Papa John's vs Subway (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 79 items at Papa John's vs 83 items at Subway.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Papa John's averages $11.72 per item across 79 menu items, while Subway averages $5.57 across 83 items. Subway is $6.15 cheaper per item (52% difference). Papa John's has lower average calories (369 vs 586 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Papa John's | Subway | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $11.72 | $5.57 | Subway |
| Menu Items | 79 | 83 | Subway |
| Avg Calories | 369 | 586 | Papa John's |
| US Locations | 3,200 | 16,177 | Subway |
| Secret Menu | 1 | 3 | Subway |
Subway is 52% cheaper on average than Papa John's ($6.15 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Papa John's
Subway
Lowest Calorie Options
Papa John's
Subway
Deep Comparison: Papa John's vs Subway
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Papa John's delivers 3.50¢/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
Papa John's and Subway share 2 menu categories (14% Jaccard overlap). Shared categories: sides, drinks. 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: Papa John's avg $6.31 vs Subway $1.03 — Subway is 84% cheaper
- drinks: Papa John's avg $1.80 vs Subway $2.06 — Papa John's is 12% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Papa John's fits 0 items, Subway fits 0 items
- $15 budget: Papa John's fits 1 item (270 cal), Subway fits 3 items (1380 cal)
- $20 budget: Papa John's fits 3 items, Subway fits 3 items (1520 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Papa John's ranks #344 of 414 on price (pricier than 83% of tracked chains). Subway ranks #132 of 414 (cheaper than 68% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At Papa John's, 93% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Subway, 50% are under 500 calories. Papa John's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Subway ($5.57 avg vs $11.72)
- More variety: Subway (83 items)
- More locations: Subway (16,177 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Subway (1.46¢/cal)