Arby's vs Subway (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 86 items at Arby's vs 83 items at Subway.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Arby's averages $6.03 per item across 86 menu items, while Subway averages $5.57 across 83 items. Subway is $0.45 cheaper per item (8% difference). Arby's has lower average calories (474 vs 586 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Arby's | Subway | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $6.03 | $5.57 | Subway |
| Menu Items | 86 | 83 | Arby's |
| Avg Calories | 474 | 586 | Arby's |
| US Locations | 2,163 | 16,177 | Subway |
| Secret Menu | 14 | 3 | Arby's |
Subway is 8% cheaper on average than Arby's ($0.45 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Arby's
Subway
Lowest Calorie Options
Deep Comparison: Arby's vs Subway
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Arby's delivers 1.08¢/cal on average, while Subway delivers 1.46¢/cal. Arby's gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Arby's and Subway share 1 menu categories (5% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: sides. Low overlap — these chains serve mostly different food categories.
Price Differences by Shared Category
Where these chains overlap, here is who undercuts whom on average price:
- sides: Arby's avg $3.46 vs Subway $1.03 — Subway is 70% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Arby's fits 0 items, Subway fits 0 items
- $15 budget: Arby's fits 3 items, Subway fits 3 items (1380 cal)
- $20 budget: Arby's fits 3 items, Subway fits 3 items (1520 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Arby's ranks #154 of 414 on price (cheaper than 63% of tracked chains). Subway ranks #132 of 414 (cheaper than 68% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Arby's, 57% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Subway, 50% are under 500 calories. Arby's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Subway ($5.57 avg vs $6.03)
- More variety: Arby's (86 items)
- More locations: Subway (16,177 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Arby's (1.08¢/cal)