Which is cheaper, Applebee's or Taco Bell?

Taco Bell is cheaper, averaging $5.72 per item versus $8.80 for Applebee's — a 35% difference. Based on 193 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, Applebee's or Taco Bell?

Taco Bell has more menu items (115 vs 78). The total combined menu across both chains is 193 items.

Which has lower calories, Applebee's or Taco Bell?

Taco Bell averages 405 calories per item, compared to 682 for Applebee's. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Applebee's and Taco Bell similar?

Applebee's (1,483 US locations) and Taco Bell (7,589 US locations) compete on 0 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 0%.

Applebee's vs Taco Bell (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 78 items at Applebee's vs 115 items at Taco Bell.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Applebee's averages $8.80 per item across 78 menu items, while Taco Bell averages $5.72 across 115 items. Taco Bell is $3.08 cheaper per item (35% difference). Taco Bell has lower average calories (405 vs 682 per item).

Quick Comparison

Applebee's vs Taco Bell: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Applebee's	Taco Bell	Winner
Avg Price	$8.80	$5.72	Taco Bell
Menu Items	78	115	Taco Bell
Avg Calories	682	405	Taco Bell
US Locations	1,483	7,589	Taco Bell
Secret Menu	0	14	Taco Bell

Taco Bell is 35% cheaper on average than Applebee's ($3.08 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

Taco Bell

Red Sauce $0.25

Chipotle Sauce $0.65

Creamy Jalapeño Sauce $0.80

Avocado Ranch Sauce $0.80

Spicy Ranch $0.80

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

Taco Bell

Nacho Cheese Sauce 60 cal

Guacamole 80 cal

G2 Gatorade® Fruit Punch 80 cal

Brisk® Dragon Paradise™ Sparkling Iced Tea 120 cal

Dole® Lemonade Strawberry Squeeze 130 cal

Deep Comparison: Applebee's vs Taco Bell

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Applebee's delivers 2.22¢/cal on average, while Taco Bell delivers 3.00¢/cal. Applebee's gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Applebee's and Taco Bell 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, Taco Bell fits 1 item (1430 cal)
$15 budget: Applebee's fits 1 item, Taco Bell fits 0 items
$20 budget: Applebee's fits 3 items (390 cal), Taco Bell fits 3 items (1370 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Applebee's ranks #270 of 414 on price (pricier than 65% of tracked chains). Taco Bell ranks #143 of 414 (cheaper than 66% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Applebee's, 37% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Taco Bell, 64% are under 500 calories. Taco Bell offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Taco Bell ($5.72 avg vs $8.80)
More variety: Taco Bell (115 items)
More locations: Taco Bell (7,589 US locations)
Best calorie value: Applebee's (2.22¢/cal)

Full Menus

Applebee's Menu Taco Bell Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide