10 Dollar Menu Items That Are No Longer Cheap
There was a time when the McDonald’s Dollar Menu felt like a cheat code. You were broke, you were hungry, and for $3, you could walk away with a full stomach and change in your pocket. It wasn’t glamorous, but it got the job done. The menu was simple, reliable, and actually affordable. And now? Half of those same items cost three to five times more—and somehow taste worse. Here’s a very real look at what used to cost a buck… and what it’ll set you back now.
A Single Chicken Nugget for Over $1
Credit: Reddit
Yes, really—one nugget. That’s not a combo, not a pack of four, just a lone, slightly sad nugget being sold individually for over a dollar in some locations. The audacity of pricing a single bite like it’s gold-plated would’ve been laughed off Reddit five years ago. Now it’s just another line item on a receipt no one wants to look at.
McDouble Now Creeping Past $5
Credit: Reddit
This one hurts. The McDouble was the cornerstone of the Dollar Menu—two beef patties, one slice of cheese, and no judgment. It was $1 for years, perfect for broke students or anyone dodging overdraft fees. Now it’s showing up at $5.29 in some cities, which makes it… what, fast-casual pricing? For a burger you can’t even eat while driving?
Hash Browns Pushing $2.79
Credit: flickr
There’s something offensive about a single hash brown costing nearly $3. It’s potato. Fried. Flat. The kind of thing you used to grab on the way to work without thinking. Now you need to mentally commit to paying triple the price for the same lukewarm triangle you could make at home in five minutes with a $2 frozen bag.
McGriddle at $9.50 in the Drive-Thru
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
$9.50. For one McGriddle. This wasn’t a bundle. Not a large meal. Just one McGriddle. There are diners that’ll serve you a full breakfast plate with eggs and bacon for that price. At this point, they’re not even pretending anymore—it’s like the prices were set during a fever dream and no one woke up to fix it.
Medium Fries Jumping to $3.79
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Fries used to be the filler—cheap, dependable, and everywhere. You added them to bulk up your sad order or split them with a friend when no one had cash. Now they’re priced like an appetizer at a mid-tier bar. And they don’t even stay hot long enough to justify the markup.
Double Cheeseburger No Longer a Cheap Go-To
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There was a golden window where the double cheeseburger was the best value on the menu—hefty, greasy, and deeply satisfying. But at $3–$5 now, it’s lost the charm. When a fast food burger starts creeping into gastropub pricing, it stops being comfort food and starts being questionable spending.
McChicken Now Almost $3 in Some States
Credit: flickr
This used to be the emergency meal—the “I only have four quarters” fallback. It was dry, over-lettuced, and perfect. Today it hovers around $2.99 depending on where you live. It’s not expensive enough to feel like a splurge, but just pricey enough to make you nostalgic for 2010.
10-Piece Nugget Meal Hits $10.99
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The 10-piece was always a flex—ten nuggets, fries, drink, and maybe enough left over to share. The fact that it now rings in at nearly $11 feels like it aged five years overnight. You’re paying sit-down restaurant prices for food that’s usually cold by the time you get home.
Sausage McMuffin and Hash Browns at $6.29
Credit: flickr
The sausage McMuffin + hash brown combo used to be the unofficial breakfast of late workers and early risers—simple, hot, and usually under $3. Now, bundled at over $6, it’s lost the magic. And at that price, you start doing that sad math in your head: “Could I have made this at home?”
Happy Meal Now $4.99 Minimum
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Even the kids aren’t safe. The Happy Meal, once a $3.99 treat with a toy that would make your day, has quietly climbed to $4.99 in most areas. The food hasn’t changed. The toy hasn’t gotten better. But the price? That’s climbed like it’s trying to pay rent.
Filet-O-Fish Just Keeps Climbing
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There’s a cult following around this one, and they’ve noticed. The Filet-O-Fish, which used to sit at a calm $4.66, is now closer to $5.49. It’s not the worst offender, but the fact that it’s now nearly six bucks for a bun, sauce, and one thin fish square makes you second-guess why you ever loved it.
Oreo McFlurry Up 41% in Price
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The McFlurry was never a dollar item, but it used to feel like a small luxury. Now, with a 41% price hike, it’s basically a luxury tax. And it’s still being served half-mixed, with a spoon that’s not even a spoon anymore. The price went up, the experience stayed frustrating.
Medium Drink Hovering Around $1.79–$2
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You might think a drink would be safe. It’s just syrup and water, right? But no—medium sodas have crept up to nearly $2 in some areas. For what’s essentially ice and fizz. You could get a two-liter bottle from a gas station for less. But hey, they give you a lid.
Four-Piece Nugget Pack is No Longer a Steal
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The four-piece used to be a snack, not a financial decision. Now it’s often $3 or more, depending on the city. For four pieces. That’s 75 cents a nugget. You could make that money stretch further in a vending machine. And honestly, you might get more protein.
Big Mac at $5.99 Doesn’t Feel Like a Big Deal Anymore
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The Big Mac used to be the treat-yourself item. It was the most expensive burger on the menu, and it felt like it. Now it costs nearly $6 and feels like every other lukewarm, middle-tier sandwich. When even the Big Mac loses its shine, you know something’s off.