Chili's vs Wendy's (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 77 items at Chili's vs 77 items at Wendy's.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Chili's averages $12.93 per item across 77 menu items, while Wendy's averages $3.52 across 77 items. Wendy's is $9.41 cheaper per item (73% difference). Wendy's has lower average calories (445 vs 800 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Chili's | Wendy's | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $12.93 | $3.52 | Wendy's |
| Menu Items | 77 | 77 | Tie |
| Avg Calories | 800 | 445 | Wendy's |
| US Locations | 1,235 | 6,154 | Wendy's |
| Secret Menu | 0 | 2 | Wendy's |
Wendy's is 73% cheaper on average than Chili's ($9.41 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Lowest Calorie Options
Deep Comparison: Chili's vs Wendy's
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Chili's delivers 2.25¢/cal on average, while Wendy's delivers 2.09¢/cal. Wendy's gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Chili's and Wendy's share 1 menu categories (3% 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 Wendy's $3.25 — Chili's is 76% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Chili's fits 1 item (1582 cal), Wendy's fits 1 item (330 cal)
- $15 budget: Chili's fits 1 item (631 cal), Wendy's fits 3 items (2580 cal)
- $20 budget: Chili's fits 3 items (300 cal), Wendy's fits 3 items (690 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Chili's ranks #361 of 414 on price (pricier than 87% of tracked chains). Wendy's ranks #27 of 414 (cheaper than 94% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Chili's, 31% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Wendy's, 73% are under 500 calories. Wendy's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Wendy's ($3.52 avg vs $12.93)
- More variety: Chili's (77 items)
- More locations: Wendy's (6,154 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Wendy's (2.09¢/cal)