NASHVILLE, TN (RFD-TV) — The 2025 Big Mac Housing Index offers a unique view of homeownership costs by measuring how many burgers it takes to buy a median-priced house.
Nationally, it takes about 71,000 Big Macs, down nearly seven percent from 2022 and well below the 2005 peak of more than 94,000. This suggests housing is relatively more affordable when compared to consumer goods.
But the picture varies widely by state. According to a report from Investor Observer — California, buyers face the steepest hurdle at more than 149,000 Big Macs, while Louisiana leads as the most affordable at just under 47,000. Other states, such as Ohio and Alabama, also fall near the lower end of the scale, while New York and New Jersey exceed 100,000 Big Macs, underscoring metro-area pressures.
The index, originally devised by The Economist, shows how inflation in consumer goods interacts with home prices, offering a clearer sense of affordability trends. Policymakers and buyers alike can use the measure as a reminder that regional differences remain a defining feature of the U.S. housing market.
While not directly tied to agriculture, the Big Mac Index highlights how broader inflation and affordability trends affect rural communities, where land values and housing costs often shape decisions about farm succession and attracting new farmers.
Americans for Prosperity Arkansas Director Ryan Norris talks energy infrastructure, regulatory reform, and the role of critical minerals in supporting rural America.
January 23, 2026 01:54 PM
·
Large-scale land purchases signal rising competition for ranchland, reinforcing its value while reshaping long-term access and control in rural agriculture.
January 23, 2026 07:00 AM
·
The Farm Bureau is making an urgent call to Congress for more farm support. Colton Lacina with Farmers National Company joined us to discuss farmland values and how market dynamics for the year ahead reflect stabilization rather than collapse.
January 21, 2026 12:30 PM
·
President Donald Trump speaks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, addressing SNAP spending, tariff threats against Europe, market reactions, and the upcoming USMCA review.
January 21, 2026 11:50 AM
·
From meatpacking settlements to landmark NEPA rulings, Roger McEowen outlines the top legal developments in 2025 that will shape agriculture in the years ahead.
January 20, 2026 03:39 PM
·
Despite rising costs and growing food insecurity, meat demand remained strong in 2025 as higher-income consumers offset cutbacks elsewhere. Economists break down the K-shaped economy, upcoming USDA cattle reports, livestock production outlooks, and renewed debate over beef imports and country-of-origin labeling heading into 2026.
January 20, 2026 02:47 PM
·
Strong balance sheets still matter, but liquidity, planning, and lender relationships are critical as ag credit tightens, according to analysis from AgAmerica Lending.
January 19, 2026 03:00 PM
·
In a landmark ruling delivered in late 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court significantly narrowed the scope of the National Environmental Policy Act.
January 19, 2026 11:25 AM
·
CoBank Knowledge Exchange’s Jeff Johnston shares the group’s positive perspective on expanding data centers into rural areas and weighs the risks and rewards for those communities.
January 16, 2026 01:44 PM
·
