What is the price of a hot dog at restaurants?
The median price of hot dogs at Toast restaurants in June 2026 was $7.66.
In June 2026, hot dog prices rose 3.6% year-over-year compared to June 2025.
In June 2026, hot dog prices rose 0.8% month-over-month compared to May 2026.
Key takeaways
Month | Median hot dog price | Year-over-year percent change |
June 2025 | $7.39 | +3.6% |
July 2025 | $7.49 | +4.0% |
August 2025 | $7.45 | +3.7% |
September 2025 | $7.47 | +3.9% |
October 2025 | $7.50 | +3.4% |
November 2025 | $7.55 | +3.6% |
December 2025 | $7.55 | +3.6% |
January 2026 | $7.64 | +3.7% |
February 2026 | $7.68 | +3.9% |
March 2026 | $7.62 | +3.8% |
April 2026 | $7.62 | +3.6% |
May 2026 | $7.60 | +2.6% |
June 2026 | $7.66 | +3.6% |
Menu Engineering Worksheet
Use this menu engineering worksheet, complete with intricate menu engineering formulas, to determine areas of strength and weakness in your restaurant's menu.
A cheap eat?
Even if hot dogs remain a budget-friendly food, the days of the dollar dog are long gone. But how far, and how quickly, have we seen prices rise at Toast restaurants?
What affects hot dog pricing?
Hot dogs are, pretty famously, an affordable menu item. Typically speaking, that’s because it’s a “waste not, want not” product composed of cheaper cuts of beef, chicken, and pork. (Some folks would rather not know, exactly, what goes in a hot dog.)
But, of course, there are also premium all-beef franks, sausages made in-house, and other expensive varieties. Every dog has its day.
Naturally, the price of chicken, pork, and beef can all have an effect on hot dog prices. Meat costs are tied to countless external factors, such as herd sizes or fuel prices. So while hot dogs are typically considered a cheap eat, they are still subject to shifts.
Key factors in recent years
Surging inflation has led to rising food and grocery prices across the board. Meat, meanwhile, has seen exceptional circumstances to further push prices upward, including herds shrinking and supply chain disruptions in feed-growing areas.
Toppings, too, have grown more expensive. Say you want a Chicago dog: The price of tomatoes has surged 40% in just one year. So a simple, cheap hot dog off the roller at a dive bar might drive the median price down, while a premium frank “dragged through the garden” pushes the same figure upward.
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About the Toast Menu Price Monitor The Menu Price Monitor, powered by Toast, uncovers key menu pricing trends across the restaurant industry through aggregated sales data from restaurants on the Toast platform, which has approximately 171,000 locations as of March 31, 2026. This information is provided for general informational purposes only, and publication does not constitute an endorsement. Toast does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of any information, text, graphics, links, or other items contained within this content. Individual results may vary. Toast does not guarantee you will achieve any specific results if you follow any advice herein. It may be advisable for you to consult with a professional such as a lawyer, accountant, or business advisor for advice specific to your situation. The Toast Menu Item Price Tracker does not indicate Toast's operational performance or its reported financial metrics.
