Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs Subway (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 120 items at Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs 83 items at Subway.
Quick answer: As of May 2026, Hardee's / Carl's Jr. averages $4.48 per item across 120 menu items, while Subway averages $5.57 across 83 items. Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is $1.10 cheaper per item (20% difference). Subway has lower average calories (586 vs 670 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. | Subway | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $4.48 | $5.57 | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. |
| Menu Items | 120 | 83 | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. |
| Avg Calories | 670 | 586 | Subway |
| US Locations | 3,800 | 16,177 | Subway |
| Secret Menu | 0 | 3 | Subway |
Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is 20% cheaper on average than Subway ($1.10 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Hardee's / Carl's Jr.
Subway
Lowest Calorie Options
Hardee's / Carl's Jr.
Subway
Deep Comparison: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs Subway
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Hardee's / Carl's Jr. delivers 0.77¢/cal on average, while Subway delivers 1.46¢/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 Subway share 2 menu categories (13% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: sides, 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:
- sides: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. avg $2.21 vs Subway $1.03 — Subway is 53% cheaper
- drinks: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. avg $1.91 vs Subway $2.06 — Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is 7% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 1 item, Subway fits 0 items
- $15 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 3 items (1180 cal), Subway fits 3 items (1380 cal)
- $20 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 3 items (2400 cal), Subway fits 3 items (1520 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). Subway ranks #119 of 338 (cheaper than 65% 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 Subway, 50% are under 500 calories. Subway offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. ($4.48 avg vs $5.57)
- More variety: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. (120 items)
- More locations: Subway (16,177 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. (0.77¢/cal)