Large fries on a rainy day, a classic cheeseburger to round off a 2am club night, or a McFlurry to ease a heartbreak: we’ve all come to learn that even when your friends bail, your neighbourhood McDonald’s never does. Bright red and yellow, it’s always there, serving up comfort in the form of your favourite combo.
What began as a modest hamburger stand in San Bernardino, California, back in 1940 has grown into the world’s highest-earning fast food chain and a global byword for the classic burger-fries-cola trio. Despite rivals like Burger King, Dunkin’ Donuts, Wendy’s, and KFC, McDonald’s remains a go-to for affordable fast food, wherever you are.
But how affordable is it, really? Deutsche Bank’s 2025 report ‘Mapping the World’s Prices’ breaks down the cost of a standard McDonald’s combo meal (McMeal), which usually includes a main (typically a burger or Chicken McNuggets), a side of fries, and a beverage, around the world. When you’re on the go, aiming for a no-fuss, low-budget meal, it’s McDonald’s that often comes to mind—reliable, familiar, and rarely far away. At just $3.60 (Rs311), Jakarta is the cheapest place in the world to grab a McMeal, while Zurich takes the crown for the most expensive, with a McMeal costing a hefty $20.90 (Rs1.806).
In India, New Delhi and Bengaluru tie as the second-cheapest cities for a McMeal globally, where the combo clocks in at $4.10 (Rs354). Mumbai follows close behind at $4.70 (Rs406).
Here’s a look at the cities where dining under the Golden Arches might just burn a deeper hole in your pocket:
The most expensive places in the world to get a McDonalds McMeal
#1 Switzerland (Zurich): $20.9 (Rs1,806)
#2 Israel (Tel Aviv-Yafo): $16.8 (Rs1,452)
#3 Denmark (Copenhagen): $15.5 (Rs1,339)
#4 Netherlands (Amsterdam): $15.4 (Rs1,331)
#5 Luxembourg (Luxembourg): $15 (Rs1,296)
#6 Belgium (Brussels): $15 (Rs1,296)
#7 United States (San Francisco): $15 (Rs1,296)
#8 Norway (Oslo): $15 (Rs1,296)
#9 Germany (Munich): $13.9 (Rs1,201)
#10 France (Paris): $13.9 (Rs1,201)
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