20 States Where People Spend the Most on Fast Food

Fast food is a regular part of American life, whether it is a quick lunch between errands, a late-night drive-thru stop, or an easy meal on a busy weeknight. With chains found in small towns, suburbs, and major cities, it is no surprise that fast food spending adds up quickly for many households.

This list looks at the states where residents spend the most on fast food, based on a WalletHub analysis that compared fast food costs as a share of median monthly household income. We also included extra context for each state, including population, the average price of a Taco Bell meal, and some of the most popular fast food chains in the area.

The results show where fast food takes up the biggest share of household income, not just where meals are the most expensive. That makes the ranking especially interesting, since it reflects both local prices and how far the average paycheck goes in each state.

Mississippi

Population: 2.943 million
Average Price of a Fast Food Meal: $5.67
Cost of Fast Food as a Share of Median Monthly Household Income: 0.47%
Popular Fast Food Spots: Subway, Hunt Brothers Pizza, Chick-fil-A, and McDonald's

New Mexico

Population: 2.13 million
Average Price of a Fast Food Meal: $6.25
Cost of Fast Food as a Share of Median Monthly Household Income: 0.47%
Popular Fast Food Spots: Whataburger, In-N-Out, Blake's Lotaburger, and Perico's Tacos & Burritos

Kentucky

Population: 4.588 million
Average Price of a Fast Food Meal: $5.85
Cost of Fast Food as a Share of Median Monthly Household Income: 0.46%
Popular Fast Food Spots: Domino's, KFC, McDonald's, Wendy's, and Subway

Arkansas

Population: 3.088 million
Average Price of a Fast Food Meal: $5.73
Cost of Fast Food as a Share of Median Monthly Household Income: 0.45%
Popular Fast Food Spots: Chick-Fil-A, Slim Chickens, Domino's, and McDonald's

West Virginia

Population: 1.77 million
Average Price of a Fast Food Meal: $5.85
Cost of Fast Food as a Share of Median Monthly Household Income: 0.44%
Popular Fast Food Spots: Subway, McDonald's, Dairy Queen, and Little Caesars

Louisiana

Population: 4.598 million
Average Price of a Fast Food Meal: $6.02
Cost of Fast Food as a Share of Median Monthly Household Income: 0.44%
Popular Fast Food Spots: Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Subway, McDonald's, Sonic Drive-In, and Burger King

Alabama

Population: 5.158 million
Average Price of a Fast Food Meal: $5.79
Cost of Fast Food as a Share of Median Monthly Household Income: 0.43%
Popular Fast Food Spots: Subway, McDonald's, Jack's, Burger King, and Taco Bell

Montana

Population: 1.137 million
Average Price of a Fast Food Meal: $6.20
Cost of Fast Food as a Share of Median Monthly Household Income: 0.43%
Popular Fast Food Spots: Subway, McDonald's, Pizza Hut, and Dairy Queen

Oklahoma

Population: 4.095 million
Average Price of a Fast Food Meal: $5.91
Cost of Fast Food as a Share of Median Monthly Household Income: 0.42%
Popular Fast Food Spots: Sonic Drive-In, Braums, Del Rancho, and Taco Bueno

Vermont

Population: 648,493
Average Price of a Fast Food Meal: $6.66
Cost of Fast Food as a Share of Median Monthly Household Income: 0.42%
Popular Fast Food Spots: Subway, Chicken Charlie's, and McDonald's

Florida

Population: 23.37 million
Average Price of a Fast Food Meal: $6.48
Cost of Fast Food as a Share of Median Monthly Household Income: 0.41%
Popular Fast Food Spots: Chick-fil-A, Wendy's, Burger King, Taco Bell, and Chili's

South Carolina

Population: 5.479 million
Average Price of a Fast Food Meal: $5.79
Cost of Fast Food as a Share of Median Monthly Household Income: 0.41%
Popular Fast Food Spots: Subway, McDonald's, Burger King, and Bojangles

Maine

Population: 1.405 million
Average Price of a Fast Food Meal: $6.48
Cost of Fast Food as a Share of Median Monthly Household Income: 0.40%
Popular Fast Food Spots: Dunkin, Subway, McDonald's, and Burger King

Arizona

Population: 7.582 million
Average Price of a Fast Food Meal: $6.43
Cost of Fast Food as a Share of Median Monthly Household Income: 0.39%
Popular Fast Food Spots: Subway, McDonald's, Taco Bell, Burger King, and Starbucks

Missouri

Population: 6.245 million
Average Price of a Fast Food Meal: $5.79
Cost of Fast Food as a Share of Median Monthly Household Income: 0.38%
Popular Fast Food Spots: Taco Bell, McDonald's, Domino's, and Pizza Hut

Indiana

Population: 6.924 million
Average Price of a Fast Food Meal: $5.96
Cost of Fast Food as a Share of Median Monthly Household Income: 0.38%
Popular Fast Food Spots: White Castle, McDonald's, Hunt Brothers Pizza, and Subway

Tennessee

Population: 7.228 million
Average Price of a Fast Food Meal: $6.37
Cost of Fast Food as a Share of Median Monthly Household Income: 0.38%
Popular Fast Food Spots: Subway, McDonald's, Taco Bell, Burger King, and Pizza Hut

Nebraska

Population: 2.005 million
Average Price of a Fast Food Meal: $5.91
Cost of Fast Food as a Share of Median Monthly Household Income: 0.38%
Popular Fast Food Spots: McDonald's, Chick-fil-A, Wendy's, Culvers, and Raising Cane's