In-N-Out Burger vs McDonald's: Menu Prices Compared (2026)

Updated August 27, 2026 3 items matched

The short answer

McDonald's is the cheaper of the two. Of the 3 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, McDonald's is cheaper on 3 of them, by an average of $1.49 per item.

Typical menu price: In-N-Out Burger $4.35 · McDonald's $4.29

Matched Items, Side by Side

The same item on both menus, priced against each other. Where names differ, we matched the closest equivalent — In-N-Out Burger's wording first.

Item	In-N-Out Burger	McDonald's	Difference
Cheeseburger	$4.85	$2.79	$2.06 cheaper at McDonald's
Hamburger	$4.35	$2.49	$1.86 cheaper at McDonald's
Soft Drink (medium)	$2.35	$1.79	$0.56 cheaper at McDonald's

In-N-Out Burger vs McDonald's at a Glance

	In-N-Out Burger	McDonald's
Typical menu price	$4.35	$4.29
Average menu price	$4.90	$4.97
Cheapest item	Milk — $1.30	Apple Slices — $1.29
Most expensive item	4x4 (four patties, four cheese) — $10.35	Bundle Box (family) — $24.99
Items priced	31	51
Menu sections	5	6
Price range	$	$
Founded	1948	1955
Headquarters	Irvine, California	Chicago, Illinois
Locations	About 400 restaurants across the West and Southwest	More than 13,500 restaurants in the United States

Which One Should You Order From?

McDonald's has the lower typical menu price of the two — $4.29 against $4.35 — but a typical price only tells you where the middle of the menu sits. At the value end, McDonald's gets you in cheaper at $1.29.

In-N-Out Burger is strongest on Double-Double, Animal Style Fries, Neapolitan Shake; McDonald's on Big Mac, Quarter Pounder with Cheese, 10 pc. Chicken McNuggets. Neither chain's app prices match the counter, and both discount heavily through their loyalty programmes, so the deals below usually matter more than the few cents between the two menus.

Deals Worth Knowing at Both

In-N-Out Burger

Animal Style, Protein Style, extra spread, chopped chilies and well-done fries are all free modifications — the best no-cost upgrades in fast food.
A Double-Double at $6.35 costs less than a single premium burger at most competitors and contains two patties.
Building a 3x3 at $8.35 is cheaper than a Double-Double plus an extra patty ordered separately.

McDonald's

The $5 Meal Deal is the single best value on the menu — the same four items ordered separately run close to $12.
The McDonald's app gives a free item on many orders and runs a points programme worth roughly 5% back; app prices are frequently below counter prices for the same item.
20-piece McNuggets at $9.99 cost about $0.50 per nugget against $0.65 for a 4-piece — the best per-unit price on the menu.

About these prices: menu prices are set by individual franchise owners and change without notice. The figures on this page are researched estimates for 2026 and are provided for reference only. Confirm the current price with the restaurant before ordering. Menu Price Book is not affiliated with this chain.

In-N-Out Burger vs McDonald's — FAQ

Is In-N-Out Burger cheaper than McDonald's in 2026?

McDonald's is cheaper on most matched items — 3 of 3. Across the whole menu McDonald's is the lower-priced of the two, at $4.29 for a typical item against $4.35 at In-N-Out Burger.

What is the price difference between In-N-Out Burger and McDonald's?

On matched items the average difference is $1.49, or about 1% overall. In-N-Out Burger averages $4.90 across 23 priced items; McDonald's averages $4.97 across 51.

Which has the cheaper entry price, In-N-Out Burger or McDonald's?

In-N-Out Burger starts at $1.30 (Milk) and McDonald's at $1.29 (Apple Slices).

Are these prices the same at every location?

No. Both chains let franchise owners set prices, so figures move by a dollar or more between markets and run highest at airport, stadium and highway locations. Treat these as the typical U.S. price, not a quote.