Which is cheaper, Chipotle or Panera Bread?

Panera Bread is cheaper, averaging $4.34 per item versus $6.54 for Chipotle — a 34% difference. Based on 269 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, Chipotle or Panera Bread?

Panera Bread has more menu items (197 vs 72). The total combined menu across both chains is 269 items.

Which has lower calories, Chipotle or Panera Bread?

Panera Bread averages 380 calories per item, compared to 449 for Chipotle. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Chipotle and Panera Bread similar?

Chipotle (3,727 US locations) and Panera Bread (2,254 US locations) compete on 0 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 0%.

Chipotle vs Panera Bread (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 72 items at Chipotle vs 197 items at Panera Bread.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Chipotle averages $6.54 per item across 72 menu items, while Panera Bread averages $4.34 across 197 items. Panera Bread is $2.20 cheaper per item (34% difference). Panera Bread has lower average calories (380 vs 449 per item).

Quick Comparison

Chipotle vs Panera Bread: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Chipotle	Panera Bread	Winner
Avg Price	$6.54	$4.34	Panera Bread
Menu Items	72	197	Panera Bread
Avg Calories	449	380	Panera Bread
US Locations	3,727	2,254	Chipotle
Secret Menu	10	6	Chipotle

Panera Bread is 34% cheaper on average than Chipotle ($2.20 less per item).

Cheapest Items

Chipotle

Tortilla on the Side $0.50

Double Wrap with Tortilla $0.50

Queso blanco $1.80

Chips $2.15

Chips & Fresh Tomato Salsa $2.85

Panera Bread

Preserves $0.50

Soft Dinner Roll $0.75

French Baguette $0.75

Peanut Butter $0.80

Chips $0.85

Lowest Calorie Options

Chipotle

Cheese Only 100 cal

Large Chips & Large Queso Blanco 120 cal

Side of Queso Blanco 120 cal

Large Side of Queso Blanco 120 cal

Queso blanco 120 cal

Panera Bread

Fruit 60 cal

Kids Low-Fat Garden Vegetable Soup 70 cal

Apple Crunch Muffin 80 cal

Apple 80 cal

Chicken Noodle (Cup) 100 cal

Deep Comparison: Chipotle vs Panera Bread

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Chipotle delivers 3.14¢/cal on average, while Panera Bread delivers 2.45¢/cal. Panera Bread gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Chipotle and Panera Bread share 0 menu categories (0% Jaccard overlap). Low overlap — these chains serve mostly different food categories.

What Fits in Your Budget

$10 budget: Chipotle fits 0 items, Panera Bread fits 1 item
$15 budget: Chipotle fits 0 items, Panera Bread fits 3 items (500 cal)
$20 budget: Chipotle fits 3 items (20 cal), Panera Bread fits 3 items (830 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Chipotle ranks #173 of 414 on price (cheaper than 58% of tracked chains). Panera Bread ranks #62 of 414 (cheaper than 85% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Chipotle, 53% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Panera Bread, 72% are under 500 calories. Panera Bread offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Panera Bread ($4.34 avg vs $6.54)
More variety: Panera Bread (197 items)
More locations: Chipotle (3,727 US locations)
Best calorie value: Panera Bread (2.45¢/cal)

Full Menus

Chipotle Menu Panera Bread Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide