NASHVILLE, TN – The cost to make a home-prepared cheeseburger rose by 8.1 percent from May 2024 to May 2025, according to USDA data.
A quarter-pound cheeseburger cost $2.40 to prepare this year, up from $2.22 the year prior. Ground beef, the most expensive ingredient, increased by 21 cents to $1.50—up 16.2 percent year-over-year—due to tight cattle supplies.
Cheddar cheese added 37 cents per burger, a 2-cent increase over last year. Other ingredients like bread, lettuce, and tomato saw minor decreases but represent a smaller share of the total cost. Bread fell by 1 cent, lettuce by 1 cent, and tomatoes by 2 cents.
Despite slight relief from produce, overall cheeseburger costs are being driven by protein prices.
The USDA’s Economic Research Service continues to monitor trends through its Food Price Outlook, last updated June 25, 2025.