Yes, In-N-Out Is More Expensive Now — Here's Why

In-N-Out, the West Coast's favorite fast-food chain, is doing something it has fought long and hard not to: raising its prices — at least in California.

On April 1, California's FAST Act went into effect, raising the minimum wage from $16 an hour to $20. According to Lynsi Snyder, the owner and president of In-N-Out, the new law forced the company to increase its pricing to ensure a healthy profit margin. 

"We continue to raise menu prices only when absolutely necessary, as we did on April 1 of this year in our California restaurants," Snyder said in a statement shared with several media outlets. "Providing the best value we can for our Customers has always been very important to us, and it will continue to be."

According to Los Angeles Magazine, In-N-Out increased the prices of its Double-Double combo to $10.45, its cheeseburger combo to $8.65, and its hamburger combo to $8.15 (before tax). As USA Today reported, that works out to an increase of $0.25 to $0.50, depending on the location. And KTLA reported that a Double-Double combo now costs $11.44 in Los Angeles County, marking a $0.76 increase from 2023 pricing.

However, Los Angeles Magazine noted that this pricing change isn't exactly one huge jump. In 2020, the price for that Double-Double was $8.59 after tax, and in 2021 increased to $9.14 before finally exceeding the $10 mark in 2023, when the price hit $10.68. 

In-N-Out is far from alone in raising its pricing in recent years. In fact, prices for fast-food meals have increased so drastically that many consumers now consider it a "luxury," according to a recent study by LendingTree. In the study, 78% of respondents agreed with the statement that “fast food has gotten more expensive, and I now view it as a luxury,” while 65% of respondents said they had been "shocked" by a recent high bill at a fast-food restaurant.

In-In-Out isn't the only company raising its prices after the minimum wage hike. Prices at fast-food restaurants like McDonald's, Burger King, Pizza Hut, and Chick-fil-A have all gone up, while executives at Chipotle noted they too will raise prices.