McDonald's vs Zaxby's (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 164 items at McDonald's vs 101 items at Zaxby's.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, McDonald's averages $6.03 per item across 164 menu items, while Zaxby's averages $14.83 across 101 items. McDonald's is $8.80 cheaper per item (59% difference). McDonald's has lower average calories (413 vs 877 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | McDonald's | Zaxby's | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $6.03 | $14.83 | McDonald's |
| Menu Items | 164 | 101 | McDonald's |
| Avg Calories | 413 | 877 | McDonald's |
| US Locations | 13,786 | 900 | McDonald's |
| Secret Menu | 15 | 1 | McDonald's |
McDonald's is 59% cheaper on average than Zaxby's ($8.80 less per item).
Cheapest Items
McDonald's
Lowest Calorie Options
McDonald's
Zaxby's
Deep Comparison: McDonald's vs Zaxby's
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
McDonald's delivers 6.07¢/cal on average, while Zaxby's delivers 1.46¢/cal. Zaxby's gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
McDonald's and Zaxby's share 1 menu categories (4% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: 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:
- beverages: McDonald's avg $3.17 vs Zaxby's $1.92 — Zaxby's is 39% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: McDonald's fits 1 item (290 cal), Zaxby's fits 0 items
- $15 budget: McDonald's fits 0 items, Zaxby's fits 1 item
- $20 budget: McDonald's fits 3 items (260 cal), Zaxby's fits 3 items (1020 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
McDonald's ranks #156 of 414 on price (cheaper than 63% of tracked chains). Zaxby's ranks #382 of 414 (pricier 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 Zaxby's, 37% are under 500 calories. McDonald's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: McDonald's ($6.03 avg vs $14.83)
- More variety: McDonald's (164 items)
- More locations: McDonald's (13,786 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Zaxby's (1.46¢/cal)