- I've tried the cheapest cheeseburgers at McDonald's, Burger King and Wendy's.
- All cost about $3 before tax.
- I thought Burger King's cheeseburger was the most flavorful and the best value.
The price of fast food hamburgers is increasing every year.
According to a May report from FinanceBuzz, the average fast-food menu price has increased 39% to 100% since 2014, and McDonald's prices have doubled over the past decade.
While rising fast-food prices are due to factors like inflation and rising labor costs, the classic cheeseburger remains one of the cheapest menu items at most fast-food chains.
I decided to order the cheapest cheeseburgers from three of the biggest burger chains — McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's — to determine which one was best value for money.
They all had the same classic ingredients: one beef patty, a slice of cheese, and ketchup.
But in terms of taste and value there was a clear winner.
Here are the cheapest cheeseburgers from McDonald's, Wendy's, and Burger King, ranked from worst to best.
I felt the burger was flavorful and well balanced.
All the ingredients, from the burger patty to the cheese to the thick-sliced onions, really elevate the flavor of this palm-sized burger.
The bun was firm and considering all the ingredients, I thought the burger was worth the $3.74 price tag, the most expensive of the three burgers.
But it still wasn't my favorite, or even the most flavorful cheeseburger.
The cheese was rich and perfectly melted on the burger patty, something I've never experienced with a McDonald's or Wendy's burger.
The sesame seed bun also packs a punch of flavor, something you don't get with the traditional toasted bread from the other two chains.
But the highlight of this burger was the patty itself.
The flame-grilled burger had a strong smoky flavor that didn't overpower the other ingredients and was a perfect match with the ketchup and mustard.
Not only was this burger the most flavorful, it was also the best value: At $2.59, it was the cheapest burger I've ever eaten.
