Why is fast food so expensive now?

Fast food is more expensive now mostly because the costs of running those restaurants went up, and chains passed a lot of that on to customers.

The biggest reasons are:

• Inflation: Food, packaging, rent, insurance, and utilities all got more expensive.
• Labor costs: Many restaurants have had to raise wages to hire and keep workers, which adds to operating costs.
• Supply chain costs: Ingredients, transportation, and packaging have also cost more.
• Pricing strategy: Chains often raise menu prices more than their own costs rise so they can protect profit margins.

A lot of major chains have raised prices noticeably over the past several years, but the exact amount varies by brand, location, and franchise owner. Some limited-service chains have had especially steep menu-price increases over the past decade, and in some places fast food can end up closer in price to casual sit-down dining than people expect.

So the short version is: fast food feels expensive because the overall cost of doing business rose a lot, and many chains adjusted menu prices upward to match. Prices can still vary a lot by location and franchise owner.