Five Guys vs Papa John's (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 21 items at Five Guys vs 79 items at Papa John's.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Five Guys averages $5.36 per item across 21 menu items, while Papa John's averages $11.72 across 79 items. Five Guys is $6.36 cheaper per item (54% difference). Papa John's has lower average calories (369 vs 629 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Five Guys | Papa John's | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $5.36 | $11.72 | Five Guys |
| Menu Items | 21 | 79 | Papa John's |
| Avg Calories | 629 | 369 | Papa John's |
| US Locations | 1,700 | 3,200 | Papa John's |
| Secret Menu | 4 | 1 | Five Guys |
Five Guys is 54% cheaper on average than Papa John's ($6.36 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Five Guys
Papa John's
Lowest Calorie Options
Five Guys
Papa John's
Deep Comparison: Five Guys vs Papa John's
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Five Guys delivers 0.91¢/cal on average, while Papa John's delivers 3.50¢/cal. Five Guys gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Five Guys and Papa John's share 1 menu categories (9% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: drinks. 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:
- drinks: Five Guys avg $2.24 vs Papa John's $1.80 — Papa John's is 20% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Five Guys fits 0 items, Papa John's fits 0 items
- $15 budget: Five Guys fits 3 items (1640 cal), Papa John's fits 1 item (270 cal)
- $20 budget: Five Guys fits 3 items (2370 cal), Papa John's fits 3 items
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Five Guys ranks #118 of 414 on price (cheaper than 72% of tracked chains). Papa John's ranks #344 of 414 (pricier than 83% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Five Guys, 21% 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: Five Guys ($5.36 avg vs $11.72)
- More variety: Papa John's (79 items)
- More locations: Papa John's (3,200 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Five Guys (0.91¢/cal)