It can be said that the McDonald’s Dollar Menu is a true testament to the fruits of modern civilization. When we live in an era where an individual can purchase a McChicken, Small Fries and Hot Fudge Sundae for the price of one United States dollar a piece, it’s difficult to imagine how much further mankind can really progress. Some of us may even think, ‘At such low prices, how can McDonald’s even turn a profit? Surely they must be sacrificing themselves for the greater good of everyday values!’

However, when a list of the cost prices for various McDonald’s China products was leaked on the Internet, it was revealed that the global fast-food giant is not quite the martyr some had thought. Though this is certainly not the kind of corporate information McDonald’s would want known by the public, there was no recourse as the list spread across the world.

The leaked prices, converted from Japanese yen to U.S. dollar, are as follows:

Small French Fries: 17¢
Medium French Fries: 23¢
Hamburger: 34¢
Filet-O-Fish: 50¢
McChicken: 43¢
Cheeseburger: 42¢
Double Cheeseburger: 72¢
Big Mac: 78¢
Chicken McNugget (4pc): 30¢
Chicken McNugget (10pc): 73¢
Quarter Pounder: 72¢
Chocolate Shake: 20¢

Also leaked were prices for China-exclusive products, such as the Teppan Teriyaki Chicken Burger (64¢) and the Spicy Teppan Teriyaki Chicken Burger (65¢).
We asked for the comment of a tourism industry official well-acquainted with McDonald’s China: “In China, McDonald’s is a place for wealthy people. Sure, it doesn’t hold as much a sense of luxury as it once did, and it has become a more welcoming atmosphere for lower-middle class people, but the prices on the menu really don’t change from those of Japan. I think we can say the same for the food cost prices. As for the taste? I’d say Japan’s is much better.”
[ Read in Japanese ]