McDonald's Big Arch Burger Prices Swing Wildly Across U.S., New Study Shows
A new study by NeoMam Studios has revealed the highly variable pricing of McDonald’s new Big Arch Burger across the United States.
The Big Arch Is McDonald's Biggest Burger
On Tuesday, March 3, McDonald’s launched the Big Arch burger in stores nationwide. The chain promises that it’s the “most McDonald’s McDonald’s burger yet,” bigger than any other sandwich on the menu. The sandwich is made with two quarter-pound beef patties, three slices of white cheddar, crispy onions, and a new tangy "Big Arch Sauce" sandwiched between two sesame buns.
McDonald's
NeoMam Studios analyzed the cost of the Big Arch burger across states, and the price varies widely. The most expensive city in which to purchase a Big Arch Burger is Lewiston, ME, where the sandwich will cost you $12.99. The most expensive state in which to purchase the Big Arch is Alaska, where the average price is $10.32. In general, Alaska proved to be an expensive state for McDonald’s lovers. The second most-expensive city in which to purchase a Big Arch is Juneau, AL, where the burger costs $11.49.
Washington ($10.19), Maine ($10.03), Hawaii ($10.00), and Arizona ($9.96) rounded out the top five most expensive states for a Big Arch. Pearl City, HI ($11.29); Spokane, WA ($11.29); and Tucson, AZ ($10.52), rounded out the top five most expensive cities.
"The data shows that the price of the new Big Arch burger varies drastically across the U.S. On a city level, price differences are even more drastic across the U.S., with the price of the Big Arch varying from $7.46 to $12.99. That represents a 74 percent increase from the lowest to the highest priced city," Taylor Tomita, Research and Outreach Specialistat NeoMam Studios, told Men's Journal. "Average local salaries should be taken into account when calculating the affordability of food in relation to earnings."
Cheapest Cities Located Mostly in the Midwest
As for the cheapest cities and states, most of those are situated in the middle of the country. The cheapest state in which to purchase a Big Arch is Oklahoma, where the average cost is $8.05. The cheapest city is Columbia, SC, where a Big Arch will run you $7.46. Texas ($8.08), Indiana ($8.15), West Virginia ($8.17), and Ohio ($8.19) rounded out the top five cheapest states. Milwaukee, WI ($7.66); Lexington, KY ($7.69); Fort Worth, TX ($7.69); and Gulf Port, MI ($7.79) rounded out the list of least-expensive cities.
"In January 2025, McDonald’s acknowledged the need for a bargain with its new McValue menu, a standard offer across its domestic locations. But the new Big Arch marks a move into the premium market, giving consumers an option of a bigger meal – along with the higher price tag," Tomita told Men's Journal. "For consumers feeling priced out, there are other budget-friendly options alongside this move to diversify the McDonald’s menu."
You can locate your nearest McDonald’s here to try the Big Arch for yourself.