Cook Out vs Jack in the Box: Menu Prices Compared (2026)

Updated August 15, 2026 4 items matched

The short answer

Cook Out is the cheaper of the two. Of the 4 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, Cook Out is cheaper on 4 of them, by an average of $0.85 per item.

Typical menu price: Cook Out $4.79 · 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 — Cook Out's wording first.

Item	Cook Out	Jack in the Box	Difference
Grilled Chicken Sandwich	$5.29	$6.99	$1.70 cheaper at Cook Out
Onion Rings	$2.79	$3.79	$1.00 cheaper at Cook Out
Fountain Drink (regular)vs Fountain Drink (medium)	$2.29	$2.69	$0.40 cheaper at Cook Out
Bottled Water	$1.99	$2.29	$0.30 cheaper at Cook Out

Cook Out vs Jack in the Box at a Glance

	Cook Out	Jack in the Box
Typical menu price	$4.79	$4.99
Average menu price	$5.16	$4.94
Cheapest item	Coleslaw — $1.99	Two Tacos — $1.79
Most expensive item	Double Burger Plate — $9.99	Munchie Meal (any variety) — $12.49
Items priced	43	44
Menu sections	6	6
Price range	$	$
Founded	1989	1951
Headquarters	Thomasville, North Carolina	San Diego, California
Locations	About 300 restaurants across the Southeast	About 2,200 restaurants, concentrated in the West and South

Which One Should You Order From?

Cook Out has the lower typical menu price of the two — $4.79 against $4.99 — but a typical price only tells you where the middle of the menu sits. At the value end, Jack in the Box gets you in cheaper at $1.79.

Cook Out is strongest on Cook Out Tray, Big Double Burger, Cajun Chicken Sandwich; 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

Cook Out

The Cook Out Tray at $7.49 to $8.79 includes an entree, two sides and a drink — the cheapest complete combo of any national or regional chain.
Upgrading the tray drink to a milkshake for $2.99 costs less than buying the shake separately at $4.29.
Cook Out stays open until 3:00 or 4:00 AM, which makes it one of the only late-night sit-down-quality options in much of the Southeast.

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.

Cook Out vs Jack in the Box — FAQ

Is Cook Out cheaper than Jack in the Box in 2026?

Cook Out is cheaper on most matched items — 4 of 4. Across the whole menu Cook Out is the lower-priced of the two, at $4.79 for a typical item against $4.99 at Jack in the Box.

What is the price difference between Cook Out and Jack in the Box?

On matched items the average difference is $0.85, or about 4% overall. Cook Out averages $5.16 across 40 priced items; Jack in the Box averages $4.94 across 44.

Which has the cheaper entry price, Cook Out or Jack in the Box?

Cook Out starts at $1.99 (Coleslaw) 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.