Which is cheaper, Dairy Queen or Panda Express?

Dairy Queen is cheaper, averaging $4.08 per item versus $7.73 for Panda Express — a 47% difference. Based on 75 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, Dairy Queen or Panda Express?

Dairy Queen has more menu items (64 vs 11). The total combined menu across both chains is 75 items.

Which has lower calories, Dairy Queen or Panda Express?

Panda Express averages 479 calories per item, compared to 571 for Dairy Queen. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Dairy Queen and Panda Express similar?

Dairy Queen (4,500 US locations) and Panda Express (2,500 US locations) compete on 0 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 0%.

Dairy Queen vs Panda Express (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 64 items at Dairy Queen vs 11 items at Panda Express.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Dairy Queen averages $4.08 per item across 64 menu items, while Panda Express averages $7.73 across 11 items. Dairy Queen is $3.64 cheaper per item (47% difference). Panda Express has lower average calories (479 vs 571 per item).

Quick Comparison

Dairy Queen vs Panda Express: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Dairy Queen	Panda Express	Winner
Avg Price	$4.08	$7.73	Dairy Queen
Menu Items	64	11	Dairy Queen
Avg Calories	571	479	Panda Express
US Locations	4,500	2,500	Dairy Queen
Secret Menu	7	1	Dairy Queen

Dairy Queen is 47% cheaper on average than Panda Express ($3.64 less per item).

Cheapest Items

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

Panda Express

Honey Walnut Shrimp $1.50

Bowl (1 entree + 1 side) $8.30

Plate (2 entrees + 1 side) $9.80

Bigger Plate (3 entrees + 1 side) $11.30

Lowest Calorie Options

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

Panda Express

Broccoli Beef 150 cal

Kung Pao Chicken 290 cal

Honey Walnut Shrimp 360 cal

White Steamed Rice 380 cal

Beijing Beef 470 cal

Deep Comparison: Dairy Queen vs Panda Express

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Dairy Queen delivers 1.04¢/cal on average, while Panda Express delivers 1.18¢/cal. Dairy Queen gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Dairy Queen and Panda Express share 0 menu categories (0% Jaccard overlap). Low overlap — these chains serve mostly different food categories.

What Fits in Your Budget

$10 budget: Dairy Queen fits 3 items (905 cal), Panda Express fits 0 items
$15 budget: Dairy Queen fits 3 items (390 cal), Panda Express fits 1 item (360 cal)
$20 budget: Dairy Queen fits 3 items (1960 cal), Panda Express fits 2 items (860 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Dairy Queen ranks #46 of 414 on price (cheaper than 89% of tracked chains). Panda Express ranks #218 of 414 (pricier than 52% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Dairy Queen, 41% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Panda Express, 55% are under 500 calories. Panda Express offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Dairy Queen ($4.08 avg vs $7.73)
More variety: Dairy Queen (64 items)
More locations: Dairy Queen (4,500 US locations)
Best calorie value: Dairy Queen (1.04¢/cal)

Full Menus

Dairy Queen Menu Panda Express Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide