Which is cheaper, Panda Express or Subway?

Subway is cheaper, averaging $5.57 per item versus $7.73 for Panda Express — a 28% difference. Based on 94 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, Panda Express or Subway?

Subway has more menu items (83 vs 11). The total combined menu across both chains is 94 items.

Which has lower calories, Panda Express or Subway?

Panda Express averages 479 calories per item, compared to 586 for Subway. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Panda Express and Subway similar?

Panda Express (2,500 US locations) and Subway (16,177 US locations) compete on 1 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 9%.

Panda Express vs Subway (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 11 items at Panda Express vs 83 items at Subway.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Panda Express averages $7.73 per item across 11 menu items, while Subway averages $5.57 across 83 items. Subway is $2.15 cheaper per item (28% difference). Panda Express has lower average calories (479 vs 586 per item).

Quick Comparison

Panda Express vs Subway: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Panda Express	Subway	Winner
Avg Price	$7.73	$5.57	Subway
Menu Items	11	83	Subway
Avg Calories	479	586	Panda Express
US Locations	2,500	16,177	Subway
Secret Menu	1	3	Subway

Subway is 28% cheaper on average than Panda Express ($2.15 less per item).

Cheapest Items

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

Subway

Chocolate Chip Cookie $0.59

Oatmeal Raisin Cookie $0.59

Double Chocolate Cookie $0.59

White Chip Macadamia Nut Cookie $0.59

Dark Chocolate Cherry Cookie $0.59

Lowest Calorie Options

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

Subway

1% Low Fat Milk 160 cal

Little Cheesesteak 180 cal

Cookie 200 cal

Fountain Drink (Medium) 200 cal

Oatmeal Raisin Cookie 200 cal

Deep Comparison: Panda Express vs Subway

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Panda Express delivers 1.18¢/cal on average, while Subway delivers 1.46¢/cal. Panda Express gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Panda Express and Subway share 1 menu categories (9% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: sides. Low overlap — these chains serve mostly different food categories.

What Fits in Your Budget

$10 budget: Panda Express fits 0 items, Subway fits 0 items
$15 budget: Panda Express fits 1 item (360 cal), Subway fits 3 items (1380 cal)
$20 budget: Panda Express fits 2 items (860 cal), Subway fits 3 items (1520 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Panda Express ranks #218 of 414 on price (pricier than 52% of tracked chains). Subway ranks #132 of 414 (cheaper than 68% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Panda Express, 55% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Subway, 50% are under 500 calories. Panda Express offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Subway ($5.57 avg vs $7.73)
More variety: Subway (83 items)
More locations: Subway (16,177 US locations)
Best calorie value: Panda Express (1.18¢/cal)

Full Menus

Panda Express Menu Subway Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide