Which is cheaper, McDonald's or Wingstop?

McDonald's is cheaper, averaging $6.03 per item versus $8.73 for Wingstop — a 31% difference. Based on 199 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, McDonald's or Wingstop?

McDonald's has more menu items (164 vs 35). The total combined menu across both chains is 199 items.

Which has lower calories, McDonald's or Wingstop?

Wingstop averages 380 calories per item, compared to 413 for McDonald's. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are McDonald's and Wingstop similar?

McDonald's (13,786 US locations) and Wingstop (2,200 US locations) compete on 0 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 0%.

McDonald's vs Wingstop (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 164 items at McDonald's vs 35 items at Wingstop.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, McDonald's averages $6.03 per item across 164 menu items, while Wingstop averages $8.73 across 35 items. McDonald's is $2.70 cheaper per item (31% difference). Wingstop has lower average calories (380 vs 413 per item).

Quick Comparison

McDonald's vs Wingstop: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	McDonald's	Wingstop	Winner
Avg Price	$6.03	$8.73	McDonald's
Menu Items	164	35	McDonald's
Avg Calories	413	380	Wingstop
US Locations	13,786	2,200	McDonald's
Secret Menu	15	1	McDonald's

McDonald's is 31% cheaper on average than Wingstop ($2.70 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

Wingstop

Fresh Baked Rolls $0.49

Dips (Creamy Ranch, Chunky Bleu Cheese or Honey Mustard) $0.69

Side of Flavor (Atomic, Mango Habanero, Cajun, Hot, Louisiana Rub, Mild, BBQ, Lemon Pepper, Garlic Parmesan, Hawaiian or Teriyaki) $0.79

Veggie Sticks (Carrots, Celery or Mix & Match) $0.89

Fountain Soft Drink $1.69

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

Wingstop

Hot Cheddar Cheese Sauce 130 cal

Original Hot 142 cal

Mango Habanero 159 cal

Hickory Smoked BBQ 171 cal

Lemon Pepper 180 cal

Deep Comparison: McDonald's vs Wingstop

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

McDonald's delivers 6.07¢/cal on average, while Wingstop delivers 1.15¢/cal. Wingstop gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

McDonald's and Wingstop 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), Wingstop fits 0 items
$15 budget: McDonald's fits 0 items, Wingstop fits 0 items
$20 budget: McDonald's fits 3 items (260 cal), Wingstop fits 3 items (240 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

McDonald's ranks #156 of 414 on price (cheaper than 63% of tracked chains). Wingstop ranks #265 of 414 (pricier than 64% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At McDonald's, 70% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Wingstop, 76% are under 500 calories. Wingstop offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: McDonald's ($6.03 avg vs $8.73)
More variety: McDonald's (164 items)
More locations: McDonald's (13,786 US locations)
Best calorie value: Wingstop (1.15¢/cal)

Full Menus

McDonald's Menu Wingstop Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide