Price of a Big Mac

In brief

The "Price of a Big Mac" ranking covers 55 countries and territories. Lowest value: Russia ($1.74). Highest value: Switzerland ($9.04). Median: $4.99 (data: 2022–2026). The top 10% of countries exceed $7.30, while the bottom 10% stay below $2.88. By continent, the median is highest in Europe ($5.82) and lowest in Asia ($3.97).

Median by continent

Why this indicator matters

The price of a Big Mac serves as a simple benchmark for comparing the cost of living. Since it is the same sandwich everywhere, it helps show where the same product looks expensive or cheap once converted into dollars.

What makes this indicator vary

The price depends on local wages, ingredient costs, rents, taxes and competition. It also varies with the exchange rate, because converting into dollars makes a local price higher or lower depending on the value of the currency.

Reading precautions

A single product does not sum up the cost of living: the Big Mac is not bought in the same way or by the same people everywhere. The dollar price moves with exchange rates, and the readings are taken twice a year.