Jan 28, 2026 - Food and Drink
The increasing costs to make California burritos
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
There's some debate on the essential ingredients of a fat California burrito, but carne asada, fries, cheese, sour cream and salsa/pico de gallo are our non-negotiables.
The big picture: While eternally delicious, the cost to produce that beloved burrito increased 20% from June 2021 to June 2025, an Axios analysis of producer price index data shows.
- That's assuming these ingredients are used in equal ratios.
- If you add guacamole, the increase jumps to 21.3%.
Zoom in: Salsa had the highest increase at 37.5%, followed by tortillas at nearly 34% and sour cream at 29%.
- Cheddar and beef prices increased by about 13% and 10%, respectively, while potato prices decreased by 6%.
The bottom line: Restaurants and customers are eating these higher costs, but at least it tastes good.