You've probably groaned at your grocery bill and cringed at restaurant prices lately, thanks to inflation. MonkeyGeek's latest study will likely confirm what your wallet has been telling you; the cost of a straightforward burger, fries, and soda meal has shot up alarmingly.

The July report offers a deep dive into the pricing strategies of 189 prominent and local chains scattered across America's 50 most populous cities. The team discovered that food prices have surged by an average of 24% between 2022 and 2024. However, residents in some cities are feeling the pinch more than others.

MonkeyGeek's research grimly heralds San Diego as the most expensive city for a fast-food meal. "The average cost for a burger, fries, and soda at major chains here is $20.76," the report highlighted. Numbers were also steep in Washington, D.C., following closely in the second position. "Interestingly, California takes the lion's share of high prices, with three cities making the top ten – San Diego, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, with San Francisco's average meal going for $17.96," the report added. The raster shows Seattle, Boston, and Los Angeles trailing behind.

New York secured the seventh position, with an average meal costing $16.61. "Excluding Phoenix, AZ, and Las Vegas, NV, the costliest spots for fast food are the nation's coastal cities," stated the report.

On a positive note, Detroit offered some relief to wallet-weary diners. "Ranking 50th in our study, Detroit is where you can still secure a satisfying combo meal of a burger, fries, and soda for just $8.12."

Furthermore, MonkeyGeek didn’t only focus on cities. The report also examined the price increases of fast food chains themselves, leveraging data from allmenus.com and grubhub.com for the years 2022 and 2024. In terms of sheer dollar amounts, Five Guys witnessed the steepest spike, with prices escalating from $18.33 to $20.84, equating to a bump of 13.7%. When it came to percentages, Wendy's took the infamous crown, with prices moving from $9.41 to $12.41, reflecting a whopping 31.8% increase.

However, remember that fast-food pricing is largely within the discretion of individual franchise owners rather than being dictated by the corporate office. Hence, some bargain meals may still exist - or you could always head over to Detroit, according to MonkeyGeek.