Birmingham Ranks No. 6 for Fast Food Spending

Birmingham residents may be feeling the impact of rising fast-food prices more than consumers in many of the nation’s largest cities, according to a new WalletHub study.

WalletHub ranked Birmingham No. 6 among 100 U.S. cities where fast food accounts for the largest share of residents’ median monthly household income.

The study compared the combined price of three common fast-food purchases ,a hamburger, fried chicken sandwich and small pizza, in each city. Researchers then compared that total with the city’s median household income to determine the relative affordability of fast food.

In Birmingham, the three items combined represented 0.57% of the city’s median monthly household income, according to WalletHub. Birmingham tied Toledo, Ohio, at 0.57%.

Only Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo, Hialeah and Toledo ranked at or above Birmingham in the study. Detroit landed at No. 1, with the three fast-food items accounting for 0.73% of median monthly household income.

The study comes as consumers continue to face higher prices at limited-service restaurants. WalletHub reported that prices at those restaurants increased by an average of 3.1% between June 2025 and June 2026, outpacing overall inflation during that period.

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“Fast food has grown more and more expensive in recent years, outpacing inflation,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said. “As a result, it’s worthwhile for consumers to think critically about whether the convenience of fast food really justifies the cost.”

WalletHub noted that its ranking is not simply a comparison of menu prices. A city’s household income plays a significant role because the study measures how much of residents’ income is represented by the cost of the three selected food items.

At the opposite end of the ranking, Fremont, California, had the smallest share at 0.21%, followed by Plano, Texas, and Gilbert, Arizona, at 0.24%. Austin, Texas, was fourth-lowest at 0.25%, while Irvine, California, registered 0.26%.

WalletHub also offered several suggestions for consumers trying to reduce fast-food spending, including using restaurant coupons and apps, joining rewards programs, avoiding delivery fees, limiting extras and eating out less frequently.