McDonald’s delivery prices surge across U.S. cities, study finds
New analysis compares in-store prices with delivery apps in 100 cities, showing large markups, regional variation and shifting gaps over time.
Prices for a fixed McDonald’s order vary widely across the United States, with delivery apps adding a sizable premium. A 2025 analysis by the financial-technology firm Self found that the same McDonald’s order placed through DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub cost an average of $62.36 on delivery versus $36.95 if bought in person at a restaurant. The 2025 in-store price rise was 23.7% since 2023, while delivery-app prices rose 7.8% over the same period. The study modeled a multicomponent order that included a Big Mac Combo Meal, a Quarter Pounder with Cheese Deluxe Large Meal, a 6-Piece Chicken McNuggets Happy Meal and a Hamburger Happy Meal.
Across 100 of the nation’s largest cities, researchers applied the same order to the three delivery platforms to gauge how much delivery adds to the bill. They found that delivery costs on average totalled $62.36 in 2025, with city-level variation still present. The price on delivery apps includes the food itself, plus delivery fees, service charges, sales tax and other city-specific charges. On the three platforms, DoorDash posted the highest price for the set at $63.21, Uber Eats $62.60 and Grubhub $61.26. That translates to markups of 71.1% for DoorDash, 69.4% for Uber Eats and 65.8% for Grubhub relative to the in-store price of $36.95. In 2023, the study noted that the delivery-price gap across cities could be as wide as $33.88.
The research also factored in a 15% tip for delivery drivers, though tipping is optional and varies by consumer preference. The data reflect a focused look at McDonald’s and do not imply uniform pricing for independent restaurants, which could see different markups depending on local competition and promotions. The study highlighted that McDonald’s, as a large corporation, can maintain lower markups than smaller operators, implying that a local independent restaurant might face a higher cost burden when using delivery.
The study found that the average markup between ordering directly from McDonald’s and using a delivery app has declined over time. In 2023, the average markup was 93.8%; by 2025, it had fallen to 68.6% on average. Among the apps, Uber Eats had the greatest markup difference in the study, with the researchers noting a 34.8% reduction in that gap between 2023 and 2025. The 2025 figures also showed that the cost of the meal itself rose, contributing to higher overall totals on apps even as some apps posted smaller increases than others.
For consumers, the most affordable option remains picking up the order in person. If choosing delivery, the study emphasized that the best option depends on current discount codes, which can be account-specific and vary from household to household. “Remember: the codes can be account-specific, so someone else you live with may have discounts you aren’t able to use,” the authors wrote. In practice, that means shoppers may shave a portion of the delivery bill by obtaining an applicable promotion, but the savings may not be universal across all users or households.
The authors also cautioned that the data are specific to McDonald’s pricing and that price dynamics can differ across other chains and independent operators. The takeaway for diners is that delivery app costs continue to run well above in-store prices, though the magnitude of the gap fluctuates by app, city and available promotions. The analysis underscores how delivery economics—combining food prices, service and delivery fees, taxes and tips—create a broad range of outcomes for a single, standardized order.
Beyond the headline figures, the study’s longitudinal angle highlights how consumer costs tied to third-party delivery have evolved since 2023. While the average delivery-price premium remains substantial, the narrowing markup over time—combined with city-to-city differences and app-specific pricing—suggests that shoppers could benefit from comparing apps and taking advantage of eligible discounts or loyalty codes. The researchers reiterated that the data focus on one menu cohort from a single global brand and should not be extrapolated to all fast-food operators, especially smaller or regional restaurants that may operate under different pricing strategies.
As the restaurant delivery market continues to mature, the study’s findings provide a snapshot of how a well-known global chain is faring under the economics of third-party platforms. For policymakers and consumer advocates, the results underscore ongoing debates about pricing transparency, platform fees and the real costs of convenience in the era of rapid-delivery dining. For now, the numbers suggest that the McDonald’s experience remains emblematic of broader delivery-market dynamics: strong price signals, notable city-level variation, and a persistent premium attached to the convenience of delivery.
