Big Mac Index 2026: Compare Global Purchasing Power

Great question! The Economist publishes the official Big Mac Index twice a year with new burger prices. But here's the thing — currency markets move every second. A dollar buys different amounts of yen today versus last week. Our site takes The Economist's price data and applies live exchange rates daily. So while the burger price in Tokyo stays the same, the USD equivalent changes constantly. Toggle "Live Rates" and watch the Big Mac Index numbers shift in real-time. It's like having a currency dashboard disguised as a menu.

Simple math, burger style. We take each country's Big Mac price in USD, subtract the US price ($5.69), then divide by $5.69. If Japan's Big Mac costs $3.21, that's (3.21 - 5.69) / 5.69 = -43.6%. Negative means cheaper, positive means pricier. This percentage is the heart of the Big Mac Index — it suggests whether a currency is under or overvalued. A -43% reading hints the yen might be 43% "too weak" against the dollar, at least by burger economics.

Absolutely — and this is something most Big Mac Index tools don't offer. Use our base currency selector to switch from USD to EUR, GBP, JPY, or CNY. Suddenly Switzerland isn't the priciest anymore when measured in Swiss francs! This feature helps European travelers see the Big Mac Index from their perspective, or lets Chinese users compare purchasing power in yuan. The math recalculates everything on the fly.

More than you'd think. When a currency is severely undervalued according to the Big Mac Index, it often correlates with cheaper labor costs, which can boost export-driven stock markets. Conversely, overvalued currencies can squeeze corporate profits. Some quant funds actually track the Big Mac Index as one input for currency-hedged equity strategies. We're adding historical charts so you can overlay Big Mac price trends with major market indices — stay tuned.

Think of the Big Mac Index as your "bang for buck" compass. If you're choosing between Thailand (-42%) and Australia (+12%), your dollars stretch further in Bangkok. But it's not just about burgers — the Big Mac Index reflects broader costs: hotels, meals, transport. Countries with cheap Big Macs usually have cheaper everything. Pro tip: check our historical trends. A currency that's dropped 20% this year means your vacation just got 20% cheaper.

McDonald's doesn't operate everywhere. No Big Mac, no Big Mac Index. Countries like Iran, North Korea, and most of Africa lack McDonald's franchises. India's data uses the Maharaja Mac (chicken-based) since beef isn't sold there. The Big Mac Index covers about 70 countries — a decent sample of the global economy, but not exhaustive. We grey out unavailable regions on the map so you know where the data gaps are.

Most sites just republish The Economist's static tables. We built something more useful: daily rate updates, multi-currency base switching, interactive maps with click-to-explore, historical trend charts back to 2000, and SEO-friendly country pages you can bookmark. Our Big Mac Index tool is designed for travelers, students, and curious minds — not just economists. Plus, everything loads fast and works beautifully on mobile. No paywalls, no clutter.

Both, honestly. The Big Mac Index started as a "lighthearted guide" in 1986, but it's been cited in hundreds of academic papers, central bank reports, and finance textbooks. Why? Because it makes purchasing power parity tangible. You don't need an economics degree to understand that a $2.50 burger in one country vs $7.99 in another reveals something real about currency values. The Big Mac Index won't replace Bloomberg terminals, but it'll make you smarter at dinner parties.