Jimmy John's vs Taco Bell (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 42 items at Jimmy John's vs 115 items at Taco Bell.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Jimmy John's averages $8.55 per item across 42 menu items, while Taco Bell averages $5.72 across 115 items. Taco Bell is $2.84 cheaper per item (33% difference). Taco Bell has lower average calories (405 vs 996 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Jimmy John's | Taco Bell | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $8.55 | $5.72 | Taco Bell |
| Menu Items | 42 | 115 | Taco Bell |
| Avg Calories | 996 | 405 | Taco Bell |
| US Locations | 2,550 | 7,589 | Taco Bell |
| Secret Menu | 1 | 14 | Taco Bell |
Taco Bell is 33% cheaper on average than Jimmy John's ($2.84 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Jimmy John's
Taco Bell
Lowest Calorie Options
Jimmy John's
Taco Bell
Deep Comparison: Jimmy John's vs Taco Bell
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Jimmy John's delivers 1.52¢/cal on average, while Taco Bell delivers 3.00¢/cal. Jimmy John's gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Jimmy John's and Taco Bell share 0 menu categories (0% Jaccard overlap). Low overlap — these chains serve mostly different food categories.
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Jimmy John's fits 0 items, Taco Bell fits 1 item (1430 cal)
- $15 budget: Jimmy John's fits 0 items, Taco Bell fits 0 items
- $20 budget: Jimmy John's fits 3 items (820 cal), Taco Bell fits 3 items (1370 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Jimmy John's ranks #253 of 414 on price (pricier than 61% of tracked chains). Taco Bell ranks #143 of 414 (cheaper than 66% 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 Taco Bell, 64% are under 500 calories. Taco Bell offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Taco Bell ($5.72 avg vs $8.55)
- More variety: Taco Bell (115 items)
- More locations: Taco Bell (7,589 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Jimmy John's (1.52¢/cal)