Massachusetts McDonalds are Expensive! Here’s How Much More McFood Costs in MA Than in Other States

I never really realized that fast food restaurants (and chains, in general) vary their prices from market to market. I thought a Big Mac was a Big Mac and cost the same no matter where you got it, besides ultimate tourist trap locations like Times Square. I was wrong. And man are we overpaying for our McDonalds orders in Massachusetts when compared to other states!!

Net Credit compared takeout prices of different fast food brands from state to state in all 50 US states to see who pays the most and who pays the least. It should be no surprise that Alaska pays the most in pretty much every state for pretty much every fast food chain. But one chain has a little Massachusetts surprise: McDonalds.

When all restaurants are factored in, Massachusetts pays 7.2% more than the national average for fast food takeout. Alaska pays the most - 18.17% more than average. Texas pays the least - 9.58% less than average. But McDonalds charges Massachusetts customers much more according to the study. Alaska pays the most for it's McDonalds - 23.93% more than the national average. Massachusetts pays the second most in the country for McDonalds takeout - a whopping 21.99% more than the national average!!

At that rate you should be getting one or two extra nuggz in your McNuggets pack! The study didn't say anything about who gets the most extra fries in the bottom of their Mickey D's takeout bag but I sure hope that's Massachusetts too!

The national average cost of a Big Mac at McDonald's is $5.58. One location in Massachusetts charges $7.59! That makes it the most expensive Big Mac in the entire country! I guess those are some bragging rights... but you better drop a whole bunch of extra fries in the bottom of my bag for that!! Jeez.

Fast food is big, big business. Americans spent $320 BILLION in 2022. That's sooooo many french fries to get lost between your driver seat and center console! (A treat for later?) I started thinking about the country's obsession with fast food and wondering if Massachusetts lines up with the country as a whole when it comes to the abundance of certain fast food restaurants.

Stacker did the counting and provided the national data (updated in 2022). So what's your guess nationally? Does McDonalds hold the key to the fast food kingdom with the most national locations? How about in Massachusetts - does Massachusetts really run mostly on Dunkin' or did another chain edge them out for the #1 spot?

We're basing these countdowns on one thing: number of locations. These aren't necessarily the most popular fast food chains in the country and in Massachusetts, they just have the most locations. However, one could assume that the reason there are more locations is due to higher demand. Higher demand usually comes from higher popularity.

The first fast food restaurant in America is widely considered to be White Castle. It was founded in 1921 by Walter Anderson and Billy Ingram in Wichita, Kansas. White Castle is known for pioneering the assembly line production of hamburgers and for introducing the fast-food concept to the United States. While we don't have any White Castle locations here in Massachusetts, they do sell their micro hamburgers at area grocery stores so if you have a hankering for the OG fast food, it's a minute away in your microwave oven.

So let's do this. To get the full comparison, I'll first give you the 8 fast food restaurants with the most locations in the United States, then I'll give you the 8 fast food chains with the most locations in Massachusetts. Get your fiery sauce ready and let's go!

DOMINO'S
# of U.S. locations: 6,720
Founded in: 1960 in Ypsilanti, MI

BURGER KING
# of U.S. locations: 7,257
Founded in: 1954 in Miami, FL

TACO BELL
# of U.S. locations: 8,088
Founded in: 1962 in Downey, CA

HUNT BROTHERS PIZZA
# of U.S. locations: 9,240
Founded in: 1991 in Nashville, TN

DUNKIN'
# of U.S. locations: 9,412
Founded in: 1950 in Quincy, MA

McDONALDS
# of U.S. locations: 13,515
Founded in: 1955 in Des Plaines, IL

STARBUCKS
# of U.S. locations: 15,966
Founded in: 1971 in Seattle, WA

SUBWAY
# of U.S. locations: 20.603 (oh my soul!!!)
Founded in: 1965 in Bridgeport, CT

TACO BELL
# of U.S. locations: 75
Founded in: 1962 in Downey, CA

WENDY'S
# of U.S. locations: 98
Founded in: 1969 in Columbus, OH

BURGER KING
# of U.S. locations: 132
Founded in: 1954 in Miami, FL

DOMINO'S
# of U.S. locations: 161
Founded in: 1960 in Ypsilanti, MI

STARBUCKS
# of U.S. locations: 178
Founded in: 1971 in Seattle, WA

McDONALDS
# of U.S. locations: 239
Founded in: 1955 in Des Plaines, IL

SUBWAY
# of U.S. locations: 370
Founded in: 1965 in Bridgeport, CT

DUNKIN'
# of U.S. locations: 916
Founded in: 1950 in Quincy, MA