The burger bill

By The Economist online

Crowdsourced results for the price of a Big Mac

A MONTH ago we asked if you could tell us how much a Big Mac costs where you live, to compile a crowdsourced version of our Big Mac index. Although readers in many countries around the world responded (thank you!), there was not, unfortunately, enough data for each country to achieve this aim. Crowdsourcing projects such as Galaxy Zoo, Old Weather or Planet Hunters require several volunteers to give the same answer to ensure it is accurate. What was clear, however, was the price variations within countries (McDonald's provides us with a single average price for each country). The maps below show the price of a Big Mac, in local currency, across America and China. The most expensive burger in America was reported in New York, at $4.34. The cheapest burger was found in California, at $2.99 (though it was not stated if this included tax). Prices in the state ranged from $2.99-3.99, according to our readers. Big Mac price differences were even more pronounced in Shanghai: the full range of burger prices across China (10.5-15 yuan) could be found within that one province. Only one person, however, reported a price of 10.5 yuan; the most common was 15 yuan. For more on regional economic variations in America and China, see our interactive maps of US states and Chinese provinces.