The five most expensive cities for burger, fries and soda - NYC and LA aren't among them

Fast food has soared in price in the last few years across the US, but new analysis has revealed the most expensive city to buy a burger, French fries and a soda.

San Diego is the priciest city to pick up the quintessential American meal, costing an average of $20.76, according to MoneyGeek.

The personal finance site analyzed prices for a burger, fries and soda across 189 major and local chains in 50 of the largest cities in America. 

Surprisingly, it found that notoriously expensive New York City and Los Angeles did not make the top five for the priciest meal, beaten by other cities on the East and West Coasts.

Across the country, stubborn inflation has meant that prices have risen 24 percent on average between 2022 and 2024, with the meal topping $15 in 19 of the largest cities.

Scroll down for the prices in each of the 50 cities. 

Second in the ranking was Washington DC, with an average meal price of $18.17.

San Francisco followed closely behind at $17.96, and a burger, fries and soda would set a Seattlite back $17.83, the study found. 

Fifth on the list was Boston, where the average price for a fast food meal was $17.63.  

California cities occupied three of the top ten spots for the most expensive meal, with Los Angeles next in the ranking with an average price of $17.50.

Some restaurant owners in the Golden State have hiked menu prices in recent months after the minimum wage increased to $20-an-hour for fast food workers. 

In New York, which came in at number seven, residents pay an average of $16.61 for a meal. 

With the exception of Phoenix, which was eighth on the list, and Las Vegas, which tied in tenth spot with Baltimore, the top ten spots were all occupied by East and West Coast cities. 

The most affordable meal is in Detroit, according to the study, where Americans can pick up a burger, fries and soda for just $8.12. 

MoneyGeek also looked into price rises at specific fast food restaurants. 

Five Guys charges the most for a burger, fries and soda - an average of $20.84. This is up 13.7 percent from 2022, when it cost an average of $18.33. 

Although Jack in the Box charged much less for the meal - $13.75 on average - the chain has increased prices since 2022 by 25.8 percent. 

Wendy's, meanwhile, has seen prices soar 31.8 percent in the last two years - from $9.41 to $12.41.

At McDonald's, which sells more burgers than any other chain, prices have increased 22 percent since 2022, according to the study. 

The meal, on average, costs $7.57 at McDonald's locations across the country.  

In response to rising prices, some major chains have started to introduce cut-price offers to customers - in what has been dubbed the 'fast food value meal war.'

In April KFC introduced its Taste of KFC Deals, which include a $4.99 Meal for One made up of a drumstick, a thigh, mashed potatoes with gravy and a biscuit.

McDonald's launched a summer $5 meal deal in June, which includes either a McChicken or a McDouble, four-piece chicken nuggets, fries and a drink.

But customers hit out at the chain immediately following the launch, after it was revealed that the meal was priced as high as $13 in some locations. 

Customers posted screengrabs on social media showing the much higher prices.

One showed $13, which was thought to be a glitch on the app, but others had to pay $6.67 for the standard meal deal and scores more were charged above $6. 

It is understood McDonald's is currently investigating the price discrepancies. 

The chain's bosses have been clear to franchisees that they must stick to the nationally advertised prices.