How Many Big Macs Does It Take To Buy a Home?

Anyone looking to buy a home has likely noticed how steep prices have become. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, the median sales price for an existing home in the United States reached $422,400 in July 2025. 

This was a slight increase from the $421,400 median recorded the previous July. That same month marked the 25th straight month in which home prices rose compared to the year before, showing how persistent the trend of increasing housing costs has been.

A burger-inspired look at housing prices

To put home prices into perspective, InvestorsObserver created the Big Mac Housing Index, which compares the cost of buying a median-priced U.S. home with the price of McDonald's Big Mac.

According to the 2025 report, it would take about 70,950 Big Macs to buy a median-priced home in the United States. For comparison, the long-term average between 1970 and 2025 was about 66,379 Big Macs.

California ranked as the most expensive state in the index, with about 149,223 Big Macs needed to buy a median-priced home. On the other hand, Louisiana had one of the lowest ratios, requiring only about 46,632 Big Macs for a median-priced property.

InvestorsObserver also found that from 2022 to 2025, the median U.S. home price fell from $442,600 to $410,800. During that same period, the average cost of a Big Mac rose from $5.15 to $5.79.

What the Big Mac comparison reveals

While the index is a playful way to look at real estate data, it does highlight some real economic trends. According to InvestorsObserver, when adjusted for consumer prices, homes in 2025 are slightly more affordable nationwide than they were during the height of the housing bubble in 2005. Fewer Big Macs are needed to buy a typical home today than were required 15 years ago.

Focusing on what you can actually afford

Despite these comparisons, the most important factor in buying a home is affordability. A property should fit comfortably within your financial situation, and your monthly mortgage payment should not strain your budget.

One of the best steps you can take before starting your home search is to get preapproved for a mortgage. During preapproval, a lender will review your credit, income and debt to determine the amount you qualify for. The lender will then issue a preapproval letter outlining the loan amount you can likely receive.

With that number in hand, you can focus on homes within your budget. For example, if your preapproval amount is $350,000, you can avoid looking at homes listed for $450,000. This helps you stay realistic and prevents disappointment later in the process.

Why preapproval is worth your time

Getting preapproved costs nothing and comes with no obligation to use that lender for your final mortgage. However, it gives you a clear idea of what you can afford and strengthens your position when making an offer on a home.

Before you begin house hunting, take the time to get preapproved. It is a simple step that can make your search more efficient and help ensure that the home you buy truly fits your budget.