Carl's Jr. vs Jack in the Box: Menu Prices Compared (2026)

Updated September 26, 2026 4 items matched

The short answer

Carl's Jr. is the cheaper of the two. Of the 4 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, Carl's Jr. is cheaper on 3 of them, by an average of $0.42 per item.

Typical menu price: Carl's Jr. $5.49 · Jack in the Box $4.99

Matched Items, Side by Side

The same item on both menus, priced against each other. Where names differ, we matched the closest equivalent — Carl's Jr.'s wording first.

Item	Carl's Jr.	Jack in the Box	Difference
Loaded Breakfast Burritovs Breakfast Burrito	$4.99	$5.99	$1.00 cheaper at Carl's Jr.
Onion Rings	$3.99	$3.79	$0.20 cheaper at Jack in the Box
Iced Coffee	$2.99	$3.29	$0.30 cheaper at Carl's Jr.
Fountain Drink (medium)	$2.49	$2.69	$0.20 cheaper at Carl's Jr.

Make Carl's Jr. and Jack in the Box at Home

Whichever of the two wins on price, cooking the favorites at home beats both. These are the sauces, mixes and kitchen tools that get closest to the real thing.

Burger Press Uniform smash-style patties in seconds. Check price on Amazon Cast Iron Griddle The crust fast-food flat-tops are known for. Check price on Amazon Copycat Restaurant Recipes Cookbooks that recreate chain-restaurant favorites. Check price on Amazon

Carl's Jr. vs Jack in the Box at a Glance

	Carl's Jr.	Jack in the Box
Typical menu price	$5.49	$4.99
Average menu price	$5.58	$4.94
Cheapest item	Chocolate Chip Cookie — $1.49	Two Tacos — $1.79
Most expensive item	Double Western Bacon Cheeseburger — $9.99	Munchie Meal (any variety) — $12.49
Items priced	27	44
Menu sections	5	6
Price range	$	$
Founded	1941	1951
Headquarters	Franklin, Tennessee	San Diego, California
Locations	About 1,000 restaurants in the United States	About 2,200 restaurants, concentrated in the West and South

Which One Should You Order From?

Jack in the Box has the lower typical menu price of the two — $4.99 against $5.49 — but a typical price only tells you where the middle of the menu sits. At the value end, Carl's Jr. gets you in cheaper at $1.49.

Carl's Jr. is strongest on Famous Star with Cheese, Western Bacon Cheeseburger, Super Star; Jack in the Box on Two Tacos, Munchie Meal, Curly Fries. Neither chain's app prices match the counter, and both discount heavily through their loyalty programmes, so the deals below usually matter more than the few cents between the two menus.

Deals Worth Knowing at Both

Carl's Jr.

The $6 Big Carl and Famous Star combos that rotate through the app cost about $4 less than ordering the same meal at menu prices.
My Rewards points on the Carl's Jr. app turn into free items, and new members get a free burger with their first purchase.
The Spicy Chicken Sandwich at about $2.99 is the cheapest filling item on the menu.

Jack in the Box

Two tacos for $1.79 is the cheapest hot food at any major chain, and they are available 24 hours a day.
The Munchie Meal at $12.49 bundles an entree, two sides, two tacos and a drink — roughly $5 less than buying the same items separately.
Breakfast is served all day, so a $3.29 Breakfast Jack works as a cheap dinner.

About these prices: menu prices are set by individual franchise owners and change without notice. The figures on this page are researched estimates for 2026 and are provided for reference only. Confirm the current price with the restaurant before ordering. Menu Price Book is not affiliated with this chain.

Carl's Jr. vs Jack in the Box — FAQ

Is Carl's Jr. cheaper than Jack in the Box in 2026?

Carl's Jr. is cheaper on most matched items — 3 of 4. Across the whole menu Jack in the Box is the lower-priced of the two, at $4.99 for a typical item against $5.49 at Carl's Jr..

What is the price difference between Carl's Jr. and Jack in the Box?

On matched items the average difference is $0.42, or about 11% overall. Carl's Jr. averages $5.58 across 27 priced items; Jack in the Box averages $4.94 across 44.

Which has the cheaper entry price, Carl's Jr. or Jack in the Box?

Carl's Jr. starts at $1.49 (Chocolate Chip Cookie) and Jack in the Box at $1.79 (Two Tacos).

Are these prices the same at every location?

No. Both chains let franchise owners set prices, so figures move by a dollar or more between markets and run highest at airport, stadium and highway locations. Treat these as the typical U.S. price, not a quote.