10 Cheapest Fast Food Spots In Canada (2024)

Looking for a filling but affordable meal? For on-the-go travellers, families and workers, fast food is a game changer.

Grabbing a quick bite to eat in the middle of a busy day helps you save time, get more work done, and spend less time cooking or waiting for food in a traditional restaurant.

Of course, too much fast food can be bad for you. But a fast food meal here and there won’t hurt you.

Below, I’ll list some of the cheapest fast food in Canada, along with some of the cheapest healthy fast food spots, so that you can get the most value for your dollar.

Cheapest Fast Food Restaurants In Canada

Eating out too often can add up. Spending just $15 a day on fast food can cost you an extra $450 per month. If you’re trying to save money, I recommend meal prepping and cooking at home as often as possible.

Unfortunately, I don’t always have time to cook at home or meal prep.

When I do eat fast food, these are some of my favourite cheap spots to eat at in Canada and their most affordable menu items. Keep in mind that menu prices can vary slightly by location, so prices are approximate.

1. Tim Hortons

Tim Hortons
  • Locations In Canada: 5,300+
  • Known For: Coffee, hot breakfast and lunch sandwiches

Founded in 1964 by National Hockey League Legend Tim Horton, this fast-food restaurant grew from its original location in Hamilton, ON, to over 5,300 restaurants across Canada. It started as a cafe and bakery but quickly grew into a full-fledged fast-food chain offering hot breakfast sandwiches and lunch items.

It’s known for its coffee, Timbits, and Iced Capps. If you’re looking for a quick, hot, delicious breakfast on the go, you can’t go wrong with Tim Hortons.

My Go-To Affordable Menu Items:

  • Hashbrown: $1.19
  • Ham and Swiss Meal: $6.99
  • Classic Breakfast Sandwich: $3.49

2. McDonald’s

McDonald's Stock
  • Locations In Canada: 1,400+
  • Known For: Hamburgers and fries

McDonald’s is one of the largest fast-food chains in the world and operates over 1,400 restaurants in Canada.  It serves budget-friendly burgers, fries, and chicken nuggets/sandwiches and even offers healthy options like salads.

Its Dollar Menu features low-cost favourites like the McDouble and Junior Chicken, making it a popular choice for families and students.

My Go-To Affordable Menu Items:

  • Plain Cheeseburger: $1.39
  • Quarter Pounder With Cheese Value Meal: $12.59
  • Junior Chicken Sandwich: $1.39

Fun fact – McDonald’s is also one of the largest real estate companies in the world! The company purchases most of its properties and then leases the property to the franchise owner, allowing McDonald’s to collect money from franchise fees and lease agreements.

3. A&W

  • Locations In Canada: 1,000+
  • Known For: Burgers and fries

A&W is the second-largest burger chain in Canada after McDonald’s. It offers a similar menu to McDonald’s, serving hamburgers, cheeseburgers, fries, and other items. Although A&W is slightly more expensive than McDonald’s, I prefer its burgers. They’re juicier, have more flavour, and are more filling.

McDonald’s still has better french fries, in my opinion, though.

My Go-To Affordable Menu Items:

  • Baby Burger: $2.29
  • Cheddar Jalapeno Buddy Burger: $2.79
  • Mama Burger: $3.29

4. Wendy’s

  • Locations In Canada: 200+
  • Known For: Burgers, chicken nuggets, ice cream

Wendy’s easily has one of my favourite fast-food burgers. Its Baconator is a 100% Angus beef burger with bacon and cheese. The chain prides itself on serving fresh, never-frozen burgers, and you can really tell by the flavour.

Its prices are around the same as A&W’s.

Its $1 small Frosty’s (soft-serve ice cream) is also a classic. Many people, myself included, enjoy dipping their Wendy’s fries into a Frosty for a perfect combination of sweet and salty.

Cheapest Menu Items:

  • Value Menu Cheeseburger: $1.99
  • Value Menu Chicken Sandwich: $1.99
  • Baconator: $6.09
  • Small Frosty: $1

5. KFC

KFC Logo
  • Locations In Canada: 600+
  • Known For: Fried chicken

If you’re tired of burgers and want to change things up, KFC has some of the world’s best fast-food chicken. Whether you’re looking for fried chicken nuggets, chicken poppers, legs, thighs, or a giant bucket of fried chicken, KFC has it all.

KFC has some great deals on family meals, so it’s a good choice if you have kids, roommates, or want some leftovers.

KFC is also diet-friendly and offers grilled chicken and offers vegan Beyond Chicken Nuggets.

My Go-To Affordable Menu Items:

  • Snack Popcorn Chicken: $6.99
  • 12-Piece Chicken Bucket: $23.99
  • 3-Piece Chicken Tender Combo: $8.99

Nutrition On A Budget: Cheapest Healthy Fast Food In Canada

Eating too many hamburgers, fries, and fried chicken is a recipe for an unhealthy lifestyle. I love a great burger just as much as the next guy, but I try to eat at healthy fast-food chains whenever possible.

They may be a bit more expensive than greasy fast-food joints, but as the saying goes, “health is wealth.”

Here are some of my favourite affordable healthy fast-food restaurants in Canada.

6. Subway

  • Locations In Canada: 2,800+
  • Known For: Subs

If you like deli sandwiches, you can’t go wrong with Subway. From hot subs to cold cuts, you can choose between several bread varieties (my favourite is the Italian herb and cheese), and build your own sub with your choice of meat, cheese, veggies, and other toppings.

Subway also offers its own signature subs, which cost slightly more, but can be customized to your liking. If you’re on a diet, you can choose a lower-calorie wrap or salad.

You can choose between 6-inch subs or 12-inch subs. I typically get a 12-inch sub, eat half, and save the other half for later.

My Go-To Affordable Menu Items:

  • Footlong Italian BMT: $10.99
  • Chicken Caesar Signature Wrap: $8.79
  • Oven-Roasted Chicken Salad: $8.79

7. Pita Pit

  • Locations In Canada: 200+
  • Known For: Pita sandwiches

Pita Pit is a fast-food chain that serves made-to-order pita sandwiches, salads, and breakfast options. You can choose from a variety of fresh ingredients and sauces to create your own personalized meal.

Pita Pit emphasizes healthy eating, offering options that cater to various dietary restrictions and preferences, making it a safe spot for families and even first dates.

My Go-To Affordable Menu Items:

  • Twisted Spicy Chicken Pita: $11.60
  • Build Your Own Rice Bowl: $10.30
  • Build Your Own Salad: $9.19

8. Freshii

  • Locations In Canada: 260+
  • Known For: Wraps, bowls, smoothies

Freshii is a fast-casual restaurant chain that offers healthy, customizable meals made with fresh ingredients.

Its menu includes salads, wraps, bowls, and soups, as well as juices, smoothies, and other beverages.

You can choose from various dietary options, including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and even keto-friendly meals. Freshii emphasizes sustainability and uses eco-friendly materials to reduce plastic waste, which is another reason to support the restaurant.

My Go-To Affordable Menu Items:

  • Chipotle Cheddar Bowl: $10.79
  • Teriyaki Twist Burrito: $10.79
  • Strawberry Banana Smoothie: $7.99

9. The Chopped Leaf

  • Locations In Canada: 100+
  • Known For: Wraps, bowls, and soups

The Chopped Leaf is a fast-casual restaurant chain that focuses on serving healthy and fresh food options. It’s very similar to Freshii in terms of food quality, prices, and dietary options.

The menu includes customizable salads, bowls, wraps, and soups made with locally sourced ingredients. Customers can also choose vegan, gluten-free, and low-carb meals to meet their dietary preferences.

The Chopped Leaf also offers large family-size meals and meal kits, which can help you save a bit more.

My Go-To Affordable Menu Items:

  • Mediterranean Wrap: $11.21
  • Buddha Bowl: $11.21
  • Grilled Cheese Sandwich: $6.04

10. Chipotle

  • Locations In Canada: 25+
  • Known For: Burritos and bowls

Chipotle is incredibly popular in the US and recently began expanding into Canada. Although there are fewer than 30 stores in Canada, it’s one of my go-to favourites when I come across one.

Chipotle primarily serves bowls and burritos, which can be customized with your choice of meat, beans, cheese, and other veggie toppings. All meals come with a complimentary bag of fresh-made tortilla chips, which gives you even more value for your money.

I like to order a bowl and then dip my chips in the bowl for a nacho-style meal.

My Go-To Affordable Menu Items:

  • Custom Burrito Bowl: $13.30
  • Custom Salad: $13.30
  • Chips And Guac: $6.50

Conclusion – Where Is The Best Cheap Fast Food In Canada?

My favourite cheap fast-food restaurant in Canada is Tim Hortons. Their breakfast sandwiches are delicious and affordable, and the chain serves great coffee and lattes. For a healthier option, my go-to is Freshii for a smoothie and a wrap.

Another great way to save money and eat well is to subscribe to a meal kit delivery service like HelloFresh or Chef’s Plate.

You’ll receive a box of fresh ingredients and cooking instructions in a cooler box, allowing you to cook gourmet meals at home for half of what you’d pay in a restaurant.

Keep on reading to see my comparison of HelloFresh and Chef’s Plate!

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Author Bio - Christopher Liew is a CFA Charterholder with 11 years of finance experience and the creator of Wealthawesome.com. Read about how he quit his 6-figure salary career to travel the world here.

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