Which is cheaper, KFC or Whataburger?

Whataburger is cheaper, averaging $3.88 per item versus $7.23 for KFC — a 46% difference. Based on 131 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, KFC or Whataburger?

Whataburger has more menu items (85 vs 46). The total combined menu across both chains is 131 items.

Which has lower calories, KFC or Whataburger?

KFC averages 430 calories per item, compared to 560 for Whataburger. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are KFC and Whataburger similar?

KFC (4,205 US locations) and Whataburger (1,030 US locations) compete on 1 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 3%.

KFC vs Whataburger (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 46 items at KFC vs 85 items at Whataburger.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, KFC averages $7.23 per item across 46 menu items, while Whataburger averages $3.88 across 85 items. Whataburger is $3.35 cheaper per item (46% difference). KFC has lower average calories (430 vs 560 per item).

Quick Comparison

KFC vs Whataburger: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	KFC	Whataburger	Winner
Avg Price	$7.23	$3.88	Whataburger
Menu Items	46	85	Whataburger
Avg Calories	430	560	KFC
US Locations	4,205	1,030	KFC
Secret Menu	7	7	Tie

Whataburger is 46% cheaper on average than KFC ($3.35 less per item).

Cheapest Items

KFC

Cookies $1.29

Biscuit $1.49

Go Large Combo $1.50

Soft Drink $1.69

Aquafina Water $1.69

Whataburger

Bacon $0.40

Fruit Chews $0.49

Jalapeños or Grilled Peppers & Onions $0.50

Cheese $0.50

Avocado $0.75

Lowest Calorie Options

KFC

Corn on the Cob 70 cal

Green Beans 80 cal

Mashed Potatoes & Gravy 120 cal

Kentucky Fried Wings 130 cal

Coleslaw 170 cal

Whataburger

Fruit Chews 80 cal

Orange Juice 160 cal

Milk 160 cal

Hash Brown Sticks 190 cal

Chocolate Chunk Cookie 230 cal

Deep Comparison: KFC vs Whataburger

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

KFC delivers 1.67¢/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

KFC and Whataburger share 1 menu categories (3% 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: KFC avg $2.09 vs Whataburger $1.81 — Whataburger is 14% cheaper

What Fits in Your Budget

$10 budget: KFC fits 0 items, Whataburger fits 3 items (35 cal)
$15 budget: KFC fits 1 item, Whataburger fits 3 items (1395 cal)
$20 budget: KFC fits 1 item (180 cal), Whataburger fits 3 items (2495 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

KFC ranks #201 of 414 on price (cheaper than 52% of tracked chains). Whataburger ranks #36 of 414 (cheaper than 92% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At KFC, 56% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Whataburger, 49% are under 500 calories. KFC offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Whataburger ($3.88 avg vs $7.23)
More variety: Whataburger (85 items)
More locations: KFC (4,205 US locations)
Best calorie value: Whataburger (1.14¢/cal)

Full Menus

KFC Menu Whataburger Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide