Jersey Mike's vs Papa John's (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 114 items at Jersey Mike's vs 79 items at Papa John's.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Jersey Mike's averages $8.07 per item across 114 menu items, while Papa John's averages $11.72 across 79 items. Jersey Mike's is $3.65 cheaper per item (31% difference). Papa John's has lower average calories (369 vs 1535 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Jersey Mike's | Papa John's | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $8.07 | $11.72 | Jersey Mike's |
| Menu Items | 114 | 79 | Jersey Mike's |
| Avg Calories | 1535 | 369 | Papa John's |
| US Locations | 2,700 | 3,200 | Papa John's |
| Secret Menu | 1 | 1 | Tie |
Jersey Mike's is 31% cheaper on average than Papa John's ($3.65 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Jersey Mike's
Papa John's
Lowest Calorie Options
Papa John's
Deep Comparison: Jersey Mike's vs Papa John's
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Jersey Mike's delivers 0.62¢/cal on average, while Papa John's delivers 3.50¢/cal. Jersey Mike's gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Jersey Mike's and Papa John's share 1 menu categories (10% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: 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: Jersey Mike's avg $1.89 vs Papa John's $6.31 — Jersey Mike's is 70% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Jersey Mike's fits 1 item (430 cal), Papa John's fits 0 items
- $15 budget: Jersey Mike's fits 0 items, Papa John's fits 1 item (270 cal)
- $20 budget: Jersey Mike's fits 3 items (4960 cal), Papa John's fits 3 items
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Jersey Mike's ranks #234 of 414 on price (pricier than 56% of tracked chains). Papa John's ranks #344 of 414 (pricier than 83% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Jersey Mike's, 7% 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: Jersey Mike's ($8.07 avg vs $11.72)
- More variety: Jersey Mike's (114 items)
- More locations: Papa John's (3,200 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Jersey Mike's (0.62¢/cal)