Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs Taco Bell (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 120 items at Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs 115 items at Taco Bell.
Quick answer: As of May 2026, Hardee's / Carl's Jr. averages $4.48 per item across 120 menu items, while Taco Bell averages $5.72 across 115 items. Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is $1.24 cheaper per item (22% difference). Taco Bell has lower average calories (406 vs 670 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. | Taco Bell | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $4.48 | $5.72 | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. |
| Menu Items | 120 | 115 | Hardee's / Carl's Jr. |
| Avg Calories | 670 | 406 | Taco Bell |
| US Locations | 3,800 | 7,589 | Taco Bell |
| Secret Menu | 0 | 14 | Taco Bell |
Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is 22% cheaper on average than Taco Bell ($1.24 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Hardee's / Carl's Jr.
Taco Bell
Lowest Calorie Options
Hardee's / Carl's Jr.
Taco Bell
Deep Comparison: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. vs Taco Bell
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Hardee's / Carl's Jr. delivers 0.77¢/cal on average, while Taco Bell delivers 2.98¢/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 Taco Bell share 1 menu categories (5% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: 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:
- drinks: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. avg $1.91 vs Taco Bell $2.88 — Hardee's / Carl's Jr. is 34% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 1 item, Taco Bell fits 1 item (1430 cal)
- $15 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 3 items (1180 cal), Taco Bell fits 0 items
- $20 budget: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. fits 3 items (2400 cal), Taco Bell fits 3 items (1370 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). Taco Bell ranks #127 of 338 (cheaper than 63% 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 Taco Bell, 63% are under 500 calories. Taco Bell offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. ($4.48 avg vs $5.72)
- More variety: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. (120 items)
- More locations: Taco Bell (7,589 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Hardee's / Carl's Jr. (0.77¢/cal)