Papa John's vs Wawa (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 79 items at Papa John's vs 59 items at Wawa.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, Papa John's averages $11.72 per item across 79 menu items, while Wawa averages $3.62 across 59 items. Wawa is $8.10 cheaper per item (69% difference). Papa John's has lower average calories (369 vs 693 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | Papa John's | Wawa | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $11.72 | $3.62 | Wawa |
| Menu Items | 79 | 59 | Papa John's |
| Avg Calories | 369 | 693 | Papa John's |
| US Locations | 3,200 | 1,200 | Papa John's |
| Secret Menu | 1 | 0 | Papa John's |
Wawa is 69% cheaper on average than Papa John's ($8.10 less per item).
Cheapest Items
Papa John's
Wawa
Lowest Calorie Options
Papa John's
Wawa
Deep Comparison: Papa John's vs Wawa
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
Papa John's delivers 3.50¢/cal on average, while Wawa delivers 0.86¢/cal. Wawa gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
Papa John's and Wawa share 1 menu categories (8% 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: Papa John's avg $6.31 vs Wawa $4.07 — Wawa is 35% cheaper
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: Papa John's fits 0 items, Wawa fits 3 items (450 cal)
- $15 budget: Papa John's fits 1 item (270 cal), Wawa fits 2 items (530 cal)
- $20 budget: Papa John's fits 3 items, Wawa fits 3 items (650 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
Papa John's ranks #344 of 414 on price (pricier than 83% of tracked chains). Wawa ranks #29 of 414 (cheaper than 93% 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 Wawa, 38% are under 500 calories. Papa John's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Wawa ($3.62 avg vs $11.72)
- More variety: Papa John's (79 items)
- More locations: Papa John's (3,200 US locations)
- Best calorie value: Wawa (0.86¢/cal)