Burger King vs Papa John's (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 65 items at Burger King vs 79 items at Papa John's.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Burger King averages $3.33 per item across 65 menu items, while Papa John's averages $11.72 across 79 items. Burger King is $8.38 cheaper per item (72% difference). Papa John's has lower average calories (369 vs 491 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Burger King | Papa John's | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $3.33 | $11.72 | Burger King |
| Menu Items | 65 | 79 | Papa John's |
| Avg Calories | 491 | 369 | Papa John's |
| US Locations | 6,809 | 3,200 | Burger King |
| Secret Menu | 10 | 1 | Burger King |
Burger King is 72% cheaper on average than Papa John's ($8.38 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Burger King
Papa John's
Lowest Calorie Options
Burger King
Papa John's
Deep Comparison: Burger King vs Papa John's
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Burger King delivers 0.72¢/cal on average, while Papa John's delivers 3.50¢/cal. Burger King gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Burger King and Papa John's share 3 menu categories (19% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: sides, desserts, drinks. 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: Burger King avg $1.83 vs Papa John's $6.31 — Burger King is 71% cheaper
- desserts: Burger King avg $1.86 vs Papa John's $6.00 — Burger King is 69% cheaper
- drinks: Burger King avg $1.36 vs Papa John's $1.80 — Burger King is 25% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Burger King fits 0 items, Papa John's fits 0 items
- $15 budget: Burger King fits 3 items (1228 cal), Papa John's fits 1 item (270 cal)
- $20 budget: Burger King fits 3 items (2850 cal), Papa John's fits 3 items
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Burger King ranks #20 of 414 on price (cheaper than 95% of tracked chains). Papa John's ranks #344 of 414 (pricier than 83% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Burger King, 65% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Papa John's, 93% are under 500 calories. Papa John's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Burger King ($3.33 avg vs $11.72)
- More variety: Papa John's (79 items)
- More locations: Burger King (6,809 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Burger King (0.72¢/cal)