Updated March 2026 · BLS Average Price Data
Cost of Living in the South: A Homemade Cheeseburger Costs $3.16
A homemade cheeseburger in the South costs $3.16 as of March 2026, built from current BLS retail prices on ground beef, American cheese, white bread, iceberg lettuce, and a slice of tomato. That is 4.8% below the U.S. national average of $3.32, and +16.2% versus the same month last year.
South Cheeseburger Snapshot
| Current Cost (March 2026) | $3.16 |
| vs U.S. National Average | -4.8% ($3.32) |
| Year-over-Year Change | +16.2% |
| Month-over-Month Change | +1.3% |
| 12-Month Average | $2.94 |
| Months of BLS Data | 56 |
How South Stacks Up
At $3.16 per homemade burger, the South runs 4.8% below the U.S. average of $3.32. The discount usually traces to lower grocery markups in less dense metros and proximity to agricultural supply.
Among the four U.S. Census regions tracked here, the South ranks #4 of 4 for cost (1 = cheapest). The cheapest region right now is the Northeast at $0.00; the most expensive is the West at $3.06 — a spread of $3.06 per burger.
What's Driving the South Burger Cost?
Ground Beef (80% lean) is the single biggest line item in the South burger — $2.11, or 67% of the total cost. American Cheese is next at $0.35 (11%). The other three ingredients combined make up the rest. Beef and dairy prices are the dominant swing factors month-to-month; produce (lettuce, tomatoes) varies more by season.
Ingredient Cost Breakdown (March 2026)
| Ingredient | Per Burger | Cost | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef (80% lean) | 0.33 lbs | $2.11 | 67% |
| American Cheese | 0.063 lbs | $0.35 | 11% |
| Tomatoes | 0.125 lbs | $0.25 | 8% |
| Iceberg Lettuce | 0.063 lbs | $0.23 | 7% |
| White Bread | 0.125 lbs | $0.22 | 7% |
Is the South Burger Getting Cheaper or More Expensive?
Cost in the South has climbed sharply over the past year — up +16.2% since March 2025. That pace outruns broad food-at-home inflation as tracked by BLS, and points to localized pressure on at least one ingredient. Month-over-month into March 2026 the index moved +1.3%, suggesting the trend is still gathering pace.
Across 56 months of BLS price history, the South burger has ranged from a low of $1.94 in May 2018 to a high of $3.16 in March 2026 — a peak-to-trough swing of $1.22, or 63% of the low. Today's reading of $3.16 sits in the upper half of that range.
Last 12 Months of South Cost
| Month | Cost | MoM | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2026 | $3.16 | +1.3% | +16.2% |
| February 2026 | $3.12 | -0.9% | +16.9% |
| January 2026 | $3.15 | +1.6% | +18.0% |
| December 2025 | $3.10 | +0.3% | +15.2% |
| November 2025 | $3.09 | +4.0% | +13.6% |
| September 2025 | $2.97 | +1.7% | +11.7% |
| July 2025 | $2.92 | +3.5% | +11.9% |
| June 2025 | $2.82 | +0.4% | +8.1% |
| May 2025 | $2.81 | +2.5% | +9.8% |
| April 2025 | $2.74 | +0.7% | +5.4% |
| March 2025 | $2.72 | +1.9% | +5.0% |
| February 2025 | $2.67 | 0.0% | +4.7% |
How This Cost Is Calculated
The Cheeseburger Index combines five U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics retail price series — ground beef (APU0000703112), American cheese (APU0000710212), white bread (APU0000702111), iceberg lettuce (APU0000FL2101), and tomatoes (APU0000712311) — into a single composite cost weighted by a real recipe: a 1/3 lb 80%-lean beef patty, one 1 oz cheese slice, a 2 oz white bun, 1 oz iceberg lettuce, and one 2 oz tomato slice. Regional prices are the BLS Census-region averages (codes 0100 NE, 0200 MW, 0300 South, 0400 West). Every input is public-domain government data, refreshed monthly. Read the full methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI Average Price Data — public domain, updated monthly. Cite as: "Burgernomics, March 2026 reading. Data: BLS Average Price Data."
Last updated 2026-05-08 · 87 months of national data, 56 months for the South.
This answer pulls from BLS Consumer Price Index and per-chain published menu prices, the authoritative federal source for U.S. fast-food cheeseburger prices. The headline number above is the direct answer; what follows is the additional context most readers need to use the answer for a real decision rather than just a fact lookup.
For readers turning this answer into action: cross-reference against the underlying BLS Consumer Price Index and per-chain published menu prices record before acting on time-sensitive decisions. The site renders the data as it was published; subsequent revisions can shift the picture, and the live federal data is always the authoritative current reference.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI, 2026.