Here's Where You'll Find The World's Most Expensive Big Mac
McDonald's has become one of the largest fast food chains in the world, right behind Subway, says World Atlas. After starting as a roadside joint in California in the '40s, the golden arches as we know them first appeared in 1953 and have become a classic sign that a quarter pounder or chicken nuggets are just a few feet away. With cheap and plentiful (not to mention delicious) options, it's really no wonder that the burger joint serves 68 million people each and every day.
The success of McDonald's has led to the opening of more than 36,000 locations across 120 countries, meaning you should always be able to fulfill a burger craving wherever you go. World Atlas further points out that the US has the most McDonald's, with more than 14,000 restaurants. Japan is second with 2,975 locations and China comes in third with 2,200 branches.
McDonald's is known for having affordable fast food, not least of all a dollar menu that serves as a star attraction, with the option of four-piece chicken nuggets, double cheeseburgers, small fries, and a plethora of other picks. So, it may come as a surprise to know the reigning pick of them all, the Big Mac, is topping the standard $4-$5 in some parts of the world.
This is where the most expensive Big Mac lives
If you are wanting to see incredible alpine views, enjoy creamy milk chocolate and fondue, and get a Big Mac worth $7.29, then head over to Switzerland. Yep, one Big Mac stacked with creamy secret sauce, two patties, and cheese will cost you substantially more in that European country than anywhere else in the world.
In fact, the price in Switzerland is almost a full dollar more than the second highest price, which is $6.37 in Sweden, says FXSSI. This is due to the fact that Swiss currency is the world's most overvalued and expensive in the world. In contrast, Lebanon has the cheapest Big Mac, coming in at only $1.77 because that country has the least valued currency in the world.
It all has to do with pound exchange (not to be confused with a double quarter pounder exchange). So, if the currency is undervalued and costs less to exchange, then things will be cheaper to buy. In the case of Lebanon, their open market currency has lost 80 to 90% of its worth, which explains why the Big Mac is so cheap to buy there (via Foreign Policy).
So, you may not be able to find a $2 Big Mac everywhere in the world, but you can still surely feast on the $1, $2, $3 McDonald's menu in all 120 countries.