These 12 Menu Items at Favorite Fast-Food Chains Are Almost Inflation-Proof

The last 10 years have been tough when it comes to inflation. Lately, fast-food restaurants have been called out more frequently for following the trend of raising prices due to the cost of ingredients and labor.

FinanceBuzz recently analyzed data to find items at your 12 favorite fast-food joints that have been the least affected by inflation. This information may help you know how to save money when eating out.

Unfortunately, most of these options are smaller items, like kids' meals and drinks.

Let’s see which dishes on the fast-food menu have had the smallest price increase from 2014 to 2024.

Note: Prices and availability may vary based on date and location.

Chips and salsa have been a fan favorite since Chipotle opened its flagship store in Denver in 1993. Over the past 10 years, however, many of their menu items have risen in price by an average of 75%.

Luckily, the Chips & Salsa menu item has only increased 63%. In 2014, it was $1.75, and now you’ll need to pay $2.85 for the side.

Popeyes has always been family-friendly, but their prices have risen an average of 86%. The 16-piece Family Box is $55.19 in 2024, up from $34.99 in 2014.

With 16 bone-in chicken tenders, eight buttermilk biscuits, and three family-sized sides, it’s still a pretty big haul, even with the price increase.

Jimmy John’s isn’t immune from inflation, as they have experienced an average 62% price hike in the last decade. Chips have almost doubled in price, but the J.J. Gargantuan, one of the most satisfying sandwiches on the menu, has had the least increase, up 51% since 2014. It used to be available at a budget-friendly $7.75, and now averages $11.72.

Large Freeze Drinks have been a staple at Taco Bell for as long as anyone can remember. Luckily for fans, the price of the drink has increased 48% in the past decade. It’s now $3.69, compared with $2.49 in 2014.

This looks like a deal compared with other Taco Bell menu items, which averaged an 81% increase.

Chick-fil-A is known for its signature Waffle Potato Fries, so it stands to reason that it would try to keep the price down on a side that draws customers again and again.

Nevertheless, in 2014, you could have purchased a medium order of Waffle Potato Fries for $1.65 and it now averages $2.35. This is a 42% increase but 13% less than the 55% average increase on the entire Chick-fil-A menu.

Arby’s offers a variety of meat sandwiches, but nothing beats their Classic Roast Beef. The Roast Beef Kids Meal — which includes a slider, a bottle of water, and one side — has risen in price by 40% in the last 10 years, going to $5.29 from $3.79. 

The average price increase overall at Arby’s is 55%.

With nearly 6,000 locations in the U.S., Wendy’s is the ninth-largest fast-food chain. From breakfast through dinner, there’s something for everyone in the family.

The Kids’ Meal Nuggets is a favorite, and Mom and Dad will be glad to know that it’s the menu item whose price has increased the least in the past 10 years. While the price has risen to $4.99 from $3.69, that’s just a 35% increase. Overall, the Wendy’s menu has increased by an average of 55%.

Ten years ago, Panera Bread’s Kids Grilled Cheese was $4.19. Now, it is $5.49, an increase of 31%.

Overall, the Panera Bread menu has increased 54% in the past 10 years, one of the lower increases among fast-food restaurants.

A medium drink at McDonald’s has gone up in price an average of 25% over the last decade, to $1.61 from $1.29. They still advertise some of the lowest prices on their soft drinks, with spring and summer 99-cent offers ruling the industry.

The cherished Big Mac has increased a whopping 50% in the same amount of time. That's a deal considering McDonald’s has doubled its prices on average in 10 years.

The Teriyaki Sub at Subway is on a level of its own. Its price has gone up 22% in the last decade to $5.50 from $4.50, so you can pack in a ton of flavor for a reasonable price. 

Subway has kept its prices lower than most of the fast-food chain giants, increasing just 39% overall.

Now known as King Jr. Meals, kids’ meals offer a scaled-down version of the adult burgers or nuggets and a side of applesauce or fries and apple juice instead of soda.

The price of the kids' meals has increased 19% over the last 10 years, to $4.29 from $3.59. On average, Burger King menu items have increased 55% since 2014.

Menu prices at the world's most well-known coffee chain have gone up on average by 39% in the last 10 years. The Tomato & Mozzarella on Focaccia has increased in price the least, jumping just 15% over the last decade to $6.25 from $5.45.

This sandwich and menu items like the Venti Caramel Macchiato, Grande Caffe Mocha, and Grande Caffe Latte have risen in price slower than the U.S. rate of inflation itself.

Over the past 10 years, the actual rate of inflation in the U.S. has been 31%. Yet the cost of items on the top fast-food chains’ menus has all risen more than that. Labor costs are one of the key drivers of higher prices.

While fast-food giants are developing meal deals and discounts to soften the price increases, it might be best to look for hidden restaurant discounts. You can also download your favorite restaurant’s app or subscribe to emails to get discounts and daily specials.