Jimmy John's vs Whataburger (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 42 items at Jimmy John's vs 85 items at Whataburger.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Jimmy John's averages $8.55 per item across 42 menu items, while Whataburger averages $3.88 across 85 items. Whataburger is $4.67 cheaper per item (55% difference). Whataburger has lower average calories (560 vs 996 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Jimmy John's | Whataburger | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $8.55 | $3.88 | Whataburger |
| Menu Items | 42 | 85 | Whataburger |
| Avg Calories | 996 | 560 | Whataburger |
| US Locations | 2,550 | 1,030 | Jimmy John's |
| Secret Menu | 1 | 7 | Whataburger |
Whataburger is 55% cheaper on average than Jimmy John's ($4.67 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Jimmy John's
Whataburger
Lowest Calorie Options
Jimmy John's
Whataburger
Deep Comparison: Jimmy John's vs Whataburger
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Jimmy John's delivers 1.52¢/cal on average, while Whataburger delivers 1.14¢/cal. Whataburger gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Jimmy John's and Whataburger share 1 menu categories (5% 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 Whataburger $1.81 — Jimmy John's is 14% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Jimmy John's fits 0 items, Whataburger fits 3 items (35 cal)
- $15 budget: Jimmy John's fits 0 items, Whataburger fits 3 items (1395 cal)
- $20 budget: Jimmy John's fits 3 items (820 cal), Whataburger fits 3 items (2495 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Jimmy John's ranks #253 of 414 on price (pricier than 61% of tracked chains). Whataburger ranks #36 of 414 (cheaper than 92% 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 Whataburger, 49% are under 500 calories. Whataburger offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Whataburger ($3.88 avg vs $8.55)
- More variety: Whataburger (85 items)
- More locations: Jimmy John's (2,550 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Whataburger (1.14¢/cal)