When you have $20 to spend on a quick meal, where will your money go further: Costco’s food court or McDonald’s? Both are popular choices for inexpensive food, but they offer very different ways to stretch a budget. Costco keeps its food court menu relatively simple, with famously low prices on hot dogs and pizza, while McDonald’s offers individual sandwiches, sides, drinks, and bundled meals. The difference becomes especially noticeable when you compare how much food you can order for the same amount. Prices vary by location, and Costco’s membership requirement is another factor worth considering, but a $20 budget reveals why these two options attract very different kinds of value-seeking customers.
