Which is cheaper, Chick-fil-A or Dairy Queen?

Dairy Queen is cheaper, averaging $4.08 per item versus $5.32 for Chick-fil-A — a 23% difference. Based on 166 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, Chick-fil-A or Dairy Queen?

Chick-fil-A has more menu items (102 vs 64). The total combined menu across both chains is 166 items.

Which has lower calories, Chick-fil-A or Dairy Queen?

Chick-fil-A averages 381 calories per item, compared to 571 for Dairy Queen. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Chick-fil-A and Dairy Queen similar?

Chick-fil-A (3,140 US locations) and Dairy Queen (4,500 US locations) compete on 0 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 0%.

Chick-fil-A vs Dairy Queen (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 102 items at Chick-fil-A vs 64 items at Dairy Queen.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Chick-fil-A averages $5.32 per item across 102 menu items, while Dairy Queen averages $4.08 across 64 items. Dairy Queen is $1.24 cheaper per item (23% difference). Chick-fil-A has lower average calories (381 vs 571 per item).

Quick Comparison

Chick-fil-A vs Dairy Queen: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Chick-fil-A	Dairy Queen	Winner
Avg Price	$5.32	$4.08	Dairy Queen
Menu Items	102	64	Chick-fil-A
Avg Calories	381	571	Chick-fil-A
US Locations	3,140	4,500	Dairy Queen
Secret Menu	10	7	Chick-fil-A

Dairy Queen is 23% cheaper on average than Chick-fil-A ($1.24 less per item).

Cheapest Items

Chick-fil-A

Icedream Topping $0.25

Upsize Fries & Drink $0.46

Buttered Biscuit $0.89

Hash Browns $0.99

Substitute Medium Premium Side $1.00

Dairy Queen

Add Extra Stuff $0.69

Add a Boost (Protein) $0.99

Add a Boost (Fresh Banana) $0.99

Buffalo Chicken $1.89

Chicken Bacon BBQ $1.89

Lowest Calorie Options

Chick-fil-A

Fruit Cup 60 cal

1% Milk Plain or Chocolate 90 cal

Hand-Spun Milkshakes (Cookies & Cream, Chocolate, Strawberry, or Vanilla) 90 cal

Kale Crunch Side 120 cal

Grilled Nuggets (8-ct) 130 cal

Dairy Queen

Chicken Wrap 280 cal

Fries 280 cal

1/4 lb. Bacon Cheese GrillBurger 390 cal

1/4 lb. Bacon Cheese GrillBurger – Combo 390 cal

Chicken Bacon Ranch – Combo 390 cal

Deep Comparison: Chick-fil-A vs Dairy Queen

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Chick-fil-A delivers 1.91¢/cal on average, while Dairy Queen delivers 1.04¢/cal. Dairy Queen gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Chick-fil-A and Dairy Queen share 0 menu categories (0% Jaccard overlap). Low overlap — these chains serve mostly different food categories.

What Fits in Your Budget

$10 budget: Chick-fil-A fits 0 items, Dairy Queen fits 3 items (905 cal)
$15 budget: Chick-fil-A fits 3 items (650 cal), Dairy Queen fits 3 items (390 cal)
$20 budget: Chick-fil-A fits 3 items (600 cal), Dairy Queen fits 3 items (1960 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Chick-fil-A ranks #115 of 414 on price (cheaper than 72% of tracked chains). Dairy Queen ranks #46 of 414 (cheaper than 89% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Chick-fil-A, 79% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Dairy Queen, 41% are under 500 calories. Chick-fil-A offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Dairy Queen ($4.08 avg vs $5.32)
More variety: Chick-fil-A (102 items)
More locations: Dairy Queen (4,500 US locations)
Best calorie value: Dairy Queen (1.04¢/cal)

Full Menus

Chick-fil-A Menu Dairy Queen Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide