Buffalo Wild Wings vs Papa John's (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 85 items at Buffalo Wild Wings vs 79 items at Papa John's.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Buffalo Wild Wings averages $4.95 per item across 85 menu items, while Papa John's averages $11.72 across 79 items. Buffalo Wild Wings is $6.77 cheaper per item (58% difference). Papa John's has lower average calories (369 vs 1257 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo Wild Wings | Papa John's | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $4.95 | $11.72 | Buffalo Wild Wings |
| Menu Items | 85 | 79 | Buffalo Wild Wings |
| Avg Calories | 1257 | 369 | Papa John's |
| US Locations | 1,393 | 3,200 | Papa John's |
| Secret Menu | 0 | 1 | Papa John's |
Buffalo Wild Wings is 58% cheaper on average than Papa John's ($6.77 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Buffalo Wild Wings
Papa John's
Lowest Calorie Options
Buffalo Wild Wings
Papa John's
Deep Comparison: Buffalo Wild Wings vs Papa John's
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Buffalo Wild Wings delivers 0.67¢/cal on average, while Papa John's delivers 3.50¢/cal. Buffalo Wild Wings gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Buffalo Wild Wings and Papa John's share 2 menu categories (13% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: desserts, 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:
- drinks: Buffalo Wild Wings avg $2.70 vs Papa John's $1.80 — Papa John's is 33% cheaper
- desserts: Buffalo Wild Wings avg $4.19 vs Papa John's $6.00 — Buffalo Wild Wings is 30% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Buffalo Wild Wings fits 1 item (980 cal), Papa John's fits 0 items
- $15 budget: Buffalo Wild Wings fits 0 items, Papa John's fits 1 item (270 cal)
- $20 budget: Buffalo Wild Wings fits 3 items (240 cal), Papa John's fits 3 items
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Buffalo Wild Wings ranks #92 of 414 on price (cheaper than 78% of tracked chains). Papa John's ranks #344 of 414 (pricier than 83% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Buffalo Wild Wings, 6% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Papa John's, 93% are under 500 calories. Papa John's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Buffalo Wild Wings ($4.95 avg vs $11.72)
- More variety: Buffalo Wild Wings (85 items)
- More locations: Papa John's (3,200 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Buffalo Wild Wings (0.67¢/cal)