McDonald's vs Wendy's (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 164 items at McDonald's vs 77 items at Wendy's.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, McDonald's averages $6.03 per item across 164 menu items, while Wendy's averages $3.52 across 77 items. Wendy's is $2.51 cheaper per item (42% difference). McDonald's has lower average calories (413 vs 445 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | McDonald's | Wendy's | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $6.03 | $3.52 | Wendy's |
| Menu Items | 164 | 77 | McDonald's |
| Avg Calories | 413 | 445 | McDonald's |
| US Locations | 13,786 | 6,154 | McDonald's |
| Secret Menu | 15 | 2 | McDonald's |
Wendy's is 42% cheaper on average than McDonald's ($2.51 less per item).
Cheapest Items
McDonald's
Wendy's
Lowest Calorie Options
McDonald's
Wendy's
Deep Comparison: McDonald's vs Wendy's
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
McDonald's delivers 6.07¢/cal on average, while Wendy's delivers 2.09¢/cal. Wendy's gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
McDonald's and Wendy's share 2 menu categories (6% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: burgers, breakfast. 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:
- burgers: McDonald's avg $6.12 vs Wendy's $4.51 — Wendy's is 26% cheaper
- breakfast: McDonald's avg $3.63 vs Wendy's $4.89 — McDonald's is 26% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: McDonald's fits 1 item (290 cal), Wendy's fits 1 item (330 cal)
- $15 budget: McDonald's fits 0 items, Wendy's fits 3 items (2580 cal)
- $20 budget: McDonald's fits 3 items (260 cal), Wendy's fits 3 items (690 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
McDonald's ranks #156 of 414 on price (cheaper than 63% of tracked chains). Wendy's ranks #27 of 414 (cheaper than 94% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At McDonald's, 70% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Wendy's, 73% are under 500 calories. Wendy's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Wendy's ($3.52 avg vs $6.03)
- More variety: McDonald's (164 items)
- More locations: McDonald's (13,786 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Wendy's (2.09¢/cal)