Carl's Jr. vs Steak 'n Shake: Menu Prices Compared (2026)

Updated September 26, 2026 5 items matched

The short answer

Carl's Jr. is the cheaper of the two. Of the 5 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, Carl's Jr. is cheaper on 5 of them, by an average of $0.34 per item.

Typical menu price: Carl's Jr. $5.49 · Steak 'n Shake $5.79

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.	Steak 'n Shake	Difference
Classic Crispy Chicken Sandwichvs Crispy Chicken Sandwich	$6.49	$6.99	$0.50 cheaper at Carl's Jr.
Sausage, Egg & Cheese Biscuitvs Sausage Egg & Cheese Biscuit	$3.99	$4.29	$0.30 cheaper at Carl's Jr.
Onion Rings	$3.99	$4.29	$0.30 cheaper at Carl's Jr.
Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuitvs Sausage Egg & Cheese Biscuit	$3.99	$4.29	$0.30 cheaper at Carl's Jr.
Fountain Drink (medium)vs Fountain Drink (regular)	$2.49	$2.79	$0.30 cheaper at Carl's Jr.

Make Carl's Jr. and Steak 'n Shake 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.

Milkshake Maker Diner-style shakes at home in about a minute. Check price on Amazon 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 Steak 'n Shake at a Glance

	Carl's Jr.	Steak 'n Shake
Typical menu price	$5.49	$5.79
Average menu price	$5.58	$5.84
Cheapest item	Chocolate Chip Cookie — $1.49	Coffee — $2.29
Most expensive item	Double Western Bacon Cheeseburger — $9.99	Chicken Fingers Combo — $11.29
Items priced	27	44
Menu sections	5	6
Price range	$	$
Founded	1941	1934
Headquarters	Franklin, Tennessee	Indianapolis, Indiana
Locations	About 1,000 restaurants in the United States	About 400 restaurants, largely in the Midwest and South

Which One Should You Order From?

Carl's Jr. has the lower typical menu price of the two — $5.49 against $5.79 — 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; Steak 'n Shake on Original Double 'n Cheese Steakburger, Hand-Dipped Milkshake, Garlic Steakburger. 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.

Steak 'n Shake

Most locations run half-price milkshakes in the afternoon — typically after 2:00 PM — which takes a $5.29 shake down to about $2.65.
Ordering at the in-store kiosk rather than through delivery avoids the platform markup, which at Steak 'n Shake is steep.
A double Steakburger combo at $10.59 includes two patties, fries and a drink — competitive with single-patty combos elsewhere.

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 Steak 'n Shake — FAQ

Is Carl's Jr. cheaper than Steak 'n Shake in 2026?

Carl's Jr. is cheaper on most matched items — 5 of 5. Across the whole menu Carl's Jr. is the lower-priced of the two, at $5.49 for a typical item against $5.79 at Steak 'n Shake.

What is the price difference between Carl's Jr. and Steak 'n Shake?

On matched items the average difference is $0.34, or about 4% overall. Carl's Jr. averages $5.58 across 27 priced items; Steak 'n Shake averages $5.84 across 44.

Which has the cheaper entry price, Carl's Jr. or Steak 'n Shake?

Carl's Jr. starts at $1.49 (Chocolate Chip Cookie) and Steak 'n Shake at $2.29 (Coffee).

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.