Which is cheaper, Dairy Queen or Zaxby's?

Dairy Queen is cheaper, averaging $4.08 per item versus $14.83 for Zaxby's — a 72% difference. Based on 165 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, Dairy Queen or Zaxby's?

Zaxby's has more menu items (101 vs 64). The total combined menu across both chains is 165 items.

Which has lower calories, Dairy Queen or Zaxby's?

Dairy Queen averages 571 calories per item, compared to 877 for Zaxby's. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Dairy Queen and Zaxby's similar?

Dairy Queen (4,500 US locations) and Zaxby's (900 US locations) compete on 0 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 0%.

Dairy Queen vs Zaxby's (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 64 items at Dairy Queen vs 101 items at Zaxby's.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Dairy Queen averages $4.08 per item across 64 menu items, while Zaxby's averages $14.83 across 101 items. Dairy Queen is $10.74 cheaper per item (72% difference). Dairy Queen has lower average calories (571 vs 877 per item).

Quick Comparison

Dairy Queen vs Zaxby's: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Dairy Queen	Zaxby's	Winner
Avg Price	$4.08	$14.83	Dairy Queen
Menu Items	64	101	Zaxby's
Avg Calories	571	877	Dairy Queen
US Locations	4,500	900	Dairy Queen
Secret Menu	7	1	Dairy Queen

Dairy Queen is 72% cheaper on average than Zaxby's ($10.74 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

Zaxby's

Zax Sauce $0.25

Sauce $0.25

Dressing $0.25

Coleslaw $0.49

Fresh-Baked Cookie $0.49

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

Zaxby's

Apple Juice 91 cal

Milk 110 cal

Coleslaw 140 cal

Cole Slaw 140 cal

Tea (Sweet or Unsweetened) 150 cal

Deep Comparison: Dairy Queen vs Zaxby's

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Dairy Queen delivers 1.04¢/cal on average, while Zaxby's delivers 1.46¢/cal. Dairy Queen gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Dairy Queen and Zaxby's 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), Zaxby's fits 0 items
$15 budget: Dairy Queen fits 3 items (390 cal), Zaxby's fits 1 item
$20 budget: Dairy Queen fits 3 items (1960 cal), Zaxby's fits 3 items (1020 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Dairy Queen ranks #46 of 414 on price (cheaper than 89% of tracked chains). Zaxby's ranks #382 of 414 (pricier than 92% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Dairy Queen, 41% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Zaxby's, 37% are under 500 calories. Dairy Queen offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Dairy Queen ($4.08 avg vs $14.83)
More variety: Zaxby's (101 items)
More locations: Dairy Queen (4,500 US locations)
Best calorie value: Dairy Queen (1.04¢/cal)

Full Menus

Dairy Queen Menu Zaxby's Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide