‘Inflation hell’: McDonald's’s prices skyrocket as Aussie charged $3.80 for hash brown

A McDonald’s customer has expressed their disbelief after being charged $7.60 for two items, amid the country’s cost-of-living crisis.

The customer was charged $3.80 for a single hash brown. Picture: Supplied

A McDonald’s customer has been left shocked by the outrageous price of a popular breakfast item, amid the country’s cost-of-living crisis.

Taking to Reddit, the customer expressed their disbelief after two hash browns set him back a total $7.60, at $3.80 a piece, when dining at the Karratha McDonalds, in Western Australia on Tuesday.

“What in the inflation hell?! $3.80 for ONE hash brown?” they wrote on the social media platform.

A photo of the receipt showed the customer also paid a whopping $6.30 for a single cheeseburger, leaving some online to reminisce when the popular burger would cost just a few dollars,

“Remember when cheeseburgers were two dollarydoos?” one user commented.

“Hamburgers were a dollar!” said another.

What in the inflation hell?! $3.80 for ONE hash brown?
by u/A-bat-a-man-2009 in australia

Across the country, others have also been shocked by the steep price of a single hash brown.

“That’s not worth it,” university students Ashley and Rachel told news.com.au of the $3.80 price point.

“For a potato that’s mashed up, that’s too much.”

The 20-year-olds have also noticed a rise in McDonald’s prices in Sydney and were taken aback when they visited the Ultimo store last week to find a standard six pack of chicken nuggets costs an eye-watering $8.

“It’s crazy that six chicken nuggets was $8, you’re paying over a dollar per nugget,” said Rachel.

“Today we saw that 20 chicken nuggets were $14.45 so we decided to split it because it will be cheaper,” said Ashley.

Ashley and Rachel decided to share a pack of 20 chicken nuggets after learning of the “crazy “prices. Image: Supplied

Canadian tourist Jeff was also surprised to learn how expensive McDonald’s menu items are in Australia, after landing in Sydney on Wednesday morning.

“In Canada, coffee is max $2 [Canadian dollars] and this was around $5 for a black coffee,” the 23-year-old said at the Ultimo store, adding he probably won’t be back to McDonalds’ during his brief Sydney stay.

“I’m trying to stay on a budget and I honestly thought Mcdonald’s would be cheap.”

Jeff is planning on returning to McDonald's in Sydney after learning of the prices. Image: Supplied.

It costs $4.60 for a cheeseburger, $8 for a six-pack of chicken nuggets, $3.10 for a hash brown, and $5.95 for a large strawberry thickshake at the McDonald's’s store in Ultimo, Sydney. Picture: Supplied

Jessica, an international student from Hong Kong, also found Australia’s prices were “much more expensive” than those back home.

“In Hong Kong a meal will cost around $12 or $13 [AUD] but here it is almost $20,” she said.

“I’m trying so hard not to come as much. But I’m a student and I can’t prevent it.”

The cost of living crisis has seen inflation play out in supermarkets and takeaway stores across the country, leaving many Aussies feeling the pinch.

In June, analysis conducted by USB found prices at McDonald’s increased by 8 per cent since last August.

The Daily Mailalso found individual McDonalds’ items, which can vary from store to store, have skyrocketed between June and March 2019.

The publication found a Big Mac burger ordered at the restaurant or via the MyMaccas app cost $7.35 in June, compared to $5.75 in March 2019, while Cheeseburgers had seen a 58 per cent increase from $3.15 in 2019 to $4.30 in June.

In comparison, a Big Mac at the Ultimo store will set you back $7.65 while a cheeseburger will cost $4.60.

Last month, McDonald’s Australia responded to concerns of increased prices, telling news.com.au the business has been affected by soaring production costs, including the price of buying ingredients and maintaining restaurants.

“Like all businesses we are operating in a higher-cost environment, which does impact the cost of running great restaurants in communities across Australia,” a spokesman said.

“We will always work hard to provide our customers with great value.

“We’re committed to our ‘Value means more at Macca’s’ promise, which not only includes great everyday pricing but also providing great customer service, 24/7 convenience and focusing on year-round offers like our family bundles.”