Which is cheaper, Marco's Pizza or McDonald's?

McDonald's is cheaper, averaging $6.03 per item versus $8.71 for Marco's Pizza — a 31% difference. Based on 219 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, Marco's Pizza or McDonald's?

McDonald's has more menu items (164 vs 55). The total combined menu across both chains is 219 items.

Which has lower calories, Marco's Pizza or McDonald's?

Marco's Pizza averages 313 calories per item, compared to 413 for McDonald's. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Marco's Pizza and McDonald's similar?

Marco's Pizza (1,233 US locations) and McDonald's (13,786 US locations) compete on 1 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 4%.

Marco's Pizza vs McDonald's (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 55 items at Marco's Pizza vs 164 items at McDonald's.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Marco's Pizza averages $8.71 per item across 55 menu items, while McDonald's averages $6.03 across 164 items. McDonald's is $2.68 cheaper per item (31% difference). Marco's Pizza has lower average calories (313 vs 413 per item).

Quick Comparison

Marco's Pizza vs McDonald's: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Marco's Pizza	McDonald's	Winner
Avg Price	$8.71	$6.03	McDonald's
Menu Items	55	164	McDonald's
Avg Calories	313	413	Marco's Pizza
US Locations	1,233	13,786	McDonald's
Secret Menu	0	15	McDonald's

McDonald's is 31% cheaper on average than Marco's Pizza ($2.68 less per item).

Cheapest Items

Marco's Pizza

Ranch $0.59

Pizza Sauce $0.59

Garlic $0.59

Bleu Cheese $0.59

Banana Pepper $0.59

McDonald's

Butter $0.15

Syrup $0.25

Creamy Ranch Sauce $0.30

Spicy Buffalo $0.30

Honey Mustard $0.30

Lowest Calorie Options

Marco's Pizza

Chicken Dippers 57 cal

Cinna Squares 78 cal

Cheezy Bread 81 cal

Wings (Plain, Hot or BBQ) 82 cal

Bleu Cheese 83 cal

McDonald's

Honey Mustard 60 cal

Medium Frozen Fanta® Wild Cherry 80 cal

Medium Frozen Coca-Cola® 80 cal

Medium Frozen Fanta® Blue Raspberry 80 cal

Mayonnaise Packet 90 cal

Deep Comparison: Marco's Pizza vs McDonald's

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Marco's Pizza delivers 6.30¢/cal on average, while McDonald's delivers 6.07¢/cal. McDonald's gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Marco's Pizza and McDonald's share 1 menu categories (4% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: beverages. 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:

beverages: Marco's Pizza avg $1.49 vs McDonald's $3.17 — Marco's Pizza is 53% cheaper

What Fits in Your Budget

$10 budget: Marco's Pizza fits 1 item (786 cal), McDonald's fits 1 item (290 cal)
$15 budget: Marco's Pizza fits 0 items, McDonald's fits 0 items
$20 budget: Marco's Pizza fits 0 items, McDonald's fits 3 items (260 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Marco's Pizza ranks #264 of 414 on price (pricier than 64% of tracked chains). McDonald's ranks #156 of 414 (cheaper than 63% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Marco's Pizza, 87% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At McDonald's, 70% are under 500 calories. Marco's Pizza offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: McDonald's ($6.03 avg vs $8.71)
More variety: McDonald's (164 items)
More locations: McDonald's (13,786 US locations)
Best calorie value: McDonald's (6.07¢/cal)

Full Menus

Marco's Pizza Menu McDonald's Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide