Which is cheaper, McDonald's or Olive Garden?

McDonald's is cheaper, averaging $6.03 per item versus $7.98 for Olive Garden — a 24% difference. Based on 213 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, McDonald's or Olive Garden?

McDonald's has more menu items (164 vs 49). The total combined menu across both chains is 213 items.

Which has lower calories, McDonald's or Olive Garden?

McDonald's averages 413 calories per item, compared to 850 for Olive Garden. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are McDonald's and Olive Garden similar?

McDonald's (13,786 US locations) and Olive Garden (956 US locations) compete on 0 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 0%.

McDonald's vs Olive Garden (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 164 items at McDonald's vs 49 items at Olive Garden.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, McDonald's averages $6.03 per item across 164 menu items, while Olive Garden averages $7.98 across 49 items. McDonald's is $1.95 cheaper per item (24% difference). McDonald's has lower average calories (413 vs 850 per item).

Quick Comparison

McDonald's vs Olive Garden: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	McDonald's	Olive Garden	Winner
Avg Price	$6.03	$7.98	McDonald's
Menu Items	164	49	McDonald's
Avg Calories	413	850	McDonald's
US Locations	13,786	956	McDonald's
Secret Menu	15	0	McDonald's

McDonald's is 24% cheaper on average than Olive Garden ($1.95 less per item).

Cheapest Items

McDonald's

Butter $0.15

Syrup $0.25

Creamy Ranch Sauce $0.30

Spicy Buffalo $0.30

Honey Mustard $0.30

Olive Garden

Sundae $1.79

Italian Bottled Water $2.50

Iced Tea Fresh Brewed $2.69

Fountain Drinks $2.69

Fruit Juices $2.89

Lowest Calorie Options

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

Olive Garden

Minestrone 110 cal

Famous House Salad To Go 150 cal

Pasta e fagioli 150 cal

Zuppa Toscana 220 cal

Chicken And Gnocchi 230 cal

Deep Comparison: McDonald's vs Olive Garden

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

McDonald's delivers 6.07¢/cal on average, while Olive Garden delivers 1.69¢/cal. Olive Garden gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

McDonald's and Olive Garden share 0 menu categories (0% Jaccard overlap). Low overlap — these chains serve mostly different food categories.

What Fits in Your Budget

$10 budget: McDonald's fits 1 item (290 cal), Olive Garden fits 0 items
$15 budget: McDonald's fits 0 items, Olive Garden fits 1 item (1480 cal)
$20 budget: McDonald's fits 3 items (260 cal), Olive Garden fits 0 items

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

McDonald's ranks #156 of 414 on price (cheaper than 63% of tracked chains). Olive Garden ranks #229 of 414 (pricier than 55% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At McDonald's, 70% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Olive Garden, 21% are under 500 calories. McDonald's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: McDonald's ($6.03 avg vs $7.98)
More variety: McDonald's (164 items)
More locations: McDonald's (13,786 US locations)
Best calorie value: Olive Garden (1.69¢/cal)

Full Menus

McDonald's Menu Olive Garden Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide