How Much Does a Sausage Egg McMuffin Cost at McDonald’s?

The Sausage Egg McMuffin is one of McDonald’s most popular and iconic breakfast sandwiches. This tasty combination of a freshly cracked egg savory sausage patty, melty cheese, and soft English muffin has been a go-to order for millions of customers every morning for decades. But with inflation and rising food costs McDonald’s has had to gradually raise prices on menu items like the Sausage Egg McMuffin over the years. So how much does this fast food breakfast staple cost in 2023 and is there any way to get it for less?

The Standard Price

If you order a Sausage Egg McMuffin on its own, without it being part of a meal combo the standard price is currently $3.99 at most McDonald’s locations in the United States as of January 2023. This base price gets you the sandwich with a sausage patty, American cheese, freshly cracked egg, and toasted English muffin.

Just 5 years ago in 2018, the Sausage Egg McMuffin was priced at $3.79 nationwide, so the price has gone up 20 cents in that time. Going back 10 years to 2013, the sandwich could be purchased for just $2.99, a full dollar cheaper than today. So the cost of a Sausage Egg McMuffin has definitely increased steadily over the past decade to keep up with rising food costs. But $3.99 is still a fairly reasonable price to pay for a convenient fast food breakfast.

Getting It as Part of a Meal

If you want to get the Sausage Egg McMuffin as part of a breakfast meal combo, that will cost more than ordering just the sandwich alone. A Sausage Egg McMuffin meal typically includes the sandwich along with a hash brown and a small McCafé coffee or other beverage. Pricing on combo meals can vary a bit by location, but expect to pay around $5.99 for a Sausage Egg McMuffin meal at most McDonald’s restaurants.

Ordering the meal combo rather than just the sandwich à la carte will cost you about $2 extra. But you get the bonus food and drink, so it can be worthwhile if you want a hash brown and coffee to make it a complete breakfast. Just know that combo meal pricing is usually more expensive than ordering items individually off the McDonald’s breakfast menu.

Getting It Without Egg

If you don’t mind assembling your sandwich, asking for a side order of eggs with the plain sandwich might save you some cash When ordering via the app at certain McDonald’s locations, a sausage McMuffin sans egg costs just $249. On the other hand, a sausage and egg McMuffin will run you $1.50 more at $3.99.

So if you’re really looking to save and don’t mind the minor inconvenience of adding your own fried egg, ordering a sausage McMuffin and egg separately can potentially knock a couple dollars off your total bill versus the standard Sausage Egg McMuffin. Just know that this “hack” only works when ordering remotely via the app, not directly in-store.

Variations in Pricing

It’s important to note that McDonald’s prices can vary a bit from location to location. Franchise owners have some discretion in setting their own prices for menu items, so one McDonald’s restaurant may charge slightly more or less for a Sausage Egg McMuffin than another down the street. These small price fluctuations between restaurants generally tend to stay within about a quarter of the standard menu price though.

There can also sometimes be slight differences in pricing when ordering for takeout versus dine-in. For instance, a Sausage Egg McMuffin may ring up at $3.99 at the counter but cost $4.19 when ordering at the kiosk for table service. Taxes and additional fees in different regions can also alter the total cost by a few cents. But in most cases, expect to pay right around $3.99 for a Sausage Egg McMuffin from McDonald’s.

Saving Money on the McMuffin

If the current $3.99 price tag on a Sausage Egg McMuffin seems a bit steep, there are some ways you may be able to save:

• Order off the value menu – McDonald’s offers a few budget-friendly breakfast sandwiches like the Sausage Burrito, Sausage McMuffin, or Bacon Egg & Cheese Biscuit for around $1.50. These offer simpler ingredients but can satisfy a breakfast craving on the cheap.

• Use McDonald’s app deals and coupons – The McDonald’s app regularly offers exclusive discounts like BOGO sandwiches or $1 any size McCafé drinks you can use to lower your total bill.

• Choose a smaller sandwich size – Opt for a sausage biscuit sandwich rather than a McMuffin to shave off a little cost.

• Order just the sandwich – Skip the meal combo and just get the sandwich by itself to save versus combo pricing.

• Go during happy hour – Some McDonald’s offer breakfast sandwiches at a discount during morning happy hour periods of like 5am-9am.

Is the McMuffin Worth the Price?

McDonald’s has raised the prices on menu items like the Sausage Egg McMuffin over the years, but inflation affects every restaurant. For a convenient fast food breakfast sandwich that’s still under $4, the Sausage Egg McMuffin offers a good amount of value. The crispy egg, savory sausage, melty cheese, and soft English muffin is hard to beat when you’re in a hurry. Most would say it’s worth the price as an affordable, tasty, and satisfying fast food breakfast.