Houston: a Big Mac priced by oil-field wages and no state income tax
Houston posts one of the lower US Big Mac prices among the major metros, reflecting Texas' lower commercial rent, no state income tax, and a less aggressive minimum-wage regime than California or Illinois. The Houston franchise base also competes with a denser quick-service market — more direct rivals keep margins thinner and pass-through to menu prices slower.
Houston's energy-economy exposure adds an unusual wrinkle. When oil prices rally and Permian-basin hiring accelerates, Houston restaurant wages tick up faster than the national average — a regional inflation signal that often leads US headline numbers by a quarter or two. Watch the Houston-Phoenix spread as a clean read on whether oil-driven Sun Belt wage pressure is showing up at the cash register before official statistics catch it.