The cost of a seemingly simple meal – a cheeseburger, fries, and a soda – can vary dramatically across the United States, with only a handful of cities offering the combo for under $15, according to a recent DoorDash report.
DoorDash's "Cheeseburger Index" found that just four of the cities it analyzed met this affordability benchmark: Austin and Laredo in Texas, Lincoln in Nebraska, and Detroit in Michigan. Austin, Texas, emerged as the most affordable, with the average meal priced at $12.94. Laredo followed at $13.39, then Lincoln at $13.86, and Detroit at $14.99.
"The Cheeseburger Index is a really great way to distill the information into a simple, fun and relatable metric," Jessica Lachs, chief analytics officer at DoorDash, stated in the report. She noted that cities in the South and Southeast often benefit from lower operating costs, contributing to more affordable prices for both restaurant meals and groceries.
At the opposite end of the price spectrum, the same meal combination can cost significantly more. Anchorage, Alaska, recorded the highest average price at $28.28, more than double the cost in Austin. Philadelphia also presented a higher price point, with the average meal costing $15.41.
Rising Costs Affecting Dining Out
The findings come as dining out continues to become more expensive for consumers, even as prices for many grocery and household staples have stabilized. The DoorDash report indicated that the average price for a cheeseburger, fries, and soda meal has climbed 3.2% over the past year.
While rising beef prices have been a point of discussion, DoorDash suggests that higher restaurant prices are influenced by broader operating costs, including labor, rent, and energy, rather than solely food expenses. "There isn’t one economy. There are a lot of local economies," Lachs added, emphasizing the localized nature of these cost differences.