Big Mac Prices: McDonald’s French Menu, Restaurant by Restaurant

It is the flagship index maintained by The Economist. The “Big Mac Index”, based on the dollar price of this famous McDonald’s burger in every country in the world, gives the level of purchasing power around the world. Without going too far, today Le Parisien is compiling the first three-color “Big Mac index” by publishing restaurant after restaurant the price of that burger.

Le Parisien extracted in mid-January the price of one Big Mac burger (without a menu) in each of the restaurants located in the metropolis (except for Corsica, since it does not exist).

First of all, by analyzing the prices in each of the restaurants, we notice that the price of a hamburger varies depending on the location. Moreover, the difference can be significant (with an average price of 5.4 euros in more than 1500 mentioned restaurants), even if the recipe does not change (two minced steaks, cheese, special sauce, lettuce, pickles and onions between two slices of sesame bread) . The most expensive sells for up to 6.9 euros in all Dijon restaurants (in particular), while the cheapest is 4.45 euros in Vincennes.

Unlike the Big Mac Index, which The Economist can calculate for each country, it is difficult to learn from it about the level of purchasing power of each of these territories. And as proof: in some cities, prices even differ from one restaurant to another. From 4.6 euros to 6.7 euros in the same city of Paris, from 4.85 to 5.7 euros in Lyon or, in Bordeaux, from 5.3 to 6.2 euros.

Every restaurant is “free”

So how can these price differences be explained? “Each operator is free to choose its own pricing policy, which depends on a set of factors, such as the type of restaurant (city center, outskirts, size), coverage area, competition field or service provider costs. call for the proper functioning of their restaurant,” McDonald’s France management explains.

The price of a Big Mac, like other products, could rise due to inflation. Some restaurants have been able to “increase the prices of certain items, but in proportions much smaller than their supply,” notes McDonald’s France. And add: “Everything is being done to continue to offer our customers attractive and affordable prices despite this exceptional context. »