Which is cheaper, Culver's or Dairy Queen?

Culver's ($4.26 avg) and Dairy Queen ($4.08 avg) have similar pricing — within 4% of each other. Based on 139 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, Culver's or Dairy Queen?

Culver's has more menu items (75 vs 64). The total combined menu across both chains is 139 items.

Which has lower calories, Culver's or Dairy Queen?

Dairy Queen averages 571 calories per item, compared to 592 for Culver's. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Culver's and Dairy Queen similar?

Culver's (950 US locations) and Dairy Queen (4,500 US locations) compete on 0 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 0%.

Culver's vs Dairy Queen (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 75 items at Culver's vs 64 items at Dairy Queen.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Culver's averages $4.26 per item across 75 menu items, while Dairy Queen averages $4.08 across 64 items. Prices are within 4% — neither chain is meaningfully cheaper. Dairy Queen has lower average calories (571 vs 592 per item).

Quick Comparison

Culver's vs Dairy Queen: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Culver's	Dairy Queen	Winner
Avg Price	$4.26	$4.08	Tie
Menu Items	75	64	Culver's
Avg Calories	592	571	Dairy Queen
US Locations	950	4,500	Dairy Queen
Secret Menu	1	7	Dairy Queen

Culver's and Dairy Queen have similar average prices.

Cheapest Items

Culver's

Soft Drink Small $1.69

White or Chocolate Milk $1.69

Bottled Water $1.69

Crinkle Cut Fries (Medium) $1.89

Soft Drink Medium $1.89

Dairy Queen

Add Extra Stuff $0.69

Add a Boost (Protein) $0.99

Add a Boost (Fresh Banana) $0.99

Buffalo Chicken $1.89

Chicken Bacon BBQ $1.89

Lowest Calorie Options

Culver's

Caramel Cashew 1 Scoop 90 cal

Caramel Cashew 2 Scoop 90 cal

Caramel Cashew 3 Scoop 90 cal

White or Chocolate Milk 110 cal

Mushed Potatoes 120 cal

Dairy Queen

Chicken Wrap 280 cal

Fries 280 cal

1/4 lb. Bacon Cheese GrillBurger 390 cal

1/4 lb. Bacon Cheese GrillBurger – Combo 390 cal

Chicken Bacon Ranch – Combo 390 cal

Deep Comparison: Culver's vs Dairy Queen

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Culver's delivers 1.20¢/cal on average, while Dairy Queen delivers 1.04¢/cal. Dairy Queen gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

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

What Fits in Your Budget

$10 budget: Culver's fits 3 items (940 cal), Dairy Queen fits 3 items (905 cal)
$15 budget: Culver's fits 2 items (1010 cal), Dairy Queen fits 3 items (390 cal)
$20 budget: Culver's fits 3 items (540 cal), Dairy Queen fits 3 items (1960 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Culver's ranks #56 of 414 on price (cheaper than 87% of tracked chains). Dairy Queen ranks #46 of 414 (cheaper than 89% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Culver's, 40% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Dairy Queen, 41% are under 500 calories. Dairy Queen offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Dairy Queen ($4.08 avg vs $4.26)
More variety: Culver's (75 items)
More locations: Dairy Queen (4,500 US locations)
Best calorie value: Dairy Queen (1.04¢/cal)

Full Menus

Culver's Menu Dairy Queen Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide