How Much A Whopper Cost The Year You Were Born

Burger King’s Whopper is one of the most iconic fast food items ever created. I mean, it’s no Big Mac—the Whopper actually debuted before McDonald’s own instantly-recognizable burger. Created in 1957 at a Miami-area Burger King as a response to a local Florida restaurant that was selling sandwiches bigger than Burger King’s own, the original Whopper immediately rose to its place in fast food history. 

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The larger, quarter-pound beef patty the Whopper is built around is what made it such a staple. Burger fans quickly began flocking to Burger King for the Whopper, and now, after nearly 70 years, it’s still just as popular. But it’s also far more expensive. If you’re wondering just how much the price of a Whopper has risen, here’s what the fast food sandwich cost in the year you were born—and the rest of its seven decades of history.

1950s

The Whopper hit Burger King in 1957, so it was only around for a small portion of the 1950s. But when it debuted, it was larger than other burgers of the era. And it was priced accordingly: a Whopper cost $0.37, which was more than double the $0.15 price of a McDonald’s hamburger.

1960s

The original Whopper stayed the same price throughout the 1960s and never rose a penny above $0.37 (a feat, all things considered!). But a new version of the Whopper did debut at Burger King in this decade.

The Whopper Jr. was introduced in 1963 as a smaller take on the original. So, while the Whopper stayed consistent at $0.37, diners could pick up a Whopper Jr. for the lower price of $0.21.

1970s

By the time 1970 rolled around, the Whopper hadn’t changed and neither had its price. Yes, that’s right: the Whopper was still $0.37. Even as inflation rose and prices climbed at other fast food restaurants, Burger King kept its prices stable and the Whopper at under $0.40 per sandwich.

1980s

After more than 20 years, the 1980s introduced the first-ever price change for Burger King’s Whopper. The supersized sandwich finally increased in price and it more than doubled. The Whopper rose to $1.39 in 1982. It stayed at this price for the rest of the decade.

1990s

The 1990s brought another price hike for the Whopper, but it didn’t happen immediately. In fact, Burger King actually tried to lower the price, at least temporarily—in 1995, the chain introduced a $1 Whopper promotion in an effort to draw customers into restaurants.

But, when this promotion wasn’t running, the cost of a Whopper rose higher. Pricing also became more region-dependent, so depending on where you visited a Burger King, you could find a Whopper priced anywhere from $2 to $2.50 throughout the decade.

2000s

In the year 2000, Burger King was once again running a promotion on the Whopper that dropped its price down to just $1 per sandwich. At the start of the new century, Burger King offered a two Whoppers for just $2 deal, bringing the price equivalent to the $1 promotions of the ‘90s.

But, in general, beyond the two-for-$2 deal, the price of the Whopper remained consistently between $2 and $2.50 for the first half of the decade. That didn’t change until 2006, when the average national price of the big burger rose a full dollar to $3.50.

2010s

Prices kept rising as the 2010s arrived, and in 2014 picking up a Whopper cost more than double what it did back in 2004. That year, the average price of Burger King’s Whopper was $5.79—though once again pricing was dependent on your local restaurant. 

The one perk of this higher price? You weren’t paying $5.79 for just a Whopper alone. That price included fries and a drink, offering you a complete meal for your money.

Unfortunately, before the 2010s ended, the price of the Whopper rose again. By 2018, the cost of the iconic fast food burger fell between $4 and $6. So, depending on your location, you might’ve seen another $0.20 increase (or more) on this one item. 

2020s

Today, the Whopper is still around and (unfortunately) getting more expensive. The regular price of Burger King’s staple sandwich can run you anywhere from $4.50 to $7, depending on where you pick one up. In fact, if you live in a high cost of living area like San Francisco, you might even pay as much as $8.19 (though Midwestern Burger King prices see the Whopper as low as $5.79).

However, for a short time in 2021, it was possible to pay less than $0.50 for a Whopper. That year, Burger King ran a two-day promotion that sold the Whopper at its original price tag—and we’re hoping it returns for the sandwich’s big 70th anniversary. Here’s to hoping the quality only continues to get better, too.