Chili's vs Jimmy John's (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 77 items at Chili's vs 42 items at Jimmy John's.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Chili's averages $12.93 per item across 77 menu items, while Jimmy John's averages $8.55 across 42 items. Jimmy John's is $4.38 cheaper per item (34% difference). Chili's has lower average calories (800 vs 996 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Chili's | Jimmy John's | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $12.93 | $8.55 | Jimmy John's |
| Menu Items | 77 | 42 | Chili's |
| Avg Calories | 800 | 996 | Chili's |
| US Locations | 1,235 | 2,550 | Jimmy John's |
| Secret Menu | 0 | 1 | Jimmy John's |
Jimmy John's is 34% cheaper on average than Chili's ($4.38 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Jimmy John's
Lowest Calorie Options
Chili's
Jimmy John's
Deep Comparison: Chili's vs Jimmy John's
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Chili's delivers 2.25¢/cal on average, while Jimmy John's delivers 1.52¢/cal. Jimmy John's gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Chili's and Jimmy John's share 1 menu categories (4% 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: Chili's avg $0.79 vs Jimmy John's $1.56 — Chili's is 49% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Chili's fits 1 item (1582 cal), Jimmy John's fits 0 items
- $15 budget: Chili's fits 1 item (631 cal), Jimmy John's fits 0 items
- $20 budget: Chili's fits 3 items (300 cal), Jimmy John's fits 3 items (820 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Chili's ranks #361 of 414 on price (pricier than 87% of tracked chains). Jimmy John's ranks #253 of 414 (pricier than 61% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Chili's, 31% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Jimmy John's, 20% are under 500 calories. Chili's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Jimmy John's ($8.55 avg vs $12.93)
- More variety: Chili's (77 items)
- More locations: Jimmy John's (2,550 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Jimmy John's (1.52¢/cal)