Which is cheaper, Dairy Queen or Whataburger?

Whataburger is cheaper, averaging $3.88 per item versus $4.08 for Dairy Queen — a 5% difference. Based on 149 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, Dairy Queen or Whataburger?

Whataburger has more menu items (85 vs 64). The total combined menu across both chains is 149 items.

Which has lower calories, Dairy Queen or Whataburger?

Whataburger averages 560 calories per item, compared to 571 for Dairy Queen. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Dairy Queen and Whataburger similar?

Dairy Queen (4,500 US locations) and Whataburger (1,030 US locations) compete on 0 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 0%.

Dairy Queen vs Whataburger (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 64 items at Dairy Queen vs 85 items at Whataburger.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Dairy Queen averages $4.08 per item across 64 menu items, while Whataburger averages $3.88 across 85 items. Whataburger is $0.20 cheaper per item (5% difference). Whataburger has lower average calories (560 vs 571 per item).

Quick Comparison

Dairy Queen vs Whataburger: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Dairy Queen	Whataburger	Winner
Avg Price	$4.08	$3.88	Whataburger
Menu Items	64	85	Whataburger
Avg Calories	571	560	Whataburger
US Locations	4,500	1,030	Dairy Queen
Secret Menu	7	7	Tie

Whataburger is 5% cheaper on average than Dairy Queen ($0.20 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

Whataburger

Bacon $0.40

Fruit Chews $0.49

Jalapeños or Grilled Peppers & Onions $0.50

Cheese $0.50

Avocado $0.75

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

Whataburger

Fruit Chews 80 cal

Orange Juice 160 cal

Milk 160 cal

Hash Brown Sticks 190 cal

Chocolate Chunk Cookie 230 cal

Deep Comparison: Dairy Queen vs Whataburger

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Dairy Queen delivers 1.04¢/cal on average, while Whataburger delivers 1.14¢/cal. Dairy Queen gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Dairy Queen and Whataburger 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), Whataburger fits 3 items (35 cal)
$15 budget: Dairy Queen fits 3 items (390 cal), Whataburger fits 3 items (1395 cal)
$20 budget: Dairy Queen fits 3 items (1960 cal), Whataburger fits 3 items (2495 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Dairy Queen ranks #46 of 414 on price (cheaper than 89% of tracked chains). Whataburger ranks #36 of 414 (cheaper than 92% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Dairy Queen, 41% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Whataburger, 49% are under 500 calories. Whataburger offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Whataburger ($3.88 avg vs $4.08)
More variety: Whataburger (85 items)
More locations: Dairy Queen (4,500 US locations)
Best calorie value: Dairy Queen (1.04¢/cal)

Full Menus

Dairy Queen Menu Whataburger Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide