How much did a cheeseburger cost at In-N-Out when it first opened in California?

Cortlynn Stark, The Sum
·2 min read

It’s National Cheeseburger Day. And just a few days ago, it was National Double Cheeseburger Day.

But the cost of those cheeseburgers are still putting a dent in consumers’ wallets. With rising costs, how much more will that cheeseburger cost you today than it did in, say, 1948?

The Consumer Price Index rose 3.7% from August last year, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics released last week. That’s up from 3.2% in July, but still down from the June 2022 high of 9.1%.

The food-away-from-home index rose 6.5% over the last year. The food-at-home index is up 3%.

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1948 to today

When the first In-N-Out Burger opened by Harry and Esther Snyder in Baldwin Park, California, on Oct. 22, 1948, it claimed the title of the state’s first drive-thru burger stand.

Hamburgers cost 25 cents and cheeseburgers 30 cents, The Sacramento Bee previously reported. Fries and bottled soft drinks were 15 cents.

That 25 cents has the same buying power as $3.13 in today’s money, according to an inflation calculator from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The 30 cents in 1948 would be $3.76 in 2023 and 15 cents would be $1.88.

A hamburger today could cost you $2.50 and a cheeseburger $2.80. Fries are $1.85, according to PriceListo, which tracks prices of businesses. A double-double burger cost $3.95.

Another education company, FoodTruckEmpire, found a double-double now costs $4.90, a cheeseburger $3.50, a hamburger $3.15 and fries $2.15.

What about deals?

In-N-Out won’t have any deals for you on National Cheeseburger Day.

“At In-N-Out Burger, we strive to provide a good value to all our Customers every day and therefore, do not offer any discounts or coupons, or participate in promotional deals,” spokesperson Kathleen Hardesty said in a statement to McClatchy.

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