Chili's vs Taco Bell (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 77 items at Chili's vs 115 items at Taco Bell.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Chili's averages $12.93 per item across 77 menu items, while Taco Bell averages $5.72 across 115 items. Taco Bell is $7.21 cheaper per item (56% difference). Taco Bell has lower average calories (405 vs 800 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Chili's | Taco Bell | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $12.93 | $5.72 | Taco Bell |
| Menu Items | 77 | 115 | Taco Bell |
| Avg Calories | 800 | 405 | Taco Bell |
| US Locations | 1,235 | 7,589 | Taco Bell |
| Secret Menu | 0 | 14 | Taco Bell |
Taco Bell is 56% cheaper on average than Chili's ($7.21 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Lowest Calorie Options
Deep Comparison: Chili's vs Taco Bell
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Chili's delivers 2.25¢/cal on average, while Taco Bell delivers 3.00¢/cal. Chili's gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Chili's and Taco Bell share 1 menu categories (4% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: burritos. 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:
- burritos: Chili's avg $10.99 vs Taco Bell $4.10 — Taco Bell is 63% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Chili's fits 1 item (1582 cal), Taco Bell fits 1 item (1430 cal)
- $15 budget: Chili's fits 1 item (631 cal), Taco Bell fits 0 items
- $20 budget: Chili's fits 3 items (300 cal), Taco Bell fits 3 items (1370 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Chili's ranks #361 of 414 on price (pricier than 87% of tracked chains). Taco Bell ranks #143 of 414 (cheaper than 66% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Chili's, 31% 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 $12.93)
- More variety: Taco Bell (115 items)
- More locations: Taco Bell (7,589 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Chili's (2.25¢/cal)