Carl's Jr. vs Krystal: Menu Prices Compared (2026)

Updated October 15, 2026 4 items matched

The short answer

Krystal is the cheaper of the two. Of the 4 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, Krystal is cheaper on 4 of them, by an average of $0.45 per item.

Typical menu price: Carl's Jr. $5.49 · Krystal $2.99

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.	Krystal	Difference
Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit	$3.99	$3.79	$0.20 cheaper at Krystal
Onion Rings	$3.99	$2.79	$1.20 cheaper at Krystal
Sausage, Egg & Cheese Biscuitvs Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit	$3.99	$3.79	$0.20 cheaper at Krystal
Fountain Drink (medium)vs Fountain Drink (Medium)	$2.49	$2.29	$0.20 cheaper at Krystal

Make Carl's Jr. and Krystal 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 Krystal at a Glance

	Carl's Jr.	Krystal
Typical menu price	$5.49	$2.99
Average menu price	$5.58	$4.79
Cheapest item	Chocolate Chip Cookie — $1.49	Krystal — $1.49
Most expensive item	Double Western Bacon Cheeseburger — $9.99	Bag of 12 Cheese Krystals — $17.99
Items priced	27	37
Menu sections	5	6
Price range	$	$
Founded	1941	1932
Headquarters	Franklin, Tennessee	Dunwoody, Georgia
Locations	About 1,000 restaurants in the United States	About 280 restaurants across the Southeast

Which One Should You Order From?

Krystal has the lower typical menu price of the two — $2.99 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; Krystal on Krystal, Cheese Krystal, Sackful Combo. 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.

Krystal

The Sackful Combo at about $15.99 is only $1 more than a plain bag of 12 Krystals, so the fries and drink cost a dollar — never buy the bag alone if you want sides.
Krystal regularly runs game-day and app deals that drop a bag of 8 or 12 well below menu price; check the Krystal app before ordering.
A Pup at $1.99 or a Corn Pup is a cheaper filler than a second slider plus fries.

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 Krystal — FAQ

Is Carl's Jr. cheaper than Krystal in 2026?

Krystal is cheaper on most matched items — 4 of 4. Across the whole menu Krystal is the lower-priced of the two, at $2.99 for a typical item against $5.49 at Carl's Jr..

What is the price difference between Carl's Jr. and Krystal?

On matched items the average difference is $0.45, or about 14% overall. Carl's Jr. averages $5.58 across 27 priced items; Krystal averages $4.79 across 37.

Which has the cheaper entry price, Carl's Jr. or Krystal?

Carl's Jr. starts at $1.49 (Chocolate Chip Cookie) and Krystal at $1.49 (Krystal).

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.