Cleveland, Detroit Spend Highest Income Share on Fast Food in US

A WalletHub study analyzing fast food expenses relative to median household incomes found that Cleveland, Ohio, ranks as the U.S. city spending the most on fast food, with residents spending about 0.68% of their monthly income on items like burgers, chicken sandwiches, and pizza. This high percentage is largely due to Cleveland having the lowest median household income in the country, despite its fast food prices being moderate compared to other cities. Detroit ranks second nationally, with residents spending 0.67% of their monthly income on fast food, also driven by low median income levels combined with reasonable fast food prices. Florida cities Hialeah and Miami also made the top 10 list for fast food spending relative to income. Experts suggest that consumers consider using coupons, budgeting wisely, avoiding delivery fees, eating out less frequently, and joining rewards programs to save money on fast food. Additionally, fast food remains popular for its convenience and comfort, with McDonald's identified as the top fast food chain among travelers in 2025 according to Tripadvisor.