Which is cheaper, Applebee's or Starbucks?

Starbucks is cheaper, averaging $4.13 per item versus $8.80 for Applebee's — a 53% difference. Based on 152 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, Applebee's or Starbucks?

Applebee's has more menu items (78 vs 74). The total combined menu across both chains is 152 items.

Which has lower calories, Applebee's or Starbucks?

Starbucks averages 308 calories per item, compared to 682 for Applebee's. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Applebee's and Starbucks similar?

Applebee's (1,483 US locations) and Starbucks (13,502 US locations) compete on 0 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 0%.

Applebee's vs Starbucks (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 78 items at Applebee's vs 74 items at Starbucks.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Applebee's averages $8.80 per item across 78 menu items, while Starbucks averages $4.13 across 74 items. Starbucks is $4.67 cheaper per item (53% difference). Starbucks has lower average calories (308 vs 682 per item).

Quick Comparison

Applebee's vs Starbucks: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Applebee's	Starbucks	Winner
Avg Price	$8.80	$4.13	Starbucks
Menu Items	78	74	Applebee's
Avg Calories	682	308	Starbucks
US Locations	1,483	13,502	Starbucks
Secret Menu	0	15	Starbucks

Starbucks is 53% cheaper on average than Applebee's ($4.67 less per item).

Cheapest Items

Applebee's

Brownie Bites $1.00

Garlic Mashed Potatoes Per Person $1.49

Cole Slaw Per Person $1.49

Side Crispy Cheddar Bacon Potatoes $1.99

Side Garlicky Green Beans $1.99

Starbucks

Chocolate Chip Cookie $1.95

Salted Caramel or Birthday Cake Pop $1.95

Freshly Brewed Coffee $2.10

Teavana® Shaken Iced Tea $2.25

Double Chocolate Chunk Brownie $2.35

Lowest Calorie Options

Applebee's

Side Crispy Cheddar Bacon Potatoes 100 cal

Side House Salad 120 cal

Side Garlic Mashed Potatoes 130 cal

Grilled Shrimp Avocado & Grapefruit Salad 150 cal

Side Fire-Grilled Veggies 150 cal

Starbucks

Skinny Vanilla Latte 70 cal

Mango Dragonfruit Refresher (Grande) 90 cal

Strawberry Acai Refresher (Grande) 100 cal

Iced Coffee (with or without Milk) 120 cal

Pink Drink (Grande) 140 cal

Deep Comparison: Applebee's vs Starbucks

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Applebee's delivers 2.22¢/cal on average, while Starbucks delivers 5.04¢/cal. Applebee's gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Applebee's and Starbucks share 0 menu categories (0% Jaccard overlap). Low overlap — these chains serve mostly different food categories.

What Fits in Your Budget

$10 budget: Applebee's fits 1 item, Starbucks fits 3 items (310 cal)
$15 budget: Applebee's fits 1 item, Starbucks fits 3 items (1100 cal)
$20 budget: Applebee's fits 3 items (390 cal), Starbucks fits 3 items (1100 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Applebee's ranks #270 of 414 on price (pricier than 65% of tracked chains). Starbucks ranks #49 of 414 (cheaper than 88% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Applebee's, 37% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Starbucks, 92% are under 500 calories. Starbucks offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Starbucks ($4.13 avg vs $8.80)
More variety: Applebee's (78 items)
More locations: Starbucks (13,502 US locations)
Best calorie value: Applebee's (2.22¢/cal)

Full Menus

Applebee's Menu Starbucks Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide