Which is cheaper, McDonald's or Whataburger?

Whataburger is cheaper, averaging $3.88 per item versus $6.03 for McDonald's — a 36% difference. Based on 249 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, McDonald's or Whataburger?

McDonald's has more menu items (164 vs 85). The total combined menu across both chains is 249 items.

Which has lower calories, McDonald's or Whataburger?

McDonald's averages 413 calories per item, compared to 560 for Whataburger. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are McDonald's and Whataburger similar?

McDonald's (13,786 US locations) and Whataburger (1,030 US locations) compete on 1 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 4%.

McDonald's vs Whataburger (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 164 items at McDonald's vs 85 items at Whataburger.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, McDonald's averages $6.03 per item across 164 menu items, while Whataburger averages $3.88 across 85 items. Whataburger is $2.15 cheaper per item (36% difference). McDonald's has lower average calories (413 vs 560 per item).

Quick Comparison

McDonald's vs Whataburger: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	McDonald's	Whataburger	Winner
Avg Price	$6.03	$3.88	Whataburger
Menu Items	164	85	McDonald's
Avg Calories	413	560	McDonald's
US Locations	13,786	1,030	McDonald's
Secret Menu	15	7	McDonald's

Whataburger is 36% cheaper on average than McDonald's ($2.15 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

Whataburger

Bacon $0.40

Fruit Chews $0.49

Jalapeños or Grilled Peppers & Onions $0.50

Cheese $0.50

Avocado $0.75

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

Whataburger

Fruit Chews 80 cal

Orange Juice 160 cal

Milk 160 cal

Hash Brown Sticks 190 cal

Chocolate Chunk Cookie 230 cal

Deep Comparison: McDonald's vs Whataburger

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

McDonald's delivers 6.07¢/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

McDonald's and Whataburger share 1 menu categories (4% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: burgers. 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:

burgers: McDonald's avg $6.12 vs Whataburger $5.67 — Whataburger is 7% cheaper

What Fits in Your Budget

$10 budget: McDonald's fits 1 item (290 cal), Whataburger fits 3 items (35 cal)
$15 budget: McDonald's fits 0 items, Whataburger fits 3 items (1395 cal)
$20 budget: McDonald's fits 3 items (260 cal), Whataburger fits 3 items (2495 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

McDonald's ranks #156 of 414 on price (cheaper than 63% of tracked chains). Whataburger ranks #36 of 414 (cheaper than 92% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At McDonald's, 70% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Whataburger, 49% are under 500 calories. McDonald's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Whataburger ($3.88 avg vs $6.03)
More variety: McDonald's (164 items)
More locations: McDonald's (13,786 US locations)
Best calorie value: Whataburger (1.14¢/cal)

Full Menus

McDonald's Menu Whataburger Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide