Firehouse Subs vs Papa John's (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 66 items at Firehouse Subs vs 79 items at Papa John's.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Firehouse Subs averages $8.49 per item across 66 menu items, while Papa John's averages $11.72 across 79 items. Firehouse Subs is $3.23 cheaper per item (28% difference). Papa John's has lower average calories (369 vs 586 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Firehouse Subs | Papa John's | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $8.49 | $11.72 | Firehouse Subs |
| Menu Items | 66 | 79 | Papa John's |
| Avg Calories | 586 | 369 | Papa John's |
| US Locations | 1,200 | 3,200 | Papa John's |
| Secret Menu | 0 | 1 | Papa John's |
Firehouse Subs is 28% cheaper on average than Papa John's ($3.23 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Papa John's
Lowest Calorie Options
Firehouse Subs
Papa John's
Deep Comparison: Firehouse Subs vs Papa John's
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Firehouse Subs delivers 5.63¢/cal on average, while Papa John's delivers 3.50¢/cal. Papa John's gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Firehouse Subs and Papa John's share 2 menu categories (10% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: drinks, sides. Low overlap — these chains serve mostly different food categories.
Price Differences by Shared Category
Where these chains overlap, here is who undercuts whom on average price:
- sides: Firehouse Subs avg $2.21 vs Papa John's $6.31 — Firehouse Subs is 65% cheaper
- drinks: Firehouse Subs avg $1.89 vs Papa John's $1.80 — Papa John's is 5% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Firehouse Subs fits 1 item, Papa John's fits 0 items
- $15 budget: Firehouse Subs fits 0 items, Papa John's fits 1 item (270 cal)
- $20 budget: Firehouse Subs fits 1 item (310 cal), Papa John's fits 3 items
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Firehouse Subs ranks #249 of 414 on price (pricier than 60% of tracked chains). Papa John's ranks #344 of 414 (pricier than 83% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Firehouse Subs, 63% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Papa John's, 93% are under 500 calories. Papa John's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Firehouse Subs ($8.49 avg vs $11.72)
- More variety: Papa John's (79 items)
- More locations: Papa John's (3,200 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Papa John's (3.50¢/cal)