Jimmy John's vs Zaxby's (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 42 items at Jimmy John's vs 101 items at Zaxby's.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Jimmy John's averages $8.55 per item across 42 menu items, while Zaxby's averages $14.83 across 101 items. Jimmy John's is $6.27 cheaper per item (42% difference). Zaxby's has lower average calories (877 vs 996 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Jimmy John's | Zaxby's | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $8.55 | $14.83 | Jimmy John's |
| Menu Items | 42 | 101 | Zaxby's |
| Avg Calories | 996 | 877 | Zaxby's |
| US Locations | 2,550 | 900 | Jimmy John's |
| Secret Menu | 1 | 1 | Tie |
Jimmy John's is 42% cheaper on average than Zaxby's ($6.27 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Jimmy John's
Lowest Calorie Options
Jimmy John's
Zaxby's
Deep Comparison: Jimmy John's vs Zaxby's
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Jimmy John's delivers 1.52¢/cal on average, while Zaxby's delivers 1.46¢/cal. Zaxby's gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Jimmy John's and Zaxby's 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 Zaxby's $3.59 — Jimmy John's is 57% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Jimmy John's fits 0 items, Zaxby's fits 0 items
- $15 budget: Jimmy John's fits 0 items, Zaxby's fits 1 item
- $20 budget: Jimmy John's fits 3 items (820 cal), Zaxby's fits 3 items (1020 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Jimmy John's ranks #253 of 414 on price (pricier than 61% of tracked chains). Zaxby's ranks #382 of 414 (pricier 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 Zaxby's, 37% are under 500 calories. Zaxby's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Jimmy John's ($8.55 avg vs $14.83)
- More variety: Zaxby's (101 items)
- More locations: Jimmy John's (2,550 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Zaxby's (1.46¢/cal)