McDonald's is raising the price of its popular "cost-of-living" meal Down Under, as the fast food company's CEO confirms "its price promise has come to an end."
McSmart Meal Price Increase
The McSmart Meal, launched in June 2024 in Australia, offers a Cheeseburger, Small Fries, and Small Soft Drink plus a choice of side for AUD6.95. Australians enjoyed the meal amid the country's high cost of living, but rumors emerged in April that the McSmart Meal was set to disappear from menus after a patron noticed the small print on the popular menu item read "available from 10.30am to midnight until June 30, 2026."
False information circulated on social media that the meal would be canceled from the menu of McDonald's, lovingly termed Macca's in Australia, from the end of June. The prospect of losing the McSmart Meal worried some loyal customers. A TikTok user shared a video highlighting worry that the meal had been discontinued, captioned: "We may never see such a great invention again." "This is not a McSmart move at all," noted one.
Official Confirmation
McDonald's Australia has confirmed the McSmart Meal will stay on the menu and only the price will change from July 1. It will cost an additional one dollar from next month. "When we launched our 12-month price promise on McSmart in 2025, it quickly became one of your favourite ways to order a delicious, affordable meal at Macca's," Joe Chiczewski, McDonald’s Australia CEO, said. "Our 12-month price promise comes to an end on 30 June, but our commitment to value doesn't."
New Deal and Options
The new AUD7.95 deal has had a slight upgrade, with diners in restaurants, the drive-through, and on the MyMacca’s app now able to purchase a Cheeseburger or Chicken ‘n’ Cheese with a Small Fries and Small Soft Drink plus a choice of either 3-piece Chicken McNuggets, Hash Brown, Hot Apple Pie, or Cookies as a side. There are also two new options to the McSmart range, including the "McSmart Plus" which offers customers a McDouble, Small Fries, Small Soft Drink with a choice of either Chicken ‘n’ Cheese, 3-piece Chicken McNuggets, Hash Brown, or Small Sundae, for AUD9.95. The other option is the "McSmart Saver", available only on the MyMacca's app, which offers customers a Hamburger, Small Fries, Small Soft Drink, and a 3-piece Chicken McNuggets for AUD6.95.
McDonald's is hoping that news of the popular meal remaining on the menu is well received.
