Subway vs Wendy's (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 83 items at Subway vs 77 items at Wendy's.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Subway averages $5.57 per item across 83 menu items, while Wendy's averages $3.52 across 77 items. Wendy's is $2.05 cheaper per item (37% difference). Wendy's has lower average calories (445 vs 586 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Subway | Wendy's | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $5.57 | $3.52 | Wendy's |
| Menu Items | 83 | 77 | Subway |
| Avg Calories | 586 | 445 | Wendy's |
| US Locations | 16,177 | 6,154 | Subway |
| Secret Menu | 3 | 2 | Subway |
Wendy's is 37% cheaper on average than Subway ($2.05 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Subway
Wendy's
Lowest Calorie Options
Deep Comparison: Subway vs Wendy's
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Subway delivers 1.46¢/cal on average, while Wendy's delivers 2.09¢/cal. Subway gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Subway and Wendy's share 3 menu categories (13% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: sides, breakfast, drinks. 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:
- sides: Subway avg $1.03 vs Wendy's $3.25 — Subway is 68% cheaper
- breakfast: Subway avg $6.54 vs Wendy's $4.89 — Wendy's is 25% cheaper
- drinks: Subway avg $2.06 vs Wendy's $1.59 — Wendy's is 23% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Subway fits 0 items, Wendy's fits 1 item (330 cal)
- $15 budget: Subway fits 3 items (1380 cal), Wendy's fits 3 items (2580 cal)
- $20 budget: Subway fits 3 items (1520 cal), Wendy's fits 3 items (690 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Subway ranks #132 of 414 on price (cheaper than 68% of tracked chains). Wendy's ranks #27 of 414 (cheaper than 94% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Subway, 50% 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 $5.57)
- More variety: Subway (83 items)
- More locations: Subway (16,177 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Subway (1.46¢/cal)