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

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 120 items at Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs 74 items at Starbucks.

Quick answer: As of May 2026, Hardee's / Carl's Jr. averages $4.48 per item across 120 menu items, while Starbucks averages $4.13 across 74 items. Starbucks is $0.34 cheaper per item (8% difference). Starbucks has lower average calories (308 vs 670 per item).

Quick Comparison

Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs Starbucks: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Hardee's / Carl's Jr.	Starbucks	Winner
Avg Price	$4.48	$4.13	Starbucks
Menu Items	120	74	Hardee's / Carl's Jr.
Avg Calories	670	308	Starbucks
US Locations	3,800	13,502	Starbucks
Secret Menu	0	15	Starbucks

Starbucks is 8% cheaper on average than Hardee's / Carl's Jr. ($0.34 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

Starbucks

Chocolate Chip Cookie $1.95

Salted Caramel or Birthday Cake Pop $1.95

Freshly Brewed Coffee $2.10

Teavana® Shaken Iced Tea $2.25

Double Chocolate Chunk Brownie $2.35

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

Starbucks

Skinny Vanilla Latte 70 cal

Mango Dragonfruit Refresher (Grande) 90 cal

Strawberry Acai Refresher (Grande) 100 cal

Iced Coffee (with or without Milk) 120 cal

Pink Drink (Grande) 140 cal

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

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Hardee's / Carl's Jr. delivers 0.77¢/cal on average, while Starbucks delivers 5.04¢/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 Starbucks share 0 menu categories (0% Jaccard overlap). Low overlap — these chains serve mostly different food categories.

What Fits in Your Budget

$10 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 1 item, Starbucks fits 3 items (310 cal)
$15 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 3 items (1180 cal), Starbucks fits 3 items (1100 cal)
$20 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 3 items (2400 cal), Starbucks fits 3 items (1100 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). Starbucks ranks #45 of 338 (cheaper than 87% 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 Starbucks, 92% are under 500 calories. Starbucks offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Starbucks ($4.13 avg vs $4.48)
More variety: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. (120 items)
More locations: Starbucks (13,502 US locations)
Best calorie value: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. (0.77¢/cal)

Full Menus

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