Prices are approximate and vary by restaurant. Last updated September 2026.
McDonald’s and KFC are the two heavyweights of British fast food, and the question of which one is cheaper comes up constantly. The honest answer is: it depends what you order. McDonald’s wins clearly at the budget end, KFC holds its own on chicken-led meals, and for group orders the maths gets interesting.
This is an independent comparison — we are not affiliated with either company. All prices below are typical ranges gathered from UK restaurants in 2026; both chains set prices at the restaurant level, so your local branch may differ. We have cross-checked KFC figures against current menu-price listings and McDonald’s figures against our own price guides.
Flagship burgers: Big Mac vs Zinger
The most natural head-to-head is each chain’s signature burger.
- McDonald’s Big Mac — around £4–£5.50 for the burger alone, with a medium meal typically £5–£7. Two beef patties, Big Mac sauce, the works.
- KFC Zinger Burger — around £6.99 for the burger alone, with the Zinger Burger Meal (regular fries and regular drink) at about £8.99.
On the flagship alone, McDonald’s is the clear winner: the Big Mac costs roughly two pounds less than the Zinger, and the meal gap is similar. The Quarter Pounder with Cheese, at around £4.50–£5.50, is McDonald’s closest answer to KFC’s premium chicken burgers — and it is still cheaper than the Zinger.
That said, they are different products. The Zinger is a spicy breaded chicken fillet burger; the Big Mac is a double beef burger with its famous sauce. If you specifically want spicy chicken in a bun, KFC is the only one of the two that sells it — but you will pay a premium for the privilege.
Chicken pieces and nuggets
This is KFC’s home turf, so the comparison is more nuanced.
- KFC Original Recipe chicken (1 piece) — around £2.39. A single piece of on-the-bone chicken.
- McDonald’s 6 Chicken McNuggets — around £5 (typically £4.69–£5.19 depending on the restaurant). A different proposition: boneless, breaded, with dips.
- McDonald’s 9 Chicken McNuggets — usually £4.50–£6.
- KFC Mini Fillet Burger — around £2.29, from the budget-friendly Cult Classic Savers range.
Per piece, KFC’s on-the-bone chicken is reasonably priced, but McDonald’s nuggets often work out cheaper per bite — especially the larger boxes. Neither chain has a decisive advantage here; it comes down to whether you prefer on-the-bone or boneless.
Fries and sides
- McDonald’s medium fries — around £1.10–£2.20.
- KFC regular Signature Fries — around £2.49.
- McDonald’s side salad — from about £1.09, one of the cheapest sides in all of fast food.
McDonald’s takes this round comfortably. Its fries are cheaper across every comparable size, and the £1.09 side salad has no real equivalent at KFC. KFC’s sides lean more premium — gravy, beans and corn are part of the appeal — but you pay for it.
Kids’ meals
- McDonald’s Happy Meal — around £4.19, including a main, fries or veggie bag, a drink and a toy or book.
- KFC Kids’ Box — around £4.99, with a kids’ burger, mini fillet and dip, or popcorn chicken.
This is one of the biggest gaps in the whole comparison. The Happy Meal is roughly two pounds cheaper than the KFC equivalent, making McDonald’s the obvious choice for families watching the budget.
Sharing buckets and group orders
KFC built its reputation on buckets, and this is where it fights back.
- KFC 10-piece Bargain Bucket — around £20.99. A sharing bucket for a family or group.
- McDonald’s 20 Chicken McNuggets Sharebox — typically £6.50–£8.50.
McDonald’s does not really do an equivalent of the KFC bucket — the 20-nugget Sharebox is the closest thing, and it is excellent value per nugget, but it is nuggets only. For a mixed group wanting on-the-bone chicken, tenders and wings in one box, KFC’s buckets are fairly priced for what you get, working out at roughly £2 per piece before sides.
Verdict on groups: if everyone is happy with nuggets, McDonald’s is cheaper. If you want a proper mixed chicken feast, KFC’s buckets are competitive.
Meal deals and box meals
- KFC Zinger Box Meal — around £11.49, bundling the burger with extra sides and a drink.
- KFC Fillet Box Meal — around £11.49; other box meals run up to about £12.99.
- McDonald’s medium meals — most land between £5 and £7.50, even for premium burgers.
This is where the price gap is starkest. A KFC box meal costs nearly double a typical McDonald’s medium meal. The box meals are bigger — more sides, more food — but on pure price, McDonald’s wins every like-for-like meal comparison we ran.
App deals and loyalty
Both chains push their apps hard, and both reward regulars.
- McDonald’s app — points on every order through MyMcDonald’s Rewards, plus rotating offers in the Rewards & Offers section. The Saver Menu (items from about £1.09) is the permanent budget backbone, and limited-time deals appear regularly.
- KFC app — its own rotating deals and occasional bargain buckets, plus click-and-collect ordering.
McDonald’s has the structural advantage here: the Saver Menu means there is always a genuinely cheap option, app or no app. KFC’s deals tend to be promotional rather than permanent, so the everyday floor price is higher.
Head-to-head price table
| Item | McDonald’s (typical) | KFC (typical) |
|---|---|---|
| Flagship burger | Big Mac ~£4–£5.50 | Zinger Burger ~£6.99 |
| Flagship burger meal | Big Mac medium meal ~£5–£7 | Zinger Burger Meal ~£8.99 |
| Cheapest burger | Hamburger ~£1.20–£1.70 | Mini Fillet Burger ~£2.29 |
| Chicken pieces | 6 McNuggets ~£4.69–£5.19 | 1pc Original Recipe ~£2.39 |
| Fries (regular/medium) | ~£1.10–£2.20 | ~£2.49 |
| Kids’ meal | Happy Meal ~£4.19 | Kids’ Box ~£4.99 |
| Sharing option | 20 Nuggets Sharebox ~£6.50–£8.50 | 10pc Bargain Bucket ~£20.99 |
| Premium box meal | n/a | ~£11.49–£12.99 |
The verdict: which is cheaper?
McDonald’s UK is cheaper than KFC in 2026 — across almost every category. The gap is smallest on chicken pieces and largest on kids’ meals and full meals. A solo diner can eat well at McDonald’s for £5–£7; the equivalent satisfaction at KFC more often lands at £9–£12.
KFC’s case rests on three things: it is the only choice if you want on-the-bone fried chicken or a Zinger-style spicy fillet burger, its sharing buckets are fairly priced for groups, and its fans would argue the chicken justifies the premium. Those are legitimate points — price is not the same as value, and plenty of people happily pay more for the Colonel’s recipe.
But if the question is strictly “which is cheaper”, the answer is McDonald’s, and it is not particularly close. The Saver Menu alone — with items from about £1.09 — gives McDonald’s a budget floor that KFC simply does not try to match.
Tips for saving at either chain
- Always check the app first. Both chains run rotating offers; McDonald’s Rewards & Offers section and the KFC app deals can shave pounds off a regular order.
- Compare the meal vs separate items. At McDonald’s, the meal is usually the better deal; at KFC, box meals bundle a lot of food but cost accordingly — check whether you actually want everything in the box.
- Avoid delivery markups. Both chains charge higher menu prices on Uber Eats, Just Eat and Deliveroo, plus fees. A £7 McDonald’s meal can become £10+ delivered; KFC’s higher base prices inflate even more.
- For groups, do the per-person maths. A £20.99 KFC bucket split four ways is about £5.25 each — suddenly competitive with individual McDonald’s meals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is KFC more expensive than McDonald’s in the UK?
Yes, in most like-for-like comparisons. Flagship burgers, meals, kids’ options and sides are all typically £1–£3 more expensive at KFC.
What is the cheapest thing at KFC UK?
The Mini Fillet Burger at around £2.29 (from the Cult Classic Savers range) is among the cheapest items, but KFC has no real answer to McDonald’s £1.09–£1.90 Saver Menu tier.
Which has better deals, McDonald’s or KFC?
McDonald’s has the permanent Saver Menu plus rotating app offers; KFC relies more on limited-time promotions. For consistent everyday value, McDonald’s wins.
Is KFC chicken better quality than McDonald’s?
That is a matter of taste — KFC’s on-the-bone Original Recipe chicken and McDonald’s nuggets are entirely different products. This guide compares prices, not quality.
Do prices vary between branches?
Yes — both chains let individual restaurants set prices, so expect to pay more in central London, airports and service stations.
Final thoughts
McDonald’s vs KFC is one of those debates that will never be settled on taste — but on price, 2026 has a clear winner. McDonald’s undercuts KFC at every turn: cheaper flagship burgers, cheaper meals, dramatically cheaper kids’ options, and a Saver Menu that keeps the floor low. KFC earns its premium with a distinct product — proper fried chicken, buckets built for sharing, and the cult of the Zinger — and its fans will tell you it is worth every penny. Choose with your wallet or your taste buds; at least now you know exactly what each choice costs.