Chili's vs Papa John's (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 77 items at Chili's vs 79 items at Papa John's.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Chili's averages $12.93 per item across 77 menu items, while Papa John's averages $11.72 across 79 items. Papa John's is $1.21 cheaper per item (9% difference). Papa John's has lower average calories (369 vs 800 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Chili's | Papa John's | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $12.93 | $11.72 | Papa John's |
| Menu Items | 77 | 79 | Papa John's |
| Avg Calories | 800 | 369 | Papa John's |
| US Locations | 1,235 | 3,200 | Papa John's |
| Secret Menu | 0 | 1 | Papa John's |
Papa John's is 9% cheaper on average than Chili's ($1.21 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Papa John's
Lowest Calorie Options
Chili's
Papa John's
Deep Comparison: Chili's vs Papa John's
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Chili's delivers 2.25¢/cal on average, while Papa John's delivers 3.50¢/cal. Chili's gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Chili's and Papa John's share 2 menu categories (10% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: sides, desserts. 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: Chili's avg $0.79 vs Papa John's $6.31 — Chili's is 87% cheaper
- desserts: Chili's avg $7.29 vs Papa John's $6.00 — Papa John's is 18% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Chili's fits 1 item (1582 cal), Papa John's fits 0 items
- $15 budget: Chili's fits 1 item (631 cal), Papa John's fits 1 item (270 cal)
- $20 budget: Chili's fits 3 items (300 cal), Papa John's fits 3 items
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Chili's ranks #361 of 414 on price (pricier than 87% of tracked chains). Papa John's ranks #344 of 414 (pricier than 83% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Chili's, 31% 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: Papa John's ($11.72 avg vs $12.93)
- More variety: Papa John's (79 items)
- More locations: Papa John's (3,200 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Chili's (2.25¢/cal)