Jimmy John's vs Papa John's (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 42 items at Jimmy John's vs 79 items at Papa John's.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Jimmy John's averages $8.55 per item across 42 menu items, while Papa John's averages $11.72 across 79 items. Jimmy John's is $3.16 cheaper per item (27% difference). Papa John's has lower average calories (369 vs 996 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Jimmy John's | Papa John's | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $8.55 | $11.72 | Jimmy John's |
| Menu Items | 42 | 79 | Papa John's |
| Avg Calories | 996 | 369 | Papa John's |
| US Locations | 2,550 | 3,200 | Papa John's |
| Secret Menu | 1 | 1 | Tie |
Jimmy John's is 27% cheaper on average than Papa John's ($3.16 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Jimmy John's
Papa John's
Lowest Calorie Options
Jimmy John's
Papa John's
Deep Comparison: Jimmy John's vs Papa John's
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Jimmy John's delivers 1.52¢/cal on average, while Papa John's delivers 3.50¢/cal. Jimmy John's gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Jimmy John's and Papa John's share 1 menu categories (6% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: sides. 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: Jimmy John's avg $1.56 vs Papa John's $6.31 — Jimmy John's is 75% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Jimmy John's fits 0 items, Papa John's fits 0 items
- $15 budget: Jimmy John's fits 0 items, Papa John's fits 1 item (270 cal)
- $20 budget: Jimmy John's fits 3 items (820 cal), Papa John's fits 3 items
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Jimmy John's ranks #253 of 414 on price (pricier than 61% of tracked chains). Papa John's ranks #344 of 414 (pricier than 83% 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 Papa John's, 93% are under 500 calories. Papa John's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Jimmy John's ($8.55 avg vs $11.72)
- More variety: Papa John's (79 items)
- More locations: Papa John's (3,200 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Jimmy John's (1.52¢/cal)