Denny's vs Starbucks (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 171 items at Denny's vs 74 items at Starbucks.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Denny's averages $6.39 per item across 171 menu items, while Starbucks averages $4.13 across 74 items. Starbucks is $2.25 cheaper per item (35% difference). Starbucks has lower average calories (308 vs 544 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Denny's | Starbucks | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $6.39 | $4.13 | Starbucks |
| Menu Items | 171 | 74 | Denny's |
| Avg Calories | 544 | 308 | Starbucks |
| US Locations | 1,350 | 13,502 | Starbucks |
| Secret Menu | 0 | 15 | Starbucks |
Starbucks is 35% cheaper on average than Denny's ($2.25 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Lowest Calorie Options
Denny's
Starbucks
Deep Comparison: Denny's vs Starbucks
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Denny's delivers 1.49¢/cal on average, while Starbucks delivers 5.04¢/cal. Denny's gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Denny's and Starbucks share 0 menu categories (0% Jaccard overlap). Low overlap — these chains serve mostly different food categories.
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Denny's fits 1 item (270 cal), Starbucks fits 3 items (310 cal)
- $15 budget: Denny's fits 0 items, Starbucks fits 3 items (1100 cal)
- $20 budget: Denny's fits 3 items (961 cal), Starbucks fits 3 items (1100 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Denny's ranks #168 of 414 on price (cheaper than 60% of tracked chains). Starbucks ranks #49 of 414 (cheaper than 88% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Denny's, 56% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Starbucks, 92% are under 500 calories. Starbucks offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Starbucks ($4.13 avg vs $6.39)
- More variety: Denny's (171 items)
- More locations: Starbucks (13,502 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Denny's (1.49¢/cal)