Which is cheaper, Dairy Queen or Olive Garden?

Dairy Queen is cheaper, averaging $4.08 per item versus $7.98 for Olive Garden — a 49% difference. Based on 113 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, Dairy Queen or Olive Garden?

Dairy Queen has more menu items (64 vs 49). The total combined menu across both chains is 113 items.

Which has lower calories, Dairy Queen or Olive Garden?

Dairy Queen averages 571 calories per item, compared to 850 for Olive Garden. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Dairy Queen and Olive Garden similar?

Dairy Queen (4,500 US locations) and Olive Garden (956 US locations) compete on 0 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 0%.

Dairy Queen vs Olive Garden (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 64 items at Dairy Queen vs 49 items at Olive Garden.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Dairy Queen averages $4.08 per item across 64 menu items, while Olive Garden averages $7.98 across 49 items. Dairy Queen is $3.90 cheaper per item (49% difference). Dairy Queen has lower average calories (571 vs 850 per item).

Quick Comparison

Dairy Queen vs Olive Garden: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Dairy Queen	Olive Garden	Winner
Avg Price	$4.08	$7.98	Dairy Queen
Menu Items	64	49	Dairy Queen
Avg Calories	571	850	Dairy Queen
US Locations	4,500	956	Dairy Queen
Secret Menu	7	0	Dairy Queen

Dairy Queen is 49% cheaper on average than Olive Garden ($3.90 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

Olive Garden

Sundae $1.79

Italian Bottled Water $2.50

Iced Tea Fresh Brewed $2.69

Fountain Drinks $2.69

Fruit Juices $2.89

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

Olive Garden

Minestrone 110 cal

Famous House Salad To Go 150 cal

Pasta e fagioli 150 cal

Zuppa Toscana 220 cal

Chicken And Gnocchi 230 cal

Deep Comparison: Dairy Queen vs Olive Garden

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Dairy Queen delivers 1.04¢/cal on average, while Olive Garden delivers 1.69¢/cal. Dairy Queen gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Dairy Queen and Olive Garden 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), Olive Garden fits 0 items
$15 budget: Dairy Queen fits 3 items (390 cal), Olive Garden fits 1 item (1480 cal)
$20 budget: Dairy Queen fits 3 items (1960 cal), Olive Garden fits 0 items

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Dairy Queen ranks #46 of 414 on price (cheaper than 89% of tracked chains). Olive Garden ranks #229 of 414 (pricier than 55% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Dairy Queen, 41% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Olive Garden, 21% are under 500 calories. Dairy Queen offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Dairy Queen ($4.08 avg vs $7.98)
More variety: Dairy Queen (64 items)
More locations: Dairy Queen (4,500 US locations)
Best calorie value: Dairy Queen (1.04¢/cal)

Full Menus

Dairy Queen Menu Olive Garden Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide