Which is cheaper, Chipotle or McDonald's?

McDonald's is cheaper, averaging $6.03 per item versus $6.54 for Chipotle — a 8% difference. Based on 236 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, Chipotle or McDonald's?

McDonald's has more menu items (164 vs 72). The total combined menu across both chains is 236 items.

Which has lower calories, Chipotle or McDonald's?

McDonald's averages 413 calories per item, compared to 449 for Chipotle. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Chipotle and McDonald's similar?

Chipotle (3,727 US locations) and McDonald's (13,786 US locations) compete on 0 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 0%.

Chipotle vs McDonald's (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 72 items at Chipotle vs 164 items at McDonald's.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Chipotle averages $6.54 per item across 72 menu items, while McDonald's averages $6.03 across 164 items. McDonald's is $0.51 cheaper per item (8% difference). McDonald's has lower average calories (413 vs 449 per item).

Quick Comparison

Chipotle vs McDonald's: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Chipotle	McDonald's	Winner
Avg Price	$6.54	$6.03	McDonald's
Menu Items	72	164	McDonald's
Avg Calories	449	413	McDonald's
US Locations	3,727	13,786	McDonald's
Secret Menu	10	15	McDonald's

McDonald's is 8% cheaper on average than Chipotle ($0.51 less per item).

Cheapest Items

Chipotle

Tortilla on the Side $0.50

Double Wrap with Tortilla $0.50

Queso blanco $1.80

Chips $2.15

Chips & Fresh Tomato Salsa $2.85

McDonald's

Butter $0.15

Syrup $0.25

Creamy Ranch Sauce $0.30

Spicy Buffalo $0.30

Honey Mustard $0.30

Lowest Calorie Options

Chipotle

Cheese Only 100 cal

Large Chips & Large Queso Blanco 120 cal

Side of Queso Blanco 120 cal

Large Side of Queso Blanco 120 cal

Queso blanco 120 cal

McDonald's

Honey Mustard 60 cal

Medium Frozen Fanta® Wild Cherry 80 cal

Medium Frozen Coca-Cola® 80 cal

Medium Frozen Fanta® Blue Raspberry 80 cal

Mayonnaise Packet 90 cal

Deep Comparison: Chipotle vs McDonald's

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Chipotle delivers 3.14¢/cal on average, while McDonald's delivers 6.07¢/cal. Chipotle gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Chipotle and McDonald's share 0 menu categories (0% Jaccard overlap). Low overlap — these chains serve mostly different food categories.

What Fits in Your Budget

$10 budget: Chipotle fits 0 items, McDonald's fits 1 item (290 cal)
$15 budget: Chipotle fits 0 items, McDonald's fits 0 items
$20 budget: Chipotle fits 3 items (20 cal), McDonald's fits 3 items (260 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Chipotle ranks #173 of 414 on price (cheaper than 58% of tracked chains). McDonald's ranks #156 of 414 (cheaper than 63% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Chipotle, 53% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At McDonald's, 70% are under 500 calories. McDonald's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: McDonald's ($6.03 avg vs $6.54)
More variety: McDonald's (164 items)
More locations: McDonald's (13,786 US locations)
Best calorie value: Chipotle (3.14¢/cal)

Full Menus

Chipotle Menu McDonald's Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide