Panera Bread vs Subway (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 197 items at Panera Bread vs 83 items at Subway.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Panera Bread averages $4.34 per item across 197 menu items, while Subway averages $5.57 across 83 items. Panera Bread is $1.23 cheaper per item (22% difference). Panera Bread has lower average calories (380 vs 586 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Panera Bread | Subway | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $4.34 | $5.57 | Panera Bread |
| Menu Items | 197 | 83 | Panera Bread |
| Avg Calories | 380 | 586 | Panera Bread |
| US Locations | 2,254 | 16,177 | Subway |
| Secret Menu | 6 | 3 | Panera Bread |
Panera Bread is 22% cheaper on average than Subway ($1.23 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Panera Bread
Subway
Lowest Calorie Options
Panera Bread
Subway
Deep Comparison: Panera Bread vs Subway
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Panera Bread delivers 2.45¢/cal on average, while Subway delivers 1.46¢/cal. Subway gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Panera Bread and Subway share 1 menu categories (3% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: sides. 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:
- sides: Panera Bread avg $0.97 vs Subway $1.03 — Panera Bread is 6% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Panera Bread fits 1 item, Subway fits 0 items
- $15 budget: Panera Bread fits 3 items (500 cal), Subway fits 3 items (1380 cal)
- $20 budget: Panera Bread fits 3 items (830 cal), Subway fits 3 items (1520 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Panera Bread ranks #62 of 414 on price (cheaper than 85% of tracked chains). Subway ranks #132 of 414 (cheaper than 68% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Panera Bread, 72% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Subway, 50% are under 500 calories. Panera Bread offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Panera Bread ($4.34 avg vs $5.57)
- More variety: Panera Bread (197 items)
- More locations: Subway (16,177 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Subway (1.46¢/cal)