If you’ve been feeling the sting of higher restaurant prices, there’s at least one place where a burger, fries and a soda won’t break the bank.
A new DoorDash report found the cheapest burger combo in America is in Austin, Texas, where a burger-and-fries meal costs an average of $12.94. The finding comes from the company’s annual Cheeseburger Index, which tracks menu prices in cities across the country.
Several other cities also made the list of burger bargains, including Laredo, Texas; Lincoln, Nebraska, and Detroit. On the other end of the scale, Anchorage, Alaska, ranked as the most expensive place to grab a cheeseburger combo, with meals averaging $28.
Where Can You Find the Cheapest Burger Combos?
According to DoorDash, these are the 10 best value cities for a burger and fries:
- Austin ($12.94)
- Laredo, Texas ($13.39)
- Lincoln, Nebraska ($13.86)
- Detroit ($14.99)
- Philadelphia ($15.41)
- Irving, Texas ($15.53)
- Milwaukee ($15.53)
- San Antonio ($15.55)
- Chesapeake, Virginia ($15.60)
- St. Paul, Minnesota ($15.65)
How Much Did Prices Rise From Last Year?
Even the cheapest burger is costing more these days.
The price of the nation’s most affordable combo meal increased by about $2 compared with last year. In DoorDash’s 2025 report, Lincoln, Nebraska, held the top spot with an average burger-and-fries price of $10.70.
Nationwide, burger combo prices increased 3.2% year over year, according to DoorDash’s Cheeseburger Index.
Eli Scheinholtz, a DoorDash spokesperson, told USA TODAY that menu prices can vary significantly from city to city because of differences in operating costs.
DoorDash didn’t break down exactly why certain cities ended up at the top or bottom of the rankings, but the increases reflect the broader rise in prices consumers have seen in recent years. According to previous USA TODAY reporting, the Consumer Price Index was up 4.2% year over year.
Which Cities Saw the Lowest Restaurant Inflation?
While food prices continue to rise, some cities have seen smaller increases than others.
DoorDash found the lowest levels of restaurant inflation in:
- Henderson, Nevada (1.8%)
- Washington, DC (2.0%)
- Cincinnati (2.4%)
- Gilbert, Arizona (2.4%)
- Mesa, Arizona (2.5%)
- Chandler, Arizona (2.5%)
- Las Vegas (2.5%)
- Memphis (2.5%)
- Jacksonville, Florida (2.5%)
- Richmond, Virginia (2.5%)
Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected].
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