McDonald's vs Wawa (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 164 items at McDonald's vs 59 items at Wawa.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, McDonald's averages $6.03 per item across 164 menu items, while Wawa averages $3.62 across 59 items. Wawa is $2.41 cheaper per item (40% difference). McDonald's has lower average calories (413 vs 693 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | McDonald's | Wawa | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $6.03 | $3.62 | Wawa |
| Menu Items | 164 | 59 | McDonald's |
| Avg Calories | 413 | 693 | McDonald's |
| US Locations | 13,786 | 1,200 | McDonald's |
| Secret Menu | 15 | 0 | McDonald's |
Wawa is 40% cheaper on average than McDonald's ($2.41 less per item).
Cheapest Items
McDonald's
Wawa
Lowest Calorie Options
McDonald's
Wawa
Deep Comparison: McDonald's vs Wawa
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
McDonald's delivers 6.07¢/cal on average, while Wawa delivers 0.86¢/cal. Wawa gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
McDonald's and Wawa share 2 menu categories (10% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: breakfast, beverages. 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:
- breakfast: McDonald's avg $3.63 vs Wawa $2.74 — Wawa is 24% cheaper
- beverages: McDonald's avg $3.17 vs Wawa $2.90 — Wawa is 8% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: McDonald's fits 1 item (290 cal), Wawa fits 3 items (450 cal)
- $15 budget: McDonald's fits 0 items, Wawa fits 2 items (530 cal)
- $20 budget: McDonald's fits 3 items (260 cal), Wawa fits 3 items (650 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
McDonald's ranks #156 of 414 on price (cheaper than 63% of tracked chains). Wawa ranks #29 of 414 (cheaper than 93% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At McDonald's, 70% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Wawa, 38% are under 500 calories. McDonald's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Wawa ($3.62 avg vs $6.03)
- More variety: McDonald's (164 items)
- More locations: McDonald's (13,786 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Wawa (0.86¢/cal)