Which is cheaper, McDonald's or Panda Express?

McDonald's is cheaper, averaging $6.03 per item versus $7.73 for Panda Express — a 22% difference. Based on 175 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, McDonald's or Panda Express?

McDonald's has more menu items (164 vs 11). The total combined menu across both chains is 175 items.

Which has lower calories, McDonald's or Panda Express?

McDonald's averages 413 calories per item, compared to 479 for Panda Express. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are McDonald's and Panda Express similar?

McDonald's (13,786 US locations) and Panda Express (2,500 US locations) compete on 0 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 0%.

McDonald's vs Panda Express (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 164 items at McDonald's vs 11 items at Panda Express.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, McDonald's averages $6.03 per item across 164 menu items, while Panda Express averages $7.73 across 11 items. McDonald's is $1.69 cheaper per item (22% difference). McDonald's has lower average calories (413 vs 479 per item).

Quick Comparison

McDonald's vs Panda Express: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	McDonald's	Panda Express	Winner
Avg Price	$6.03	$7.73	McDonald's
Menu Items	164	11	McDonald's
Avg Calories	413	479	McDonald's
US Locations	13,786	2,500	McDonald's
Secret Menu	15	1	McDonald's

McDonald's is 22% cheaper on average than Panda Express ($1.69 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

Panda Express

Honey Walnut Shrimp $1.50

Bowl (1 entree + 1 side) $8.30

Plate (2 entrees + 1 side) $9.80

Bigger Plate (3 entrees + 1 side) $11.30

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

Panda Express

Broccoli Beef 150 cal

Kung Pao Chicken 290 cal

Honey Walnut Shrimp 360 cal

White Steamed Rice 380 cal

Beijing Beef 470 cal

Deep Comparison: McDonald's vs Panda Express

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

McDonald's delivers 6.07¢/cal on average, while Panda Express delivers 1.18¢/cal. Panda Express gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

McDonald's and Panda Express 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), Panda Express fits 0 items
$15 budget: McDonald's fits 0 items, Panda Express fits 1 item (360 cal)
$20 budget: McDonald's fits 3 items (260 cal), Panda Express fits 2 items (860 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

McDonald's ranks #156 of 414 on price (cheaper than 63% of tracked chains). Panda Express ranks #218 of 414 (pricier than 52% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At McDonald's, 70% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Panda Express, 55% are under 500 calories. McDonald's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: McDonald's ($6.03 avg vs $7.73)
More variety: McDonald's (164 items)
More locations: McDonald's (13,786 US locations)
Best calorie value: Panda Express (1.18¢/cal)

Full Menus

McDonald's Menu Panda Express Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide