Which is cheaper, Dairy Queen or McDonald's?

Dairy Queen is cheaper, averaging $4.08 per item versus $6.03 for McDonald's — a 32% difference. Based on 228 menu items as of April 2026.

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

McDonald's has more menu items (164 vs 64). The total combined menu across both chains is 228 items.

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

McDonald's averages 413 calories per item, compared to 571 for Dairy Queen. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Dairy Queen and McDonald's similar?

Dairy Queen (4,500 US locations) and McDonald's (13,786 US locations) compete on 0 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 0%.

Dairy Queen vs McDonald's (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 64 items at Dairy Queen vs 164 items at McDonald's.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Dairy Queen averages $4.08 per item across 64 menu items, while McDonald's averages $6.03 across 164 items. Dairy Queen is $1.95 cheaper per item (32% difference). McDonald's has lower average calories (413 vs 571 per item).

Quick Comparison

Dairy Queen vs McDonald's: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Dairy Queen	McDonald's	Winner
Avg Price	$4.08	$6.03	Dairy Queen
Menu Items	64	164	McDonald's
Avg Calories	571	413	McDonald's
US Locations	4,500	13,786	McDonald's
Secret Menu	7	15	McDonald's

Dairy Queen is 32% cheaper on average than McDonald's ($1.95 less per item).

Cheapest Items

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

McDonald's

Butter $0.15

Syrup $0.25

Creamy Ranch Sauce $0.30

Spicy Buffalo $0.30

Honey Mustard $0.30

Lowest Calorie Options

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

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: Dairy Queen vs McDonald's

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Dairy Queen delivers 1.04¢/cal on average, while McDonald's delivers 6.07¢/cal. Dairy Queen gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Dairy Queen 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: Dairy Queen fits 3 items (905 cal), McDonald's fits 1 item (290 cal)
$15 budget: Dairy Queen fits 3 items (390 cal), McDonald's fits 0 items
$20 budget: Dairy Queen fits 3 items (1960 cal), McDonald's fits 3 items (260 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Dairy Queen ranks #46 of 414 on price (cheaper than 89% of tracked chains). McDonald's ranks #156 of 414 (cheaper than 63% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Dairy Queen, 41% 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: Dairy Queen ($4.08 avg vs $6.03)
More variety: McDonald's (164 items)
More locations: McDonald's (13,786 US locations)
Best calorie value: Dairy Queen (1.04¢/cal)

Full Menus

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