McDonald's, Burger King and KFC are the three biggest fast food names on the UK high street — but which one is actually cheapest? We compared real menu prices for each chain's most popular items, all in pounds, so you can see exactly where your money goes. No estimates, no rounding — just the current UK menu prices we track.
Flagship burger: Big Mac vs Whopper vs Zinger
| Chain | Flagship Burger | UK Price |
|---|---|---|
| McDonald's | Big Mac | £6.16 |
| KFC | Zinger Burger | £7.49 |
| Burger King | Whopper | £7.76 |
The McDonald's Big Mac is the cheapest flagship at £6.16 — a full £1.60 less than the Burger King Whopper at £7.76. KFC's Zinger Burger sits in the middle at £7.49. See each on the McDonald's, KFC and Burger King menu pages.
Fries
| Chain | Fries | UK Price |
|---|---|---|
| McDonald's | Medium Fries | £2.69 |
| KFC | Regular Signature Fries | £3.19 |
| Burger King | Large Fries | £3.62 |
McDonald's again comes out cheapest on fries at £2.69 for a medium. Keep in mind the portion names differ between chains, so this is a price-per-named-portion comparison rather than gram-for-gram.
Chicken nuggets
| Chain | Item | UK Price |
|---|---|---|
| McDonald's | 6 Chicken McNuggets | £5.49 |
| Burger King | 6 Chicken Nuggets | £5.84 |
For a 6-piece, McDonald's nuggets are cheaper at £5.49 versus Burger King's £5.84.
So which UK chain is cheapest?
Across every directly comparable item we checked, McDonald's came out cheapest — the Big Mac undercuts both rivals' flagships, the medium fries are the lowest priced, and the 6-piece nuggets edge out Burger King. Burger King tends to sit at the top of the range, with KFC in between.
- Cheapest flagship burger: McDonald's Big Mac (£6.16)
- Cheapest fries: McDonald's Medium Fries (£2.69)
- Cheapest nuggets: McDonald's 6-piece (£5.49)
But cheapest isn't the whole story
Raw list price is only one part of value. Each chain plays a different game: KFC's strength is chicken, not burgers, so a Zinger-versus-Big-Mac comparison isn't quite like-for-like on what you're actually buying. Burger King's Whopper is a flame-grilled quarter-pound patty — physically larger than a Big Mac — so its higher price partly reflects more food. And all three chains run app-only deals and meal bundles that can flip the ranking on any given day. For headline menu pricing, though, McDonald's is the consistent budget winner in the UK.
How we compared
We took each chain's most-ordered, directly comparable items from current UK menus in our database and lined them up by named portion. Where portion sizes differ (fries especially), we've flagged it so you're comparing prices fairly. Build your own head-to-head on any items and any country with our compare tool.
Frequently asked questions
Is McDonald's cheaper than Burger King in the UK? Yes. On directly comparable items — flagship burger, medium fries and 6-piece nuggets — McDonald's is cheaper than Burger King across the board. The Big Mac (£6.16) undercuts the Whopper (£7.76) by £1.60.
Which is cheaper, KFC or McDonald's? On flagship items McDonald's is cheaper — the Big Mac at £6.16 beats KFC's Zinger Burger at £7.49. KFC's value is strongest within its chicken range rather than burgers.
Which UK fast food chain has the cheapest burger? Of the big three, McDonald's has the cheapest flagship burger in 2026 at £6.16 for a Big Mac.
All prices are pulled from current UK menus in our database and may differ by branch and promotion.
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