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If you’ve been side-eyeing the price of McDonald’s new Big Arch burger, you’re not wrong—but where you live has a lot to do with just how expensive it feels.
Since it launched in the U.S. just a few weeks ago, the Big Arch has been marketed as a “premium” menu item: two quarter-pound patties, white cheddar, Big Arch sauce and a bun that’s a bit more artisanal than your standard sesame situation. It’s hearty and it’s hyped and, now, according to new data, it’s also wildly inconsistent in price.
Researchers at NeoMam Studios compared Big Arch prices from more than 450 McDonald’s locations across the country and the results are suprisingly intense. The burger ranges from just $7.46 in Columbia, South Carolina, to $12.99 in Lewiston, Maine. (That’s a 74% difference for the exact same order.)
That gap isn’t just a city thing; it shows up at the state level, too. In Oklahoma, the Big Arch averages about $8.05, making it one of the cheapest places in the country to try it. If you head to Alaska, though, you’re looking at an average of $10.32. Washington, Maine and Hawaii all hover around the $10 mark as well.
If you zoom in further, the extremes get even sharper. Lewiston, the most expensive city for a Big Arch, is closely followed by Juneau, Alaska ($11.49), and Pearl City, Hawaii ($11.29). On the bargain end of the spectrum, runners up to Columbia include cities like Milwaukee, Lexington and Fort Worth, where it costs less than $7.70.
It’s not that McDonald’s is playing favorites, though. Regional cost differences, labor, supply chains and local pricing strategies all come into play. While fast food may feel standardized, its economics definitely aren’t.
For customers, though, the takeaway is simpler: the same “premium” burger can feel like a splurge or a steal depending on your zip code. And if you happen to be traveling soon? It might be worth checking the menu before you order—because your Big Arch could come with a side of sticker shock.