Price Czech: Why your burger is getting more expensive

If you’ve noticed your burger costing more lately, you’re not alone. Whether you’re grabbing a quick bite at a fast-food outlet or grilling a homemade burger in your garden, the price of meat in Czechia keeps rising.

Foods like beef and types of chicken lead the way in terms of price jumps: but by how much, and why?

Once synonymous with affordability and speed, fast food in the Czech Republic is undergoing a quiet but steady transformation—one that hurts you, as the consumer.

Take the Cheeseburger at McDonald’s, for example. It costed just CZK 33 in 2021, now it costs CZK 45. The Double Cheeseburger has jumped nearly 55 percent in the same time. 

The price to enjoy the chain’s famous Big Mac was CZK 89 in 2021—now, it’s CZK 109. Even condiments have been affected—regular ketchup has doubled in price, from CZK 6 to CZK 12.

This shift isn't unique to McDonald's. Czech fast-food chain Bageterie Boulevard and Burger King have also adjusted their pricing, pointing to higher operational costs. 

“A combination of several key factors influences our pricing—first and foremost, the rising costs of quality raw materials,” Bageterie Boulevard executive director Jitka Remsová told Czech media outlet Seznam Zprávy.

The real culprit behind your pricier burger lies beyond the counter. Raw ingredients are becoming more expensive, especially meat. 

A kilogram of beef burger meat now costs almost CZK 249—up 13 percent from last year. Prepare, then, for more expensive barbeques at home this summer.

Beef ribs saw an even steeper jump, rising 25 percent year-on-year. Chicken, once a cheaper alternative, isn’t immune either: prices for whole chickens rose 12 percent, and chicken thighs are up 9 percent. Bavarian sausages have also gone up 10 percent.

Some classic barbecue ingredients have actually become cheaper, though. Zucchini and peppers are down 26 and 30 percent respectively since this time last year, and oil is also slighter less expensive.

Paprika is down by 30 percent, and salmon down by 13 percent. Bacon has also seen a decrease: from CZK 139 last year to about CZK 129 today.

Chicken breast has dropped 24 percent year on year to CZK 128 per kilogram, and pork roast is down 20 percent.

The message is clear: if you’re trying to eat meat on a budget, beef is no longer your best choice, and chicken, fish, or pork may be the more affordable options in relative terms.

The price increases, while gradual, are transforming how people interact with fast food. Consumers are increasingly cautious, reaching for bundled menus, discount apps, and loyalty coupons to soften the financial blow, Seznam reports.

Faced with rising beef prices, chains are tweaking their menus. “With the rising price of beef, customers are more often inclined to the chicken offer,” explains Kateřina Bryndová, brand manager at Burger King. 

However, this creates a domino effect across the supply chain. As industry analyst Luboš Kastner summed up: “Customers are choosing chicken more often, but everyone’s doing it—so chicken prices are also creeping up.”

Still, fast food remains remarkably popular: 65 percent of Czechs eat fast food at least once a month, and 18 percent go weekly, according to the Barometer Food 2024 survey.