Which is cheaper, Jimmy John's or Panda Express?

Panda Express is cheaper, averaging $7.73 per item versus $8.55 for Jimmy John's — a 10% difference. Based on 53 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, Jimmy John's or Panda Express?

Jimmy John's has more menu items (42 vs 11). The total combined menu across both chains is 53 items.

Which has lower calories, Jimmy John's or Panda Express?

Panda Express averages 479 calories per item, compared to 996 for Jimmy John's. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Jimmy John's and Panda Express similar?

Jimmy John's (2,550 US locations) and Panda Express (2,500 US locations) compete on 1 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 8%.

Jimmy John's vs Panda Express (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 42 items at Jimmy John's vs 11 items at Panda Express.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Jimmy John's averages $8.55 per item across 42 menu items, while Panda Express averages $7.73 across 11 items. Panda Express is $0.83 cheaper per item (10% difference). Panda Express has lower average calories (479 vs 996 per item).

Quick Comparison

Jimmy John's vs Panda Express: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Jimmy John's	Panda Express	Winner
Avg Price	$8.55	$7.73	Panda Express
Menu Items	42	11	Jimmy John's
Avg Calories	996	479	Panda Express
US Locations	2,550	2,500	Jimmy John's
Secret Menu	1	1	Tie

Panda Express is 10% cheaper on average than Jimmy John's ($0.83 less per item).

Cheapest Items

Jimmy John's

Pickle $0.89

Real Potato Chips $1.39

Jumbo Kosher Dill Pickle $1.39

Soft Drink $1.49

Dasani® Water $1.49

Panda Express

Honey Walnut Shrimp $1.50

Bowl (1 entree + 1 side) $8.30

Plate (2 entrees + 1 side) $9.80

Bigger Plate (3 entrees + 1 side) $11.30

Lowest Calorie Options

Jimmy John's

Jimmy Chips 140 cal

Cookie 410 cal

Chocolate Chunk Cookie 410 cal

Chocolate Chunk Cookie Tray 410 cal

#4 Turkey Tom 510 cal

Panda Express

Broccoli Beef 150 cal

Kung Pao Chicken 290 cal

Honey Walnut Shrimp 360 cal

White Steamed Rice 380 cal

Beijing Beef 470 cal

Deep Comparison: Jimmy John's vs Panda Express

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Jimmy John's delivers 1.52¢/cal on average, while Panda Express delivers 1.18¢/cal. Panda Express gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Jimmy John's and Panda Express share 1 menu categories (8% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: sides. Low overlap — these chains serve mostly different food categories.

What Fits in Your Budget

$10 budget: Jimmy John's fits 0 items, Panda Express fits 0 items
$15 budget: Jimmy John's fits 0 items, Panda Express fits 1 item (360 cal)
$20 budget: Jimmy John's fits 3 items (820 cal), Panda Express fits 2 items (860 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Jimmy John's ranks #253 of 414 on price (pricier than 61% of tracked chains). Panda Express ranks #218 of 414 (pricier than 52% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Jimmy John's, 20% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Panda Express, 55% are under 500 calories. Panda Express offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Panda Express ($7.73 avg vs $8.55)
More variety: Jimmy John's (42 items)
More locations: Jimmy John's (2,550 US locations)
Best calorie value: Panda Express (1.18¢/cal)

Full Menus

Jimmy John's Menu Panda Express Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide