higher.
Prices at Wendy's locations vary based on local market conditions. In South Florida (Port St. Lucie), a Baconator will set you back $7.59 while a Pretzel Baconator costs $8.59. That's the chain's most expensive double burger, but it does offer a Triple Nacho Cheeseburger which has three burger patties for $9.19.
A Baconator Combo with fries and a soda costs $12.29 while the Pretzel Baconator Combo comes in at $13.29.
So, while it's not quite a $15 sandwich (or even a combo meal), Wendy's has pushed prices well higher than McDonald's. That may be worth it for people who think the Big Mac could really use six slices of bacon, and those who would happily pay $1 extra for a pretzel bun.
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