Which is cheaper, McDonald's or Pizza Hut?

McDonald's is cheaper, averaging $6.03 per item versus $11.05 for Pizza Hut — a 45% difference. Based on 268 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, McDonald's or Pizza Hut?

McDonald's has more menu items (164 vs 104). The total combined menu across both chains is 268 items.

Which has lower calories, McDonald's or Pizza Hut?

McDonald's averages 413 calories per item, compared to 526 for Pizza Hut. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are McDonald's and Pizza Hut similar?

McDonald's (13,786 US locations) and Pizza Hut (6,326 US locations) compete on 0 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 0%.

McDonald's vs Pizza Hut (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 164 items at McDonald's vs 104 items at Pizza Hut.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, McDonald's averages $6.03 per item across 164 menu items, while Pizza Hut averages $11.05 across 104 items. McDonald's is $5.01 cheaper per item (45% difference). McDonald's has lower average calories (413 vs 526 per item).

Quick Comparison

McDonald's vs Pizza Hut: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	McDonald's	Pizza Hut	Winner
Avg Price	$6.03	$11.05	McDonald's
Menu Items	164	104	McDonald's
Avg Calories	413	526	McDonald's
US Locations	13,786	6,326	McDonald's
Secret Menu	15	1	McDonald's

McDonald's is 45% cheaper on average than Pizza Hut ($5.01 less per item).

Cheapest Items

McDonald's

Butter $0.15

Syrup $0.25

Creamy Ranch Sauce $0.30

Spicy Buffalo $0.30

Honey Mustard $0.30

Pizza Hut

Blue Cheese $0.60

Chocolate $0.60

Ranch $0.60

Garlic $0.60

Marinara $0.60

Lowest Calorie Options

McDonald's

Honey Mustard 60 cal

Medium Frozen Fanta® Wild Cherry 80 cal

Medium Frozen Coca-Cola® 80 cal

Medium Frozen Fanta® Blue Raspberry 80 cal

Mayonnaise Packet 90 cal

Pizza Hut

Marinara 60 cal

Tuscani Chicken Alfredo with Breadsticks 140 cal

Tuscani Meaty Marinara with Breadsticks 140 cal

Cinnamon Sticks 160 cal

Icing 170 cal

Deep Comparison: McDonald's vs Pizza Hut

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

McDonald's delivers 6.07¢/cal on average, while Pizza Hut delivers 2.34¢/cal. Pizza Hut gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

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

What Fits in Your Budget

$10 budget: McDonald's fits 1 item (290 cal), Pizza Hut fits 1 item
$15 budget: McDonald's fits 0 items, Pizza Hut fits 1 item (310 cal)
$20 budget: McDonald's fits 3 items (260 cal), Pizza Hut fits 3 items (200 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

McDonald's ranks #156 of 414 on price (cheaper than 63% of tracked chains). Pizza Hut ranks #331 of 414 (pricier than 80% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At McDonald's, 70% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Pizza Hut, 39% are under 500 calories. McDonald's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: McDonald's ($6.03 avg vs $11.05)
More variety: McDonald's (164 items)
More locations: McDonald's (13,786 US locations)
Best calorie value: Pizza Hut (2.34¢/cal)

Full Menus

McDonald's Menu Pizza Hut Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide