Which is cheaper, Subway or Whataburger?

Whataburger is cheaper, averaging $3.88 per item versus $5.57 for Subway — a 30% difference. Based on 168 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, Subway or Whataburger?

Whataburger has more menu items (85 vs 83). The total combined menu across both chains is 168 items.

Which has lower calories, Subway or Whataburger?

Whataburger averages 560 calories per item, compared to 586 for Subway. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Subway and Whataburger similar?

Subway (16,177 US locations) and Whataburger (1,030 US locations) compete on 1 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 5%.

Subway vs Whataburger (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 83 items at Subway vs 85 items at Whataburger.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Subway averages $5.57 per item across 83 menu items, while Whataburger averages $3.88 across 85 items. Whataburger is $1.69 cheaper per item (30% difference). Whataburger has lower average calories (560 vs 586 per item).

Quick Comparison

Subway vs Whataburger: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Subway	Whataburger	Winner
Avg Price	$5.57	$3.88	Whataburger
Menu Items	83	85	Whataburger
Avg Calories	586	560	Whataburger
US Locations	16,177	1,030	Subway
Secret Menu	3	7	Whataburger

Whataburger is 30% cheaper on average than Subway ($1.69 less per item).

Cheapest Items

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

Whataburger

Bacon $0.40

Fruit Chews $0.49

Jalapeños or Grilled Peppers & Onions $0.50

Cheese $0.50

Avocado $0.75

Lowest Calorie Options

Subway

1% Low Fat Milk 160 cal

Little Cheesesteak 180 cal

Cookie 200 cal

Fountain Drink (Medium) 200 cal

Oatmeal Raisin Cookie 200 cal

Whataburger

Fruit Chews 80 cal

Orange Juice 160 cal

Milk 160 cal

Hash Brown Sticks 190 cal

Chocolate Chunk Cookie 230 cal

Deep Comparison: Subway vs Whataburger

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Subway delivers 1.46¢/cal on average, while Whataburger delivers 1.14¢/cal. Whataburger gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Subway and Whataburger share 1 menu categories (5% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: sides. 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 Whataburger $1.81 — Subway is 43% cheaper

What Fits in Your Budget

$10 budget: Subway fits 0 items, Whataburger fits 3 items (35 cal)
$15 budget: Subway fits 3 items (1380 cal), Whataburger fits 3 items (1395 cal)
$20 budget: Subway fits 3 items (1520 cal), Whataburger fits 3 items (2495 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Subway ranks #132 of 414 on price (cheaper than 68% of tracked chains). Whataburger ranks #36 of 414 (cheaper than 92% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Subway, 50% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Whataburger, 49% are under 500 calories. Subway offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Whataburger ($3.88 avg vs $5.57)
More variety: Whataburger (85 items)
More locations: Subway (16,177 US locations)
Best calorie value: Whataburger (1.14¢/cal)

Full Menus

Subway Menu Whataburger Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide