You Might Be Overpaying For Your Wendy's Chicken Nuggets

Wendy's has been in the fast-food game since 1969, when founder Dave Thomas opened the first location in Columbus, Ohio. According to the Wendy's website, Thomas also created a "pick-up window" in 1970, which essentially led to the drive-thru idea we know and love today.

Over the years, the Wendy's menu has grown to include plenty of options, from freshly-made salads to bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits. Still, it's kept to its traditional menu items, too, such as the beloved Frosty, plenty of burgers, and the ever-popular chicken nuggets.

Wendy's prices have increased dramatically since that first store opened its doors. According to Thomas' memoir, Dave's Way, the chain initially offered its single hamburger for 55 cents. Today, most prices vary by location, but the most basic Wendy's hamburger, the Jr. Hamburger, will run you $1.59 in New York City, however the more customizable "Dave's Single," which may be closer to the original hamburger offering, costs $5.69. The price of Wendy's nuggets has changed over the years, too. And it turns out that, depending on how many you order, you could be overpaying for those little chicken treats.

It turns out not all chicken nuggets are created equal. At Wendy's, those who order the larger portion might actually be paying more per nugget than those who order a smaller portion.

Wendy's prices vary by state. For example, according to the Wendy's online menu, a 10-piece chicken nugget in New York City costs $4.89, while the same item in Omaha, Nebraska only costs $4.29. Regardless of the place of purchase, those ordering the larger Wendy's nugget portion are paying more per nugget than the smaller orders.

In Manhattan, a $4.89 order of 10-piece nuggets means that the customer is spending roughly $0.49 per nugget. However, a 4-piece in the same location costs just $1.79, or roughly $0.45 per nugget. Those who order the 6-piece, which some might consider a happy medium between the two, can also expect a happy medium price: Each nugget will cost the buyer roughly $0.47.

Though the price difference might seem minimal, ordering a 4-piece and 6-piece from this location will actually save you a total of $0.31. In Omaha, the pricing disparity is even larger, with the order of a 4-piece and 6-piece versus a 10-piece costing $0.41 less. That means, Ordering a 10-piece chicken nugget once per week — depending on where you're dining — means you're spending $16.12 to $21.32 more on nuggets per year than you would be compared to ordering a 4-piece and 6-piece combo. The more you know, right?