Cheapest Fast Food Meals in America: 10 Deals for About $8 or Less
Quick answer
- The Costco hot dog and soda combo is still $1.50, the cheapest real meal at any chain.
- McDonald’s $5 Meal Deal and Burger King’s $5 Your Way Meal give you a sandwich, nuggets, fries and a drink for $5.
- Wendy’s Biggie Bag is about $6 and KFC’s $5 Fill Up gets you a Famous Bowl, drink and cookie.
- Little Caesars Lunch Combo is about $5.99 for four slices and a drink.
Fast food prices have climbed in recent years, but there are still full meals for around $8 or less if you know where to look. These are the best cheap meals at major chains, based on current typical prices.
10 cheap fast food meals for about $8 or less
| Meal | Restaurant | Typical price | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot Dog & Soda Combo | Costco Food Court | $1.50 | All-beef hot dog and a 20 oz drink |
| $5 Meal Deal | McDonald’s | $5 | McDouble or McChicken, 4 McNuggets, small fries, small drink |
| $5 Your Way Meal | Burger King | $5 | Sandwich, nuggets, fries and a drink |
| $5 Fill Up | KFC | About $5 | Famous Bowl, drink and cookie |
| Lunch Combo | Little Caesars | About $5.99 | Four Deep Dish slices and a 20 oz drink |
| Classic Luxe Box | Taco Bell | About $5.99 | Several Taco Bell favorites and a drink |
| Biggie Bag | Wendy’s | About $6 | Sandwich, nuggets, fries and a drink |
| Cook Out Tray | Cook Out | About $5.99 to $7.69 | Main, two sides and a drink |
| Meat & 3 Box | Arby’s | About $7.99 | Sandwich, three sides and a drink |
| Big Zax Snak Meal | Zaxby’s | About $7.69 to $9.19 | Three chicken fingerz, fries, toast, sauce and a drink |
Cheapest single items worth knowing
- Taco Bell Cheesy Roll-Up, about $1.49.
- Jack in the Box 2 Tacos, about $1.99.
- Wendy’s 4 pc Nuggets, about $1.99.
- McDonald’s Hamburger, about $1.99.
- Burger King Hamburger, about $1.89.
- Sonic $1.99 menu items like the Crispy Tender Wrap.
How to eat cheap at fast food chains
- Use the value menu or bundle deal, not the regular combo.
- Order in the app, where many chains keep their best prices.
- Pick water instead of a soda to save $2 to $3.
- Choose carryout over delivery, which can add 15% to 30% plus fees.
- Look for daily deals, like Firehouse Subs’ Sub del Día.
Cheap meals by type of food
Burgers
For burgers, the $5 bundles at McDonald’s and Burger King are hard to beat. You get a sandwich, a small side of nuggets, fries and a drink, which would cost $9 to $11 if you bought each item on its own. If you only want a burger, a McDonald’s Hamburger (about $1.99, 250 calories) or a Burger King Hamburger (about $1.89, 250 calories) is the cheapest way in. A Whataburger Jr. at about $3.99 is a bigger option in the South.
Chicken
KFC’s $5 Fill Up with a Famous Bowl is the cheapest chicken meal at a big chain. At Zaxby’s, the Big Zax Snak Meal includes three chicken fingerz with fries, Texas toast, sauce and a drink for about $7.69 to $9.19. Wendy’s 4 pc Nuggets at about $1.99 make a cheap snack, and Chick-fil-A’s 8 ct Nuggets at about $5.79 are a lighter, protein-rich pick.
Mexican and pizza
Taco Bell has the deepest value menu, with items like the Cheesy Roll-Up for about $1.49 and the Cheesy Bean & Rice Burrito for about $1.99. You can build a filling meal from three value items for around $5. For pizza, the Little Caesars Lunch Combo at about $5.99 or a Costco slice at $1.99 are the cheapest ways to eat.
Watch out for these hidden costs
- Drinks: a medium soda often adds $2 to $3.50 to any meal.
- Delivery: app prices and fees can turn a $5 deal into a $12 order.
- Upgrades: sizing up fries and drinks usually adds $1 to $2.
- Sauces: some chains now charge for extra dipping sauces.
The best approach is to choose one value bundle, drink water and order in the app so you can stack points and coupons.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest fast food meal?
The Costco Food Court hot dog and soda combo at $1.50 is the cheapest. At regular fast food chains, $5 bundles from McDonald’s, Burger King and KFC are the best value.
Is the McDonald’s $5 Meal Deal still available?
At participating restaurants, the $5 Meal Deal includes a McDouble or McChicken, 4 McNuggets, small fries and a small drink. Availability can change.
What can I get at Taco Bell for under $5?
Value menu items like the Cheesy Roll-Up, Spicy Potato Soft Taco and Cheesy Bean & Rice Burrito cost about $1.49 to $1.99 each.
Is it cheaper to order fast food in the app?
Often yes. Many chains offer app-only deals and points that make app orders cheaper.
Prices are typical U.S. prices before tax and can vary by location. Menus Info is not affiliated with any restaurant mentioned. See how we check prices.
