A British holidaymaker was utterly stunned by the sky-high price of a McDonald’s meal during her getaway in Turkey. Taking to TikTok, the traveller, known as Emzie, expressed her disbelief at the cost of fast food at Antalya Airport.
Expressing her dismay, she branded the prices “ridiculous” given that she thought the meal offered nothing out of the ordinary compared to what one might find at a McDonald’s in the UK. In a video that quickly went viral on TikTok, Emzie detailed her pricey experience, saying: “What can I say? McDonald’s at Antalya Airport – crazy prices. They want €20, which is roughly about £18, for a Big Mac meal – that’s a regular size.
“We got two triple cheeseburgers, a medium Coke and a medium Fanta, and in total in English that was £37.00. There’s nothing special about it.”
The clip sparked mass agreement among viewers echoing Emzie’s sentiment – the costs were thought to be astronomical. As the receipt flashed across the screen, viewers flocked to the comments section, sharing their similarly exorbitant experiences.
One user exclaimed: “We paid £94.” Another lamented: “I spent €85 there for me and my two kids.”
Outrage followed, with another chiming in: “Omg – they are disgusting prices.” And yet another added their voice to the disbelief, writing: “How can anyone afford to pay that or want to pay that? It’s actually insane.”
However, despite the shared astonishment over the prices, some people argued that she shouldn’t have made the purchases if she found them too dear.
One individual weighed in with: “Can’t buy it and then complain. You saw the prices before buying.” Another suggested: “Just don’t buy them?”
Yet another advised: “Don’t buy it then. Eat before you leave the hotel. Most drivers in Turkey stop on the way to the airport at a diner or shop.”
While opinions were mixed, there has been growing concern about the escalating costs in Turkey recently. Reports indicate several factors contributing to the inflation affecting the beloved holiday spot.
What’s behind the soaring costs in Turkey?
A number of factors are believed to be driving up prices in Turkey. Statista shared some advice.
The website reads: “Domestic producer price indices have been continuously rising, which has directly resulted in a price increase in all consumer goods and services. Accordingly, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in all commodity groups increased extremely since 2022.
“In the same year, the food and non-alcoholic beverages category had one of the highest inflation rates in the CPI. This particularly affected Turkish consumers, as these products accounted for the highest share of household expenditure in 2023.
“Since 2020, food prices have increased significantly around the world, and Turkey is no exception. Although inflation has started to slow down recently, food prices in Turkey continue to go up steadily, increasing by 48.6 percent in November 2024 compared to the same month in the previous year.
“It is not surprising that food inflation has not simmered down, as the producer price index (PPI) of agricultural products followed a constant increasing trend in the country over the past few years.”
However, it’s worth noting that Turkey is actively implementing measures to bolster tourism, which includes tackling soaring prices, diversifying tourist attractions and investing in infrastructure. The Government is reportedly striving to curb inflation, while some are advocating for niche tourism sectors such as spas and health care.
McDonald’s has been approached for a comment.