The food might be the same but price differences mean you aren't loving it!
No matter your opinion on McDonalds, and let's be honest, this is a brand that splits opinion, consistency is a huge thing for them. No matter where you are in the world, if you see those golden arches, you have a fairly good idea of what's in store.
Yes, there are many menu variations from country to country, but here in England, you expect the same range and standard of food, no matter where you eat. You probably also expect the same price, but that's not the case, as we found recently.
McDonalds has also been in the news in Darlington of late. A new drive-through restaurant at the Faverdale Industrial Estate is on its way, with signage up on site. If you love this chain, you’ll have more local options, so all the more reason for us to look at them closely.
The Price Investigation
On Tuesday 29th October 2024, we logged onto Just Eat (purely for investigative purposes, and definitely not because someone in the office was craving nuggets) and checked out the prices of four McDonalds restaurants across the wider region.
Now, there's a premium price placed on these delivery couriers, so the price is higher than you'd pay in store or at the drive-through, but you'd expect the four outlets to have the same price.
Wrong!
We looked at the prices for:
- McRib
- Large Big Mac Meal
- 20 Chicken McNuggets
- Sweet Chilli Chicken Wrap
It turns out, if you bought these four items from the North Road Industrial Estate, Meynell Road location in Darlington, you'd pay £1.80 more than if you bought them from the Portrack Retail Park in Stockton-on-Tees.
The breakdown shows:
- McRib: £5.39 in Darlington compared to £5.09 in Stockton-on-Tees (30p difference)
- Large Big Mac meal: £8.09 locally and £7.49 in Stockton-on-Tees (60p difference)
- 20 Chicken McNuggets: £7.19 in Darlington and £6.99 in Stockton-on-Tees (20p difference)
- Sweet Chilli Chicken Wrap: £4.49 locally and £3.79 in Stockton-On-Tees (70p difference)
That adds up to £1.80 difference.
However, for certain items, other locations were even more expensive than Darlington. The price of a McRib in Hartlepool was £5.69, so that's 30p dearer than Darlington and a whopping (wait, that's a Burger King product) 60p dearer than in Stockton-on-Tees.
In Hartlepool and Middlesbrough, the overall price is £24.56, but some of the items are priced differently.
What This Means for Residents
Now, you might be thinking who cares, but we think it's interesting for a number of reasons. We don't particularly like Darlington residents losing out, or paying more than people in other parts of the wider region. Of course, we also think the benefits of living in Darlington more than outweigh the occasional 60p extra you'd pay if you fancy a Large Big Mac meal! Everything in moderation as they say.
It's unlikely the price differential is something that would make you reconsider living in one area over another, but it reinforces the many different decisions a buyer makes when looking for a place to live.
Why Local Knowledge Matters
Does the new area have good schools for the children? Is the daily commute going to be easy? Are there places to socialise or enjoy time outside of the home? These are all factors’ buyers consider and yes, the choice of restaurants in an area will likely have an impact on the final decision a buyer makes. As does the overall cost of living in an area, so if you're looking for guidance on what life in Darlington is really like, speak with an estate agent who knows the area inside out.
And while a £1.80 difference in fast food prices might seem trivial, choosing the wrong estate agent could cost you thousands in the long run - whether through an undervalued property, missed opportunities, or prolonged time on the market.
At Anthony Jones Properties, we don't just know the price of homes in an area or can point you to the latest Ofsted reports for the area. We live in Darlington and Wynyard, we know the local areas we operate in, and we deal with the people and businesses of this area. No matter what your next move is, be it in, out or around the local area, it makes sense to choose an estate agent who knows the minor differences that many take for granted.
Contact Anthony Jones for all Darlington property matters
If you are looking for help with any matter of the Darlington property market, it is best to speak to property professionals. No one knows for sure what is going to happen next, so we won’t claim to have all the answers, but the Anthony Jones team is keen to help you as best we can. If you would like to contact us over housing matters, please call us today on 01325 776424.
