Chipotle vs Hardee's / Carl's Jr. (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 72 items at Chipotle vs 120 items at Hardee's / Carl's Jr..
Quick answer: As of May 2026, Chipotle averages $6.54 per item across 72 menu items, while Hardee's / Carl's Jr. averages $4.48 across 120 items. Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is $2.06 cheaper per item (32% difference). Chipotle has lower average calories (449 vs 670 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Chipotle | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $6.54 | $4.48 | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. |
| Menu Items | 72 | 120 | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. |
| Avg Calories | 449 | 670 | Chipotle |
| US Locations | 3,727 | 3,800 | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. |
| Secret Menu | 10 | 0 | Chipotle |
Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is 32% cheaper on average than Chipotle ($2.06 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Chipotle
Hardee's / Carl's Jr.
Lowest Calorie Options
Chipotle
Hardee's / Carl's Jr.
Deep Comparison: Chipotle vs Hardee's / Carl's Jr.
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Chipotle delivers 3.14¢/cal on average, while Hardee's / Carl's Jr. delivers 0.77¢/cal. Hardee's / Carl's Jr. gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Chipotle and Hardee's / Carl's Jr. share 1 menu categories (5% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: 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: Chipotle avg $3.33 vs Hardee's / Carl's Jr. $1.91 — Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is 43% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Chipotle fits 0 items, Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 1 item
- $15 budget: Chipotle fits 0 items, Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 3 items (1180 cal)
- $20 budget: Chipotle fits 3 items (20 cal), Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 3 items (2400 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Chipotle ranks #153 of 338 on price (cheaper than 55% of tracked chains). Hardee's / Carl's Jr. ranks #65 of 338 (cheaper than 81% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Chipotle, 53% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Hardee's / Carl's Jr., 24% are under 500 calories. Chipotle offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. ($4.48 avg vs $6.54)
- More variety: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. (120 items)
- More locations: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. (3,800 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. (0.77¢/cal)