Which is cheaper, Marco's Pizza or Panda Express?

Panda Express is cheaper, averaging $7.73 per item versus $8.71 for Marco's Pizza — a 11% difference. Based on 66 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, Marco's Pizza or Panda Express?

Marco's Pizza has more menu items (55 vs 11). The total combined menu across both chains is 66 items.

Which has lower calories, Marco's Pizza or Panda Express?

Marco's Pizza averages 313 calories per item, compared to 479 for Panda Express. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Marco's Pizza and Panda Express similar?

Marco's Pizza (1,233 US locations) and Panda Express (2,500 US locations) compete on 0 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 0%.

Marco's Pizza vs Panda Express (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 55 items at Marco's Pizza vs 11 items at Panda Express.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Marco's Pizza averages $8.71 per item across 55 menu items, while Panda Express averages $7.73 across 11 items. Panda Express is $0.98 cheaper per item (11% difference). Marco's Pizza has lower average calories (313 vs 479 per item).

Quick Comparison

Marco's Pizza vs Panda Express: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Marco's Pizza	Panda Express	Winner
Avg Price	$8.71	$7.73	Panda Express
Menu Items	55	11	Marco's Pizza
Avg Calories	313	479	Marco's Pizza
US Locations	1,233	2,500	Panda Express
Secret Menu	0	1	Panda Express

Panda Express is 11% cheaper on average than Marco's Pizza ($0.98 less per item).

Cheapest Items

Marco's Pizza

Ranch $0.59

Pizza Sauce $0.59

Garlic $0.59

Bleu Cheese $0.59

Banana Pepper $0.59

Panda Express

Honey Walnut Shrimp $1.50

Bowl (1 entree + 1 side) $8.30

Plate (2 entrees + 1 side) $9.80

Bigger Plate (3 entrees + 1 side) $11.30

Lowest Calorie Options

Marco's Pizza

Chicken Dippers 57 cal

Cinna Squares 78 cal

Cheezy Bread 81 cal

Wings (Plain, Hot or BBQ) 82 cal

Bleu Cheese 83 cal

Panda Express

Broccoli Beef 150 cal

Kung Pao Chicken 290 cal

Honey Walnut Shrimp 360 cal

White Steamed Rice 380 cal

Beijing Beef 470 cal

Deep Comparison: Marco's Pizza vs Panda Express

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Marco's Pizza delivers 6.30¢/cal on average, while Panda Express delivers 1.18¢/cal. Panda Express gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

Marco's Pizza and Panda Express share 0 menu categories (0% Jaccard overlap). Low overlap — these chains serve mostly different food categories.

What Fits in Your Budget

$10 budget: Marco's Pizza fits 1 item (786 cal), Panda Express fits 0 items
$15 budget: Marco's Pizza fits 0 items, Panda Express fits 1 item (360 cal)
$20 budget: Marco's Pizza fits 0 items, Panda Express fits 2 items (860 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Marco's Pizza ranks #264 of 414 on price (pricier than 64% of tracked chains). Panda Express ranks #218 of 414 (pricier than 52% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Marco's Pizza, 87% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Panda Express, 55% are under 500 calories. Marco's Pizza offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Panda Express ($7.73 avg vs $8.71)
More variety: Marco's Pizza (55 items)
More locations: Panda Express (2,500 US locations)
Best calorie value: Panda Express (1.18¢/cal)

Full Menus

Marco's Pizza Menu Panda Express Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide