Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs KFC (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 120 items at Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs 46 items at KFC.

Quick answer: As of May 2026, Hardee's / Carl's Jr. averages $4.48 per item across 120 menu items, while KFC averages $7.23 across 46 items. Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is $2.75 cheaper per item (38% difference). KFC has lower average calories (430 vs 670 per item).

Quick Comparison

Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs KFC: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Hardee's / Carl's Jr.	KFC	Winner
Avg Price	$4.48	$7.23	Hardee's / Carl's Jr.
Menu Items	120	46	Hardee's / Carl's Jr.
Avg Calories	670	430	KFC
US Locations	3,800	4,205	KFC
Secret Menu	0	7	KFC

Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is 38% cheaper on average than KFC ($2.75 less per item).

Cheapest Items

Hardee's / Carl's Jr.

Sour Cream $0.25

Upgrade to Medium Combo $0.59

Cookie $0.89

Chocolate Chip Cookie $0.89

Upgrade to Large Combo $0.99

KFC

Cookies $1.29

Biscuit $1.49

Go Large Combo $1.50

Soft Drink $1.69

Aquafina Water $1.69

Lowest Calorie Options

Hardee's / Carl's Jr.

Side Salad 120 cal

Cookie 200 cal

Chocolate Chip Cookie 200 cal

Small Hamburger 250 cal

Apple Turnover 270 cal

KFC

Corn on the Cob 70 cal

Green Beans 80 cal

Mashed Potatoes & Gravy 120 cal

Kentucky Fried Wings 130 cal

Coleslaw 170 cal

Deep Comparison: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs KFC

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Hardee's / Carl's Jr. delivers 0.77¢/cal on average, while KFC delivers 1.67¢/cal. Hardee's / Carl's Jr. gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Hardee's / Carl's Jr. and KFC share 3 menu categories (13% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: sides, desserts, 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:

desserts: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. avg $0.89 vs KFC $2.64 — Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is 66% cheaper
sides: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. avg $2.21 vs KFC $2.09 — KFC is 6% cheaper
drinks: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. avg $1.91 vs KFC $2.03 — Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is 6% cheaper

What Fits in Your Budget

$10 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 1 item, KFC fits 0 items
$15 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 3 items (1180 cal), KFC fits 1 item
$20 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 3 items (2400 cal), KFC fits 1 item (180 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Hardee's / Carl's Jr. ranks #65 of 338 on price (cheaper than 81% of tracked chains). KFC ranks #172 of 338 (pricier than 51% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Hardee's / Carl's Jr., 24% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At KFC, 56% are under 500 calories. KFC offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. ($4.48 avg vs $7.23)
More variety: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. (120 items)
More locations: KFC (4,205 US locations)
Best calorie value: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. (0.77¢/cal)

Full Menus

Hardee's / Carl's Jr. Menu KFC Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide