In this photo made on Dec. 29, 2009, a Big Mac sandwich is displayed in front of a drink at McDonald's in North Huntingdon, Pa. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Whether it's a staple of your diet, or a meal you're forced to pick up on a road trip, nearly all of us recognize two beef patties, three sesame seed buns, cheese, pickles, iceberg lettuce, onions and "special sauce" (McDonald's version of Thousand Island dressing) as the classic Big Mac.
While McDonald's began as a humble burger joint in 1955, the golden arches have made their way around the globe — from Russia to New Zealand. Of course, prices for the same meal fluctuate greatly around the world. How much does the price of a Big Mac change?
The Economist has calculated the "Big Mac Index" since 1986, and it's generally viewed as "a simplified indicator of a country’s individual purchasing power," according to Statista.
The following is a look at the most recent index (2017), which shows how many Big Macs someone is able to purchase with $50 USD. Countries are ranked from the least to most expensive Big Mac. While McDonald's has popped up in at least 119 countries, data was available for 55 countries (and one territory).
NOTE: In India, where consuming beef is illegal in most states, the Big Mac is made from chicken. Every other country's Big Mac is made with beef.
