At **** U.S. dollars, Switzerland has the most expensive Big Macs in the world, according to the January 2025 Big Mac index. Concurrently, the cost of a Big Mac was **** dollars in the U.S., and **** U.S. dollars in the Euro area. What is the Big Mac index? The Big Mac index, published by The Economist, is a novel way of measuring whether the market exchange rates for different countries’ currencies are overvalued or undervalued. It does this by measuring each currency against a common standard – the Big Mac hamburger sold by McDonald’s restaurants all over the world. Twice a year the Economist converts the average national price of a Big Mac into U.S. dollars using the exchange rate at that point in time. As a Big Mac is a completely standardized product across the world, the argument goes that it should have the same relative cost in every country. Differences in the cost of a Big Mac expressed as U.S. dollars therefore reflect differences in the purchasing power of each currency. Is the Big Mac index a good measure of purchasing power parity? Purchasing power parity (PPP) is the idea that items should cost the same in different countries, based on the exchange rate at that time. This relationship does not hold in practice. Factors like tax rates, wage regulations, whether components need to be imported, and the level of market competition all contribute to price variations between countries. The Big Mac index does measure this basic point – that one U.S. dollar can buy more in some countries than others. There are more accurate ways to measure differences in PPP though, which convert a larger range of products into their dollar price. Adjusting for PPP can have a massive effect on how we understand a country’s economy. The country with the largest GDP adjusted for PPP is China, but when looking at the unadjusted GDP of different countries, the U.S. has the largest economy.

The so-called Big Mac index is regarded as an indicator for the purchasing power of an economy. The average price for a Big Mac burger in Mexico was estimated at 4.6 U.S. dollars in January 2025. Due to the high increases during the last few years, the Big Mac burger price became one of the highest in Latin America. Big Mac Index The Bic Mac index has been published annually by The Economist since 1986 and is rated as a simplified indicator of a country’s individual purchasing power. As many countries have different currencies, the standardized Big Mac prices are calculated by converting the average national Big Mac prices with the latest exchange rate to U.S. dollars.The Big Mac, as the top-selling McDonald’s burger, is used for comparison because it is available in almost every country and manufactured in a standardized size, composition and quality. McDonald’s is a worldwide operating fast food restaurant chain with headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois. In Latin America, McDonald's largest franchisee is Arcos Dorados Holdings, with headquarters in Montevideo, Uruguay. Power Purchasing Parity This conversion endeavor seeks to level the purchasing power disparities among nations by neutralizing price discrepancies. Notably, in Mexico, the Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) has demonstrated a consistent upward trajectory, yielding positive repercussions on the minimum wage for the labor force. This, in turn, has triggered a favorable effect on the affordability of the essential food basket. Furthermore, this upswing has propelled five major Mexican cities into the upper positions of PPP rankings within Latin America. Consequently, Mexico now stands as the 15th largest global economy, a status achieved despite a slight, yet steady, decline in its share of the global GDP, which is adjusted according to PPP metrics.

The cultured meat market, encompassing products like chicken, hamburgers, sausages, and chicken breast, is poised for significant growth. While precise market sizing for 2019-2024 is unavailable, a conservative estimate suggests a 2024 market value in the low hundreds of millions, given the nascent stage of the industry and the substantial investment currently flowing into the sector. With a projected CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) – let's assume a realistic CAGR of 40% for the forecast period – the market is expected to reach several billion dollars by 2033. Key drivers include increasing consumer demand for sustainable and ethical protein sources, growing concerns about the environmental impact of traditional animal agriculture, and continuous technological advancements reducing production costs and improving product quality. Emerging trends include diversifying product offerings beyond basic cuts, expanding distribution channels beyond high-end restaurants, and increasing focus on achieving price parity with conventional meat. However, regulatory hurdles, consumer perception challenges, and scaling up production remain significant restraints to widespread adoption. The market segmentation by application (direct and indirect sales) and product type (chicken, hamburger, etc.) will evolve as the market matures, with direct-to-consumer sales increasing as production scales and consumer acceptance grows. Geographic distribution is expected to see strong growth in North America and Europe initially, driven by higher consumer awareness and regulatory clarity, followed by expansion into other regions as production capabilities and consumer demand increases. The competitive landscape features innovative companies like Memphis Meats, Mosa Meat, Modern Meadow, SuperMeat, and Finless Foods, each focusing on specific technologies and product lines. The coming years will likely witness mergers and acquisitions as well as further investment in research and development, particularly in improving the taste, texture, and cost-effectiveness of cultured meat. The success of this market hinges not only on technological advancements but also on addressing consumer acceptance, navigating regulatory landscapes, and establishing efficient and scalable supply chains. Strategic partnerships between cultured meat producers and established food companies are likely to become increasingly important in accelerating market penetration and achieving global reach. The overall outlook for the cultured meat market remains extremely positive, with the potential to revolutionize the food industry and address pressing global food security and sustainability challenges.

Plant-based meat products in Australia cost, on average, **** percent more than conventional meat products as of December 2023. Popular products such as bacon cost ** percent more and burgers cost **** percent more for a plant-based version compared to their conventional counterparts.