Which is cheaper, Panda Express or Starbucks?

Starbucks is cheaper, averaging $4.13 per item versus $7.73 for Panda Express — a 46% difference. Based on 85 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, Panda Express or Starbucks?

Starbucks has more menu items (74 vs 11). The total combined menu across both chains is 85 items.

Which has lower calories, Panda Express or Starbucks?

Starbucks averages 308 calories per item, compared to 479 for Panda Express. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are Panda Express and Starbucks similar?

Panda Express (2,500 US locations) and Starbucks (13,502 US locations) compete on 0 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 0%.

Panda Express vs Starbucks (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 11 items at Panda Express vs 74 items at Starbucks.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, Panda Express averages $7.73 per item across 11 menu items, while Starbucks averages $4.13 across 74 items. Starbucks is $3.59 cheaper per item (46% difference). Starbucks has lower average calories (308 vs 479 per item).

Quick Comparison

Panda Express vs Starbucks: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	Panda Express	Starbucks	Winner
Avg Price	$7.73	$4.13	Starbucks
Menu Items	11	74	Starbucks
Avg Calories	479	308	Starbucks
US Locations	2,500	13,502	Starbucks
Secret Menu	1	15	Starbucks

Starbucks is 46% cheaper on average than Panda Express ($3.59 less per item).

Cheapest Items

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

Starbucks

Chocolate Chip Cookie $1.95

Salted Caramel or Birthday Cake Pop $1.95

Freshly Brewed Coffee $2.10

Teavana® Shaken Iced Tea $2.25

Double Chocolate Chunk Brownie $2.35

Lowest Calorie Options

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

Starbucks

Skinny Vanilla Latte 70 cal

Mango Dragonfruit Refresher (Grande) 90 cal

Strawberry Acai Refresher (Grande) 100 cal

Iced Coffee (with or without Milk) 120 cal

Pink Drink (Grande) 140 cal

Deep Comparison: Panda Express vs Starbucks

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

Panda Express delivers 1.18¢/cal on average, while Starbucks delivers 5.04¢/cal. Panda Express gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

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

What Fits in Your Budget

$10 budget: Panda Express fits 0 items, Starbucks fits 3 items (310 cal)
$15 budget: Panda Express fits 1 item (360 cal), Starbucks fits 3 items (1100 cal)
$20 budget: Panda Express fits 2 items (860 cal), Starbucks fits 3 items (1100 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

Panda Express ranks #218 of 414 on price (pricier than 52% of tracked chains). Starbucks ranks #49 of 414 (cheaper than 88% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At Panda Express, 55% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Starbucks, 92% are under 500 calories. Starbucks offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: Starbucks ($4.13 avg vs $7.73)
More variety: Starbucks (74 items)
More locations: Starbucks (13,502 US locations)
Best calorie value: Panda Express (1.18¢/cal)

Full Menus

Panda Express Menu Starbucks Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide