Where to Eat Well In The Bay Area For Less Than $1.25 In 1974

Map found on redditThe map above shows the locations for McDonald’s restaurants in the Tampa Bay, Florida area in 1974 where they claim you could get 5 different meals for less than $1.25.

The meals are:

Filet O’ Fish Sandwich, Regular Order of French Fries and a Regular Soft Drink. A tender, crispy Filet-O-Fish sandwich is a delicious change. And it’s good food value, because it’s less than $1.25 even with a regular soft drink and regular french fries.

Quarter Pounder and a Regular Size Coke. Quarter Pounder is the man-size sandwich that starts with a quarter pound of pure beef. But the price is still good value, even with a regular size cup of Coca-Cola.

Big Mac and Coffee. McDonald’s classic sandwich is way under $1.25. With a cup of coffee, you’ll still get change back.

Cheeseburger, Soft Drink and Hot Apple Pie. A cheeseburger, a soft drink and some hot apple pie make an All-American meal in an old-fashioned price — under $1.25.

Hamburger, French Fries and a Shake. A pure beef hamburger and french fries — everybody’s favorite. Match it with a regular order of fries, add a nice thick shake and don’t forget your change.

According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, $1.25 is worth around $8.46 in late 2024.

So here’s how much those items cost today according to Mcdonald’s Menu with Prices: (prices exclude meal deals)

1. Filet O’ Fish Sandwich, Regular Order of French Fries and a Regular Soft Drink: $9.07
2. Quarter Pounder and a Regular Size Coke: $8.98
3. Big Mac and Coffee: $7.18
4. Cheeseburger, Soft Drink and Hot Apple Pie: $5.97
5. Hamburger, French Fries and a Shake: $8.07

So amazingly despite 50 years of inflation McDonalds prices today are more or less in-line with what they were in 1974.