Restaurant Menu Prices in the United States

How much does eating out cost in the United States?

You can spend under $2 on a donut or over $40 on a family meal, and both are normal. The US has one of the widest ranges of formats in this database, from a single donut to a bucket for the whole table.

Across the 428 items we track for 40 US chains, the middle price is $7.39. Leaving aside 47c KFC dipping sauces, the cheapest things we list are a $1.09 Dunkin' glazed donut, a $1.19 KFC biscuit and a $1.38 side of Raising Cane's coleslaw. The most expensive are group orders: a $132.39 Wingstop pack of 100 wings, a $57.83 KFC 16-piece chicken meal and a $43.00 Panda Express Family Meal.

For one person, a fast-food meal usually lands between $8 and $12. A sit-down chain plate is usually $14 to $24 on our lists, before the drink, tax and tip.

What do the most popular US chains charge?

Here is a snapshot of everyday orders from the menus on this site.

Notice the gap between the two burgers. An In-N-Out hamburger is $3.45 and a Five Guys hamburger is $10.99. They aren't the same product. Five Guys builds a bigger, made-to-order burger with two patties. In-N-Out sells a smaller, simpler one. Always compare what's on the plate, not just the name.

Which US chains are cheapest, and which cost the most?

If you rank chains by the middle price of the items we list, the pattern is clear.

Cheapest end: Krispy Kreme (about $2.09), Raising Cane's (about $2.49), Sonic (about $2.73), White Castle (about $2.94) and Wendy's (about $3.09). These sell small items, such as donuts, sliders and single burgers, so a typical order is small.

Priciest end: Papa John's (about $16.99), Wingstop (about $16.39), Applebee's (about $15.59), Domino's (about $14.99) and IHOP (about $13.68). Pizzas, full sit-down plates and sharing packs of wings cost more because each order is a whole meal, or feeds several people.

Chains with only a handful of listed items can look cheaper or dearer than they really are, so treat these rankings as a guide to format rather than a league table.

Why do prices change from state to state?

Many US chains are franchised, and franchisees usually set their own prices. Rent, wages and local taxes differ a lot between a small town in Ohio and downtown Los Angeles, so the same burger can cost noticeably more in one than the other.

That's why the prices on our US pages are best read as representative. Our data comes from menu-price sites and a few named branches, such as an Applebee's in Columbus, Ohio, and a Whataburger in San Antonio, Texas. Your local price could be a little higher or lower.

Is sales tax included in US menu prices?

No. This is the biggest surprise for visitors. In the US, the menu price is before tax. The tax is added at the register or on the final bill.

There is no national sales tax. States and cities set their own. According to the Tax Foundation's 2026 figures, five states have no statewide sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon. At the other end, Louisiana has the highest average combined state and local rate, at about 10.1%.

A few places also tax restaurant meals separately. New Hampshire, for example, has no general sales tax but charges a tax on prepared meals. So a $10 meal might cost $10.00, $10.65 or $11.00 at the till, depending on where you are. Our sales tax calculator works out the total for any rate.

How much should you tip in the US?

Tipping is part of how American restaurant workers are paid, so it matters more here than almost anywhere.

• Sit-down restaurants (Applebee's, Chili's, IHOP): 15% to 20% of the pre-tax bill is standard. Less than 15% signals poor service.
• Counter service and fast food: tipping isn't expected. You'll often see a tip screen at the payment terminal. A dollar or a small percentage is polite, but optional.
• Delivery: 15% to 20%, or at least a few dollars, is typical.

The reason is pay. The federal minimum cash wage for tipped staff is only $2.13 an hour in 2026, with tips expected to make up the rest. Seven states, including California, Nevada and Washington, require employers to pay the full minimum wage before tips, so the pressure is a little lower there. The tip calculator makes the maths quick.

Which chains are regional favourites?

Some of America's best-loved chains only exist in parts of the country, which is half the fun.

• In-N-Out is found mostly in the West and Southwest. Fans order "Animal Style" from its not-so-secret menu.
• Whataburger started in Texas and is a Southern institution, famous for its orange-and-white striped buildings.
• Waffle House is a Southeast diner staple, best known for staying open around the clock.
• Culver's comes from Wisconsin and is loved in the Midwest for ButterBurgers and frozen custard.
• Raising Cane's began in Louisiana and sells chicken fingers with its signature sauce.
• Chick-fil-A is nationwide, and it closes on Sundays, which surprises many first-time visitors.

If you're travelling, put a regional chain on your list. It's one of the quickest ways to eat like a local.

Are delivery apps more expensive?

Often, yes. Apps such as DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub let restaurants list higher prices than in the store, and then add delivery, service and sometimes small-order fees. A $10 combo can easily cost several dollars more by the time it's on your doorstep.

Our delivery markup calculator shows the real percentage. Picking up your order, or using the chain's own app, is usually cheaper. Many chains also run deals in their own apps that you won't find in the restaurant.

How can you save money eating out in the US?

1. Check the chain's app first. Free items and discounted combos are common.
2. Look at the value menu. Most burger chains keep a set of low-priced items.
3. Split large portions. Pizzas, buckets and family meals cost less per person.
4. Pick counter service over table service. You skip the 15% to 20% tip.
5. Go early. Breakfast and lunch menus are usually cheaper than dinner.
6. Remember the tax. Budget about 5% to 10% on top of the menu price.

Browse US menus by type

• Burgers: McDonald's, Burger King, Shake Shack, Jack in the Box, Carl's Jr.
• Chicken: KFC, Popeyes, Zaxby's, Wingstop, Church's Chicken
• Pizza: Little Caesars, Domino's, Papa John's
• Sandwiches and Mexican: Jersey Mike's, Arby's, Taco Bell, Chipotle
• Coffee and sweet treats: Starbucks, Dunkin', Krispy Kreme, Cinnabon, Dairy Queen
• Diners and casual dining: Denny's, IHOP, Applebee's, Chili's

Visiting from abroad? The currency converter turns dollars into your own currency, and the Price Index compares US prices with other countries.

How accurate are these prices?

US chains don't publish one national menu, and prices depend on the state, the franchisee and whether you're ordering in store or on an app. Our figures come from US menu-price websites and named-branch listings, checked in late August and early September 2026, with KFC re-checked in October 2026. Treat every price as a representative guide rather than a promise about your local restaurant.

We show the last-verified date on every menu page, and you can read exactly how we gather and check prices on our methodology page.