MITCHELL, SD (Mitchell Now) — A research firm has tracked the affordability of 4th of July barbecues for the past decade. In a conclusion that might surprise people, the typical meal on the grill is not more expensive relative to the average American paycheck than it was 10 years ago.
A barbecue basket made up of a burger and toppings, hot dog, and a pop costs about 0.6% of weekly pay. That figure is exactly equal to the relative cost in 2016. Oxylabs says it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, though. The year 2016 was an historically expensive year for grilling. As such, 2026 actually ranks as the second-least affordable year of the decade.
How have the prices for individual grilling staples moved in ten years? Beef is up a whopping 32% but cheese and tomatoes have declined between 17% and 18%. That leaves the cost for a burger as a whole up 11%. Hot dogs are exactly equal in real terms to 2016. A bottle of pop has risen by 30% in the same time frame.
Oxylabs Chief Commercial Officer Marija Gecaitè stresses the need to diversify to keep a meal affordable. Shifting more towards hot dogs and away from burgers will help keep the bill in check. Maybe move from Coke or Pepsi and instead focus on lemonade or sweet tea as the beverage of choice to wash everything down.