Which is cheaper, Dairy Queen or Subway?

Dairy Queen is cheaper, averaging $4.08 per item versus $5.57 for Subway — a 27% difference. Based on 147 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, Dairy Queen or Subway?

Subway has more menu items (83 vs 64). The total combined menu across both chains is 147 items.

Which has lower calories, Dairy Queen or Subway?

Dairy Queen averages 571 calories per item, compared to 586 for Subway. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Dairy Queen and Subway similar?

Dairy Queen (4,500 US locations) and Subway (16,177 US locations) compete on 0 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 0%.

Dairy Queen vs Subway (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 64 items at Dairy Queen vs 83 items at Subway.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Dairy Queen averages $4.08 per item across 64 menu items, while Subway averages $5.57 across 83 items. Dairy Queen is $1.49 cheaper per item (27% difference). Dairy Queen has lower average calories (571 vs 586 per item).

Quick Comparison

Dairy Queen vs Subway: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Dairy Queen	Subway	Winner
Avg Price	$4.08	$5.57	Dairy Queen
Menu Items	64	83	Subway
Avg Calories	571	586	Dairy Queen
US Locations	4,500	16,177	Subway
Secret Menu	7	3	Dairy Queen

Dairy Queen is 27% cheaper on average than Subway ($1.49 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

Subway

Chocolate Chip Cookie $0.59

Oatmeal Raisin Cookie $0.59

Double Chocolate Cookie $0.59

White Chip Macadamia Nut Cookie $0.59

Dark Chocolate Cherry Cookie $0.59

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

Subway

1% Low Fat Milk 160 cal

Little Cheesesteak 180 cal

Cookie 200 cal

Fountain Drink (Medium) 200 cal

Oatmeal Raisin Cookie 200 cal

Deep Comparison: Dairy Queen vs Subway

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Dairy Queen delivers 1.04¢/cal on average, while Subway delivers 1.46¢/cal. Dairy Queen gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Dairy Queen and Subway 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), Subway fits 0 items
$15 budget: Dairy Queen fits 3 items (390 cal), Subway fits 3 items (1380 cal)
$20 budget: Dairy Queen fits 3 items (1960 cal), Subway fits 3 items (1520 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Dairy Queen ranks #46 of 414 on price (cheaper than 89% of tracked chains). Subway ranks #132 of 414 (cheaper than 68% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Dairy Queen, 41% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Subway, 50% are under 500 calories. Subway offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Dairy Queen ($4.08 avg vs $5.57)
More variety: Subway (83 items)
More locations: Subway (16,177 US locations)
Best calorie value: Dairy Queen (1.04¢/cal)

Full Menus

Dairy Queen Menu Subway Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide